Re: Alvarezsaur spurs (was Re: dino-lice)

[Tim Williams <tijawi@gmail.com>]

Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au> wrote:


> Sure - but that would require specialised claws and digging physiology, which 
> would make it more
> difficult to run from danger. At the moment the aardwolf is specialised 
> enough to be able to subsist
> largely on termites, but not so specialised that it can't run like the 
> clappers when it needs to.
> Whereas the aardvark doesn't have the luxury of speed to escape danger. The 
> even more
> specialised giant anteater is slower yet again.


All true.  Nevertheless, the giant anteater can use its massive
foreclaws as a weapon when confronted, typically by adopting a
bipedal/tripodal posture.  Jaguars are known to fall afoul of an
anteater's claws.


To return to dinosaurs, this is how I imagine therizinosaurs used
their foreclaws.  If you can't be fast, be formidable.




Cheers

Tim