Re: biggest predators (Allosaurid "Dynasty")

["Ken Kinman" <kinman@hotmail.com>]

Nick,
     Well, I'm not going to shed any crocodile (or mammalian) tears over 
the demise of Tyrannosaurus (but being a mammalogist and a mammal, I'm a 
little prejudiced).  The only time I ever liked T. rex was when it saved the 
day at the end of Jurassic Park.  By the way, does the book explain how T. 
rex got inside the building (did the Velociraptors leave the delivery door 
open or what???).
     And while we are on the subject, I'm wondering if the rise of 
Tyrannosaurs could have had anything to do with the extinctions of allosaurs 
and spinosaurs.  Or is it more likely their extinctions had other causes, 
and the tyrannosaurs just expanded to fill that empty niche?
                  -----Ken Kinman
P.S.  If I thought there was much chance carcharodontosaurs would turn out 
to be closer to the abelisaurs, I would probably recognize a separate Family 
Carcharodontosauridae.  But they fit so nicely in Allosauridae, I don't 
think that is very probable.  If the improbable turns out to be true, 
Carcharodontosaurinae can be transferred to Abelisauridae, or recognized as 
a related full family.  I don't anticipate that happening.
********************************************************
> From: NJPharris@aol.com
> To: <kinman@hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: biggest predators (Allosaurid "Dynasty")
> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 12:39:07 EST
>
> In a message dated Tue, 16 Jan 2001 10:58:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, "Ken 
> Kinman" <kinman@hotmail.com> writes:
>
> <<
> Jeffrey,
>       I completely agree with all your points.  That is why I only 
> narrowed
> it down to Family Allosauridae,>>
>
> Or Superfamily Allosauroidea, depending on whether you recognize a separate 
> family Carcharodontosauridae.
>
> <<       However, I have become rather impressed with the Family 
> Allosauridae
> in particular, which not only has the most contenders for "biggest"
> theropod, but also produced these contenders over a long period of time.  
> If
> Tyrannosaurus was "a king", it seems appropriate to point out that
> Allosaurids produced a more extensive dynasty of kings.>>
>
> To be fair, however, the allosauroids had a longer time to do it in.  The 
> Tyrannosaurinae did not appear until the very latest Cretaceous (by which 
> time all the allosauroids may well have been dead!), and who knows what 
> tyrannosaurs might have become given more time?
>
> --Nick P.
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