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Re: Armadillos at the K/T?
First, in general:
It is unlikely that armadillos would even remotely affect the exteinction of
dinosaurs, as they
are local New World animals, and even the generalist primitive anteaters and
sloths were not spred
out to all corners of the globes. If these animals were at all to have in
impact upon the global
K/T event, they would have to have been a lot more prevalent than they were.
Second, specifically in address of Ken Kinman, who reported on generality in
armadillo egg-eating:
There are only two animals that possess specific anatomy to deal with the
cracking of shells,
the egg-eating snakes (mostly *Dasypeltis*) and oviraptorid theropods. Eggs
represent only a
seasonal supplement to the egg-eating snakes' diet. All other egg-feeders are
generalist eaters.
All of them. Eggs are an opportunistic diet. In the New World, we have
armadillos, coatimundis,
and racoons, along with peccaries. In the Old World, there are some primates
and snakes that will
feed on eggs as well.
Generally, now:
Egg-eating is not a tenable solution to the K/T. It is unviable ecologically,
and untestable.
Egg-eating must be a global event, and this has not been at all supported by
the present data.
=====
Jaime A. Headden
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhr-gen-ti-na
Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Pampas!!!!
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