[dinosaur] Giant azhdarchid defense against theropods

To: <dinosaur-l@usc.edu>, <tholtz@umd.edu>

Subject: [dinosaur] Giant azhdarchid defense against theropods

From: Poekilopleuron <dinosaurtom2015@seznam.cz>

Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2021 07:52:52 +0100 (CET)

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Reply-to: Poekilopleuron <dinosaurtom2015@seznam.cz>

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Good day!

Just a curious thought - do you think that giant azhdarchids (like Quetzalcoatlus, Arambourgiania and Hatzegopteryx) could defend themselves against most theropods with their long bills (or even large wings)? Presumably there were many situations when these creatures were dwelling on land and they had to fight off swift predators. Of course there was no way for them to keep away large tyrannosaurids, but what about small to middle sized theropods (dromaeosaurids, smaller abelisaurids etc.). Any thoughts? Thank you in advance! Tom