Re: The absurdity, the absurdity (was: Cooperating theropods?)

["Larry Dunn" <larrydunn@hotmail.com>]

From: Jack <jconrad@lib.drury.edu>

>> They could have had razors issuing from their forelimbs and that 
doesn't 
>> change the basic fact that dromaeosaur forelimbs weren't really 
suited 
>> for grasping and holding on to a moving animal.
>
>Why?

Ask Tom Holtz.  Earlier thread.  Or check the archives.

>> Buffalo are not the only predators that defend themselves 
successfully.  
>> Many do.

>Like wildebeest, moose, and rhinoceros.  Herbivores with horns or other
>such defensive structures.  Even then, they fall prey at times.

OK, I'll accept that as a retraction of your notion that, unless you're 
a buffalo, there's not much you can do against a predator.  And remember 
that any limb powerful enough to be used for locomotion can be used 
defensively.  Go ask our lioness slowly dying of a broken jaw.

Come to think of it, a very long tail might be effective too . . .

>Yes, but as you pointed out, modern prey animals are capable of 
defending
>themselves as well.  Yet, they still fall prey to predators at times.
>Heck, cape buffalo hunt out and kill lion cubs when the opportunity
>arises, but that doesn't change the fact that they are prey animals.  

The point is morphing.  First "Sankarah" was defending Deinonychus 
predation on Tenontosaurus because they could simply hop up and kill the 
helpless Tenontosaur.

>> "Other options" should not include basically describing an animal 
>> starting with a tabula rosa because it has large claws on its hind 
legs.  
>
>And is a cursorial biped... and has forelimbs unlike living 
predators...

Yes, more restricted, less useful.

>and has the triple ability to attack with arms, legs, and mouth while 
only
>having to worry about locomotion with hind limbs...

Don't forget the hand grenades.  Jurassic Park comes home to roost.

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