Subject: Re: Oversized Coelurosaur in Scientific American
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 16:05:37 EDT
From: MKIRKALDY@aol.com
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
> There's also a related article on _T. rex_ teeth
This article "The Teeth of the Tyrannosaurs" by William L.
Abler was interesting in its discussion of septic bites, which
the dino list chewed on a few months ago. In the "now and
later" scenario, Dr. Abler theorized that "the cellae appear to
make excellent traps for grease and other food debris.... Such
food particles are receptacles for septic bacteria--even a nip from
a tyrannosaur, therefore, might have been a source of a fatal
infection." (p. 51)
The magazine
is well worth acquiring.
Mary
mkirkaldy@aol.com
I was interested to note in the same article that Abler also felt that
tyrannosaurs must have had spongy gum tissue and tightly sealed lips.
Another vote to put the lips back on theropods? This really makes
sense from a standpoint of water conservation, always a concern for terrestrial
creatures.