Re: T. rex's vision as SUPPORT for scavenging activitiy...

[don ohmes <d_ohmes@yahoo.com>]

No, I am assuming an idealized environment for a generalized hypothetical 
scenario; evolving long-range eyesight in a (bipedal) terrestrial predator that 
uses distant visual cues for efficient utilization of fortuitous death(s). The 
40 mile figure represents an approximate maximum distance (due to curvature of 
the Earth) that visual cues can be detected. 

As to Hell Creek and T.rex specifically, I'm guessing depositional bias is 
there, as it always is.

Don

----- Original Message ----
From: Danvarner@aol.com
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Cc: d_ohmes@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, July 3, 2006 4:54:29 PM
Subject: Re: T. rex's vision as SUPPORT for scavenging activitiy...

In a message dated 7/3/2006 4:14:05 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
d_ohmes@yahoo.com writes:

<< The ability to detect fortuitous  mortality in a timely fashion is 
obviously critically important to efficient  utilization of such resources, and 
any 
sense used for detection is therefore  subject to strong directional selection. 
IF there is the presence of a  population of volant scavengers, then timely 
visual cues (eg, circling vultures)  to any local large animal death exist, and 
are detectable from distances up to  40 miles in an open environment. >>

You are assuming Hell Creek environs were an "open  environment". It's mostly 
flood plain and stream channel deposits,with a tree  canopy, is it not? Or is 
that a deposital bias? DV