Re: Alvarezsaur spurs (was Re: dino-lice)

[Tim Williams <tijawi@gmail.com>]

Anthony Docimo <keenir@hotmail.com> wrote:

>  why does it need superb digging abilities, if it can rely on something else 
> to do the digging for it?


I don't understand the premise of your question.  True, the aardwolf
exploits burrows dug by other mammals (aardvark, porcupines).  But if
the aardwolf wants to crack open a tough termite mound, it's royally
screwed.  Harvester termites (the aardwolf's predominant food source)
spend their nights foraging in the open for food - but in winter they
tend to stay inside.  The aardwolf thrives off foraging harvester
termites for most of the year, but in summer it has to resort to other
insects - including other species of termites foraging outside the
nest, or on mounds that are easy to excavate - which provide much
leaner pickings.  By contrast, the aardvarks can tear open tough nests
all year round.





Cheers

Tim