Re: Thalattoarchon, giant ichthyosaur from Middle Triassic of Nevada

[Jocelyn Falconnet <j.falconnet@gmail.com>]

I agree. The expression "apex predator" does not refer to size, just to 
the relative position of an animal in the food chain. Which means that 
any predator standing at the top of a food chain can be an apex predator 
(be a *Tyrannosaurus*, a "Meganeura").

In this case, I saw nothing about the 3 to 4 meters long actinistians 
and hybodonts that were found in the Early Triassic of Svalbard. Though 
I do think they qualify as (large) apex predators.

Regarding terrestrial ecosystems, David mentioned *Erythrosuchus*, but 
we shouldn't forget Middle Triassic suchians (e.g., *Ticinosuchus*, 
*Arizonasaurus*, *Qianosuchus*, etc)...

Best wishes,
Jocelyn

Le 08/01/2013 00:49, Anthony Docimo a écrit :
> > Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 23:44:55 +0100
> >
> > > This find also indicates that the biotic recovery in the marine realm
> > > may have occurred faster compared with terrestrial ecosystems, where
> > > the first apex predators may not have evolved before the Carnian.
>
> Um, doesn't "apex predator" just mean "eats other species, no other species eats 
> it"?  (so there's always an apex predator)
>
> Or do they mean something else/in addition?  (first megafaunal apex predator, 
> maybe?)                                   
--
"As a Professor of Science, I assure you we did in fact evolve from 
filthy monkey men." Hubert J. Farnworth.