Re: AEPYORNITHIDS PREDATORS

[John Bois <jbois@umd5.umd.edu>]

On Wed, 14 May 2003 darren.naish@port.ac.uk wrote:

> Madagascar had a few large predators until very recently, 
> though it's doubtful that any of these would conceivably 
> have tackled an adult aepyornithid. 

Yes, but...as in almost all extant large flightless birds, predation is
seldom on adult forms--it's the juveniles and eggs that cop it.

> ...thus it's conceivable (but unlikely 
> given that extant crowned eagles are not bird-killers) that 
> _S. maharey_ could kill an aepyornithid.

This may be an ecological limitation rather than an evolutionary one.  

> ...I think it's doubtful that this 
> lithe animal could have preyed on big birds, especially those 
> weighing more than 150kg. Like the extant species it was 
> probably a proficient climber that hunted lemurs.

Isn't it possible that we're looking at ecological separation--fossa were
in a different habitat!  Otherwise, I would think that this most voracious
of animals would delight in aepyornithid chicks.