Re: Raptors climbing trees?

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

Amtoine Grant writes: 

> Of course, we will never know what they "did". Our task should be to  
> determine what they were at least possible of doing. True, a full- grown 
> Deinonychus leaping from branch to branch MAY be hard to  realistically 
> imagine. But what about a juvenile? 

It's possible that the juveniles of some dromaeosaur species may have been 
flight-worthy, which they outgrew as adults. Of course, just because you can 
fly doesn't mean you have to climb trees as well (ask your average swan). 

> This question 
> shouldn't be limited to the species, it's also  a question of ecology(what 
> sort of branches were there to leap to &  from?). Especially given that 
> there are tyrannosaurs and/or other  larger predators in most every 
> environment dromaeosaurs are know  from, ANY escape method should not be 
> ruled out w/o proof of  impossibility.

You'd have to climb an awefully tall tree - and fast - to get away from an 
adult tyrannosaur (assuming they could be bothered pursuing such a small 
snack). It reminds me of a line from Jurassic Park II: 

"Actually, it puts us at a convenient biting height". 

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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist              http://geo_cities.com/dannsdinosaurs
Melbourne, Australia             http://heretichides.soffiles.com
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