Spinosaurs as predators, tyrants as scavengers (was RE: Horner's JP3 interview)

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

> From: owner-dinosaur@usc.edu [mailto:owner-dinosaur@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
> NJPharris@aol.com
>
> So let me see if I've got this straight:
>
> Stocky legs; gharial snout; eyes to the side = predator
>
> Long, slim legs; heavily reinforced skull; binocular vision = scavenger.

My whimsical side suggests the following reasons:

Never had a chance to harm the precious hadrosaurs = okay to be a predator.

Big dangerous animal living in the same environment with precious hadrosaurs
= can't let it be a predator...

Seriously, though, I find it very difficult to accept the idea that
spinosaurids of any genus being possible predators while at the same time
rejecting tyrannosaurids as predators.  If one accepted ALL multi-ton
theropods as scavengers, there might at least be some consistency.

Ah, well.

Did I ever tell you folks about my idea that hadrosaurs were evil nest
parasites... :-)

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
                Vertebrate Paleontologist
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
                College Park, MD  20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/tholtz.htm
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
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