Re: Re theropod scavenging

["David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

 

I believe that the general acceptance of a terrestrial lifestyle for ziphodont crocodilians is, at best, the product of very tenuous extrapolation, particularly with respect to the supposedly land-lubbing plethora of Australian mekosuchines. The only ziphodont croc for which post-cranials have been described is the Early Tertiary Pristichampus. A terrestrial habitus was deduced for this taxon largely based on the presence of 'hooves'. I am told by a trusted source who has recently observed the specimen in question, that these were most likely a preservational artefact.

Whatever with the hooves, there is a good biomechanical study (in a German journal, in German...) on Pristichampsus rollinatii. The tail is round in cross-section and tapers into a tip. The legs are relatively long and strong -- and badly capable of sprawling. The well-developped osteoderms practically worked as an exoskeleton. The author thinks this species was a fully terrestrial ambush predator, capable of tremendous acceleration (not long-distance running), gallopping and (for short distances and only above a stalling speed because the center of gravity was in front of the hips) bipedal running on a regular basis. There's a bit more (especially the full ref) at and around http://www.cmnh.org/fun/dinosaur-archive/2000Sep/msg00622.html.