Re: Rugops, a scavenger?

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Michael Skrepnick wrote:

>  He feels that the rows of foramina (substantially uniform
> rows of deep pits running along the nasals) on top of its head are possibly
> related to a keratinous structure anchored there, that may have grown down
> and enclosed the entire snout / muzzle of the animal.  In describing this 
> he
> used the term "bill" on a number of occasions.

This structure is known in the biz as a "cornified rhamphotheca".  If it 
endowed the entire snout/muzzle of the animal, it may have formed a cutting 
edge, thereby promoting a reduced dentition.  Ergo, I don't think smaller 
tooth crowns necessarily indicates a lifestyle as a dedicated scavenger.

Being a dedicated scavenger means that the carnivore no longer has to use 
its jaws or limbs to bring down live prey.  But the carnivore somehow has to 
gain access to the flesh and viscera inside the carcass.  Just because an 
animal is dead does not make its hide any easier to cut through.  Some 
modern vultures are actually unable to do this, and either wait for a 
better-equipped predator to open up the carcass, or they plunge their head 
down available orifices (e.g., the anus) to get to the yummy stuff inside 
the carcass.


Tim

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