Re: Oviraptor

["John V Jackson" <jjackson@interalpha.co.uk>]

Original Message---From: Laurie Nyveen Date: 17 March 1998 14:48

<  What about using the speed and strong arms to rip/snatch bones from
carcasses and subsisting primarily on marrow and whatever other nutritious
scraps cling to the booty?

These strong arms and nutcracker head could co-operate to fracture bones.
If that's the case, bet on a long narrow tongue - there's a testable
hypothesis for ya.  ;)  >


I feel I'm going a bit out on a limb by straying into the area of anatomical
detail (wild guesswork is my true domain) but I suspect the experts would
say the skull was fairly strongly built, though not strong enough for a
bone-cracker specialist.  I also suspect that breaking bones by use of the
arms is unique to humans.  If it didn't lick out marrow of course it might
not have the long tongue.

John V Jackson    jjackson@interalpha.co.uk

"Remember - a cassowary is for life - not just for Christmas!"