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RE: Neck Defense

> From: Tim Williams [mailto:twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com]
>
> Tom Holtz wrote:
>
> >USNM 4734 (incl. USNM 2315) anyone?
>
> USNM 2315 is the type of Labrosaurus ferox_, which probably belongs to the
> _Allosaurus fragilis_ specimen USNM 4734.  USNM 2315 compsrises a deformed
> left dentary, probably the result of injury.  USNM 4734 shows broken
> gastralia, so not only did the poor allosaur get smacked in the face, but it
> also took one in the breadbasket.
>
> Rather than a _Diplodocus_ whiptail being the culprit, maybe the allosaur
> fell foul of a stegosaur-style thagomizer?!

It also has a shattered/rehealed left scapula, and if memory serves shattered 
ribs as well. This suggests something capable of
giving a looonngggg trauma, and not the localized damage done by a thagomizer.

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
        Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
        Mailing Address:
                Building 237, Room 1117
                College Park, MD  20742

http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol):  301-314-9661       Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-405-0796