RE: Theropod Questions

[Tim Williams <TiJaWi@corn2.agron.iastate.edu>]

(Continuing a topic unrelated to the convulsions of Arab-Israeli
relations...)

Scott Hartman wrote:

     >I've always favored an omniverous ratite-like diet.  However, the 
>remains of a  lizard and a juvenile dromaeosaur have been found in
>oviraptor nests, which is suggestive of a more meat oriented diet, 
>(although the dietary meat/plant ratio could have changed through
>ontogeny, perhaps wiht more meat being comsumed during youth, whne high
>growth rates may have created higher nutritional requirements).  

I wonder if this might explain the more recurved teeth of the putative
juvenile _Archaeopteryx_ specimen ("Jurapteryx") compared to the more
conical teeth of adults.


>    The semilunate carpal allows lateral flexion of the hand. As I
>metioned above, this is possible (to a greatly reduced degree) in
>allosaurs, but the extreme development in dromsaesaurs and oviraptosaurs
>is (at least primatively) most likely to keep large arm feathers out of
>the way when not in use.

The corollary of this statement is that dromaeosaurs and oviraptorosaurs
used their large arm feathers for something when they were NOT flexed
against the forearm.  What do you think the feathers were used for?

>Hopefully this is useful to you.

It was certainly useful to me.

Finally - and risking the ire of Mary and Mickey - the people of the rest of
the civilized world are just as horrified and uncomprehending of recent
events as Americans are.  Among the victims were many non-Americans,
including Australians hijacked on their way to LA, perhaps to continue their
journey home.  I have friends and family on the other side of planet who
(like my wife and I) felt physically ill while watching the news.

Homo "sapiens"?  



Tim