RE: T. rex forelimbs (was Carnotaurus)

["R. Irmis" <rbi@dana.ucc.nau.edu>]

<<Let's not make the mistake of equating adaptive use with well developed
morphology.>>

Actually, from what I've read and from the theropod specialists I've talked
to, its more than "robust".  As I said, it seems that the forelimbs were
really more muscular.  That would seem to indicate they were used for
something.

<<It could be possible that the more robust arms are an allometric result of
increased body size, not because they had a specific "use".>>

This wouldn't be considered robust then.  If the arms simply increase
proportionally with size, they would still be as gracile as before.
Evidently, the size of the bones and proportions are larger than if one
simply scaled up an *Albertasaurus* to *Tyrannosaurus* size.

<<We need to be really careful when we make claims such as "x is well
developed, so it must have served a purpose y".  There are many other
factors that affect the size and development of organs, besides general
adaptiveness.>>

Notice I didnt assign a specific function.  I simply said that the forelimbs
were quite muscular.  This seems to indicate to me and other specialists
that they had some sort of function.

Regards,
Randall Irmis