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

[archosaur@usa.net]

owner-dinosaur@usc.edu wrote:
> Chris Campbell wrote:
> > Betty Cunningham wrote:
> 
> > > > I don't see what the brain has to do with it; pack tactics can be
> > > > practiced by such simple-minded animals as hammerhead sharks, so I don't
> > > > think a bright therapod would have much trouble.
> >> A pack of dogs or lions use a very different tactic in a VERY different
> >> environment than sharks (singly or together) ever could.
> >> It's IMPOSSIBLE to approach 'downwind' from a prey animal with sonar in
> >> a completely featureless environment, for example.
> > Naturally.  That's beside the point.  I'm talking about brains and
> > coordination between predators, nothing more.  If we're going to charge
> > Deinonychus with being too stupid to function in packs, animals with
> > less brain material who do so are a good counter-example.
> 
> In the ocean, the environment does not lead to use of 'skills' to
> improve a hunts chances of success.
> Sharks are dumb.  Sharks kill whales.  Whales are smart.  Whales are
> coordinated as a pod.  Sharks that eat whales when in groups are not
> coordinated as a group.  It's a whole different kettle of fish and a
> rather bad example either way-the environment being so very different.

Once again I must state that there have been tests done on sharks and they're 
not dumb. They're at least as smart as some birds. Plus I know of no shark that 
will attack a healthy whale.  

I believe that the book that had the info on shark IQ was called the complete 
shark book. I forget the authors. I know they are acclaimed as being the best 
in the shark biz. They're husband and wife. The wife tested out the first chain 
mesh suit. I'll have to look up their names.



> >> The prey whale or dolphin KNOWS the shark's whereabouts at all times,
> >> and not just via taste in the water (equivalent of terrestrial smell) or
> >> sight.  There are no trees to hide behind.

If dolphins know where a shark is at all times then how does G.cuvier
catch them? And bottlenoses are supposedly regulars on their menu along with 
sea turtles.



> > Sharks don't hunt whales or dolphins in packs.  They corral fish,
> > essentially arranging themselves so that the fish who attempt to escape
> > one shark run right into another.  Also, I've only heard of this in
> > hammerheads, not sharks in general.
> 
> Can you quote a source for this hammerhead shark behavior?  
> I haven't followed Hammerhead shark behaviors for hunting fish, are
> these fish smaller than themselves?
> -we have Great Whites locally as our dangerous shark that eat Grey
> Whales.

Are you sure of that? I know that C.carcharius prefer elephant seals, but I 
think it would be a rare occasion to find one killing a whale. 

Archosaur J



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