RE: Evolution of tyrannosauroid bite power

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Graydon wrote:


> Bipedal dinosaurs are balance beams; if it's really important to have
> the mass up forward, you can always accept being a bit slower and having
> a larger tail to balance forward mass. So the idea that there was
> compelling selection for lighter forearms doesn't have obvious merit,
> especially since T. rex arms are highly derived relative to the
> ancestral tryannosauroid condition.


One possible contributing factor behind reducing the forelimbs is to mimimize 
rotational inertia.  This may also have played a role in the arm-folding 
mechanism of maniraptorans (and others?).


Cheers

Tim
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