Fw: I know why birds and some reptiles survived mass extiction

["Scott P. Smith" <scott@scott-smith.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott P. Smith" <scott@scott-smith.com>
To: "Teramura, Doug" <Doug.Teramura@MKG.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: I know why birds and some reptiles survived mass extiction


> BTW - even if raptors 'sat' on the nest, their lack of feathers may have
> prevented adequate protection from acid rain and cold temperatures.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Teramura, Doug" <Doug.Teramura@MKG.com>
> To: <scott@scott-smith.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 10:27 AM
> Subject: RE: I know why birds and some reptiles survived mass extiction
>
>
> > Oviraptors sat on their nests and didn't survive.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Scott P. Smith [mailto:scott@scott-smith.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 9:35 AM
> > To: dinosaur@usc.edu
> > Subject: I know why birds and some reptiles survived mass extiction
> >
> >
> > OK, now that I've got your attention...
> >
> > Sorry if this has already been discussed, but it seems to me that the
> > determining factor as to why all non-avian dinosaurs died while avian
> > dinosaurs survived is the degree to which they cared for their eggs.  I
> > believe that species that protected their eggs from the elements by
either
> > burying them or constantly sitting on the nest are the ones that
survived
> > the extreme climatic changes at the K-T boundary.  Simple explanation to
> > explain why we have no non-avian dinos today.  Maybe only a few (or one)
> > species of avian dinosaur sat on its nest 24/7 and gave rise to all the
> > varieties we see today.
> >
> >
> > Thought?
> >
> >
> > Scott
> >
> >
>