Re: Size of *Neoceratodus africanus* and ...

[Tim Williams <tijawi@yahoo.com>]

Don Ohmes wrote:


> Surely large size would help there. Although the functional
> contrast between shark-like teeth and conical teeth would
> seem to indicate different prey, and therefore likely a
> limited competitive interface w/ the shark-toothed species,
> as has often pointed out. Are there other known cone-toothed
> species? Excepting the croc equivalents, of course...


There's the unenlagiine dromaeosaurid _Austroraptor_ (5m long) of South 
America, which is the closest thing to a spinosaur mimic: long and low snout, 
small and conical teeth, and short forearms (especially by deinonychosaur 
standards).


P.S.  I would use the term "shark-like teeth" advisedly, given that sharks show 
a huge variation in the size and shape of their teeth.  Even among predatory 
sharks - such as a great white, tiger shark, and grey nurse (sandtiger) - the 
morphology of the teeth can be very distinctive.


Cheers

Tim