Re: Cretaceous taeniodont

["Michael Lovejoy" <michael@palaeoproductions.fsnet.co.uk>]

We have to remember that there could be any number of reasons for mammals
staying small and conservative and suddenly exploding (in size and
diversity, I mean!)

It might easily be nothing to do with dinosaurs at all. For example, (and
I'm not seriosly proposing this, so don't shoot me) maybe all the early
mammals lived below the ferns, and in the Mesozoic there's ferns all over.
After the Mesozoic, the ferns are much more limited, and it's adapt or die
time.  (oversimplification, I know.)

It's tempting to claim dinos kept mammals in check, but it's more likely to
be something no-ones' even thought of yet.

Regards,
Michael Lovejoy