Re: Tyrannosaurus "Scavenger vs. Predator" debate - Some questions for Dr. Jack Horner:

[Phil Bigelow <bigelowp@juno.com>]

I still think biting the horns is a big waste of a predator's energy.  If
the T. rex is busy restraining the Triceratops' horns with its mouth,
then it has no opportunity to kill the Triceratops.  It can only use its
mouth for one purpose at any given moment.

The best defense against a pair of charging horns is to run off to the
side (bull-fighting matadors do this).

Biting the horns wastes precious calories, and worse, you don't  even get
a meal out of the deal.  It's akin to arriving late to a dinner party, no
food left for you, and you get stiffed with the bill.

<pb>
--

On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 18:51:27 -0500 Graydon <oak@uniserve.com> writes:
> On Tue, Feb 17, 2004 at 03:37:31PM -0800, Phil Bigelow scripsit:
> > "Michael Schmidt" <dmschmidt@sprint.ca> writes:
> > > I myself have had triceratops horns with rex sized bite marks 
> on
> > > them....all of them with signs of healed tissue surrounding
> > > them......
> > 
> > Seriously, have these tooth marked specimens been published?  
> They
> > appear to provide important behavioral and paleoenvironmental data 
> on
> > both T.  rex and Triceratops.  I'm puzzled, though.  I can 
> understand
> > why a Triceratops would fend-off an attack with its horns, but I 
> am
> > struggling to understand why a T. rex would waste its energy 
> biting
> > the horns of a Triceratops.
> 
> That one is pretty easy; the only manipulatory appendage a 
> tyranosaur
> has is its mouth, so if the Triceratops is trying to stab it with 
> the
> horns, or, just as likely, chunk huge holes in it with that
> tree-chopping beak, grabbing the horns could easily be the best
> available 'not getting poked or bit' option.
> 
> Could be an amazing wrestling match, considering the available 
> strength
> of neck on both sides.
> 
> -- 
> oak@uniserve.com
> 
> 


"Let's get this train outa here.  Those damn bees might be back any
minute." - General Slater, from the movie "The Swarm"


________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!