Re:Re: Jurassic Park 4 Script Review

[Ken Carpenter <KCarpenter@dmns.org>]

>>> Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com> 18/Aug/04 >>>
But, as Dann said, I don't 
think there's any doubt that dromie claws were specialized for grasping and 
slashing prey.

>>>>>>>

Actually, there is a lot of doubt about that by dinosaur paleontologist. It is 
a topic discussed in a new BBC dinosaur program currently under development. 
Although we do not have the keratinous sheath, the overall morphology indicates 
a lack of "razor-sharp" edge. The report of cassowaries disemboweling the prey 
(cited by Ostrom) is not due to a slashing of the claw, but the ripping effect 
of the bird's mass behind the claw. Little Velociraptor had little mass for a 
cassowary-style slashing.

Ken

Kenneth Carpenter, Ph.D.
Curator of Lower Vertebrate Paleontology &
Chief Preparator
Dept. of Earth Sciences
Denver Museum of Natural History 
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205

Phone: (303)370-6392
Fax: (303)331-6492
email: KCarpenter@DMNS.org

For fun: http://dino.lm.com/artists/display.php?name=Kcarpenter