Re: Dilophosaurus Forelimb Bone Maladies

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

The notion that dilophosaurs may have been at least partially piscivorous (i.e. 
spinosaur wannabes) is 
interesting, as it might explain the long neck, long narrow teeth, and kinked 
croc-like snout. A 
piscivore that only targeted aquatic prey that could be swallowed whole would 
have little need to 
employ the forelimbs at all in predation.

It also offers a possible explanation as to what may have happened to this 
individual's forelimbs. A 
combination of fractures and punctures is exactly what you would expect from an 
attack by a 
crocodilian. Puncture wounds from crocodilian teeth have a tendency to become 
infected, as was the 
case for the puncture wounds in this specimen.

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Dann Pigdon
Spatial Data Analyst               Australian Dinosaurs
Melbourne, Australia               
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__home.alphalink.com.au_-7Edannj&d=CwIDAw&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=x82f3Wlkwtmbr1z8IAt9jA&m=IbpQeflZwkhIeNdBiXtJ0JxKBKn62L6c53V-QDqVJfo&s=Dg_XNywW0js22831knnbjBsBGX8FQOPjrS09Hut-N8Y&e=
 
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