Re: Carnotaurus

["Steve Brusatte" <dinoland@lycos.com>]

On Mon, 23 Apr 2001 16:13:15  
 JAMES ARONIS wrote:
>There has never been a terrestrial predator (to my knowledge) that evolved a
>strategy of hunting by means of impalement through the use of horns or similar
>devices. This begs the question, why not?? It would appear a simple enough 
>means
>to hunt, if not a primary one, then why not as an aid to clawing, biting, etc.?

I guess it just isn't effective.  Really, look at what modern animals possess 
horns: deer, antelope, some types of cattle, goats, some types of sheep, 
rhinos, etc.  Look at what known dinosaurs possessed horns: the ceratopsians. 
It appears as if horns manifest themselves mainly in herbivorous animals, and 
likely somewhat gregarious herbivorous animals.  To me, all horns are nothing 
more than display features (although this is a generalization).  

I really doubt that any horn, especially a keratinized one, would be a very 
effective predatory weapon.  Why not just use the jaws?  I would imagine it 
would be difficult for any animal to effectively use a cranial horn to kill or 
wound another animal.  

And, in regards to the horns of Carnotaurus, the idea of them as weapons is 
definitely inventive, but not likely.  Like the horns of other animals, I write 
them off as display features.  They are rather blunt and wouldn't really do 
much damage if they did happen to strike another animal.  These Carnotaurus 
horns are, to me, analogous to the cranial crests of Cryolophosaurus, 
Monolophosaurus, and Dilophosaurus.  Probably for display only...

Steve

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