Re: Tyrannosaurus "Scavenger vs. Predator" debate - Some questions for Dr. Jack Horner:

[Graydon <oak@uniserve.com>]

On Tue, Feb 17, 2004 at 03:37:31PM -0800, Phil Bigelow scripsit:
> "Michael Schmidt" <dmschmidt@sprint.ca> writes:
> > I myself have had triceratops horns with rex sized bite marks on
> > them....all of them with signs of healed tissue surrounding
> > them......
> 
> Seriously, have these tooth marked specimens been published?  They
> appear to provide important behavioral and paleoenvironmental data on
> both T.  rex and Triceratops.  I'm puzzled, though.  I can understand
> why a Triceratops would fend-off an attack with its horns, but I am
> struggling to understand why a T. rex would waste its energy biting
> the horns of a Triceratops.

That one is pretty easy; the only manipulatory appendage a tyranosaur
has is its mouth, so if the Triceratops is trying to stab it with the
horns, or, just as likely, chunk huge holes in it with that
tree-chopping beak, grabbing the horns could easily be the best
available 'not getting poked or bit' option.

Could be an amazing wrestling match, considering the available strength
of neck on both sides.

-- 
oak@uniserve.com