Re: Rugops, a scavenger?

[Michael Skrepnick <palaeopaint@dinosaursinart.com>]

Tim,

I know where you're going in terms of "cornified rhamphotheca", but Paul's
suggestion was only in reference to the material being closely appressed to
the skull ( not extending into cutting edges) as is reflected in their
collaborative fleshed out model.  I also didn't get the impression that he
was pushing Rugops as an obligate scavenger, although he was hinting at the
notion that where there are faunas containing a number of large theropods
with abelisaurids competing amongst them, that scavenging may have been a
viable alternative.  Although Sereno had no explanation for why a shortened
skull might help or hinder the process of scavenging, I find it interesting
that the robust laterally splayed morphology of abelisaurid cervicals seem
well suited to strong twisting movements that would be ideal in dismembering
carcasses.

Mike S.


> 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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