Re: How Did Hadrosaurs Survive?

["Tim Donovan" <msdonovan66@hotmail.com>]

> From: Sean Carroll <sean@kua.net>
> Reply-To: sean@kua.net
> To: dinosaur@usc.edu
> Subject: Re: How Did Hadrosaurs Survive?
> Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 16:58:19 +0000
>
>
>
> "Williams, Tim" wrote:
> > Tim Donovan wrote:
> >
> > >   Euoplocephalus was adapted to the smaller Albertosaurus and failed 
> to
> > > survive alongside T. rex.
>
> > I guess T. rex invented the electric drill.  I can't see any other way 
> that
> > a tyrannosaur could bore through ankylosaur armor.
>
> Me neither,

  There is evidence that Tyrannosaurus could penetrate or cope with armor.


but I *can* see how the larger, stronger, faster T. rex
> would have a slightly easier time than Albertosaurus if it tried to flip
> the ankylosaurs over to expose their unarmoured bellies,

  This is hardly plausible. Ankylosaurus evolved extra armor lacking in 
Euoplocephalus but it wasn't belly armor. Presumably tyrannosaurs attacked 
dorsal areas, causing extra armor to be selected for there. The only 
ankylosaur with known belly armor was Saichania, which lived in a 
tyrannosaur free but dromie infested habitat.



and also
> probably an easier time not getting killed instantly by their tail
> clubs.

> --
> --Sean
> http://www.livejournal.com/users/spclsd223/


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