Re: theropod scavenging

["paul sparks" <psparks@crosslink.net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: no go <honkietong@hotmail.com>
To: farlow@ipfw.edu <farlow@ipfw.edu>; dinosaur@usc.edu <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Date: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 10:13 AM
Subject: Re: theropod scavenging
>>I basically argued that tyrannosaurs (and other big theropods) could
>>have capitalized on being tall bipeds in detecting carcasses by smell or
>>sight, having an advantage over carnivores whose heads are closer to the
>>ground.
>>

hi gang

according to animalplanet and a couple books the molecules that contribute
to smell are heavy and tend to sink to the ground. Have you ever got down
and sniffed where blood hounds snif. I have and there is a lot more to smell
down there than at our nose level. I think that the get up and smell idea is
an old wives tale.

Also it should be kept in mind that the grizzlies feast on the salmon run to
build up fat for their hibernation. The availability of that food source is
quite short (week or so?) and would not really provide much of an overall
food source for other than that specialized use.

paul sparks