Re: Claws on deinonychosaurs

[Patrick Norton <ptnorton@suscom-maine.net>]

> The sickle-claw sounds like overkill (no pun intended) for intraspecific 
> combat.>

Probably so. In cock fighting (which I agree is deplorable and barbaric), 
birds seldom survive more than a couple of fights.  Although intraspecific 
combat among predators in the wild does sometimes result in the death of one 
(or both) of the combatants, it is rare.  However, given the demonstrated 
effectiveness of gaffs on gamecocks, it is not difficult to see the adaptive 
advantage of sickle claws as tools for subduing prey.

PTN