8 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

www.bbc.co.uk said:

The bone of a large flying reptile has been found in the gut of a Velociraptor, sparking fresh discussion among palaeontologists.

Velociraptors have previously been described as "hyper predators".

However, scientists suggest this pterosaur was too large to be the Velociraptor's intended prey but could have been scavenged.

Read more...

[Taun]

They seem to have overlooked the possibility of a herd (or gang, or pack, whatever) of raptors coming upon a (perhaps) nesting 'large reptile' and doing to it what a pack of wolves do to a bison...

Do I think 'raptors could have been scavengers - sure... there is just no conclusive evidence IMO...

[Eldorado]

What's wrong with them being both?  Predators who scavenge when they need to, through injury or lack of prey.... or good luck?

@Taun

Edited by Eldorado, 08 March 2012 - 02:44 AM.

[SameerPrehistorica]

Eldorado, on 08 March 2012 - 02:41 AM, said:

What's wrong with them being both?  Predators who scavenge when they need to, through injury or lack of prey.... or good luck?

well said..

[Taun]

Eldorado, on 08 March 2012 - 02:41 AM, said:

What's wrong with them being both?  Predators who scavenge when they need to, through injury or lack of prey.... or good luck?

@Taun

Kind of what I was thinking - though you said it better...

This is exactly what I think T-Rex was - an opportunistic predator/scavenger... In fact - I would think that most of the dino-carnivores were this way...

[King Fluffs]

I wish I could eat a large flying reptile for my last meal...

[Orb Em Ezat Tnod]

On my planet Velociraptors are kept as pets...

Pet Velociraptor Care With Valuable FAQs

[Freshness]

Wow, that's the same meal i had last night, Teridactyl Bones!

[taiwan]

Taun, on 07 March 2012 - 05:48 PM, said:

They seem to have overlooked the possibility of a herd (or gang, or pack, whatever) of raptors coming upon a (perhaps) nesting 'large reptile' and doing to it what a pack of wolves do to a bison...

Do I think 'raptors could have been scavengers - sure... there is just no conclusive evidence IMO...

We have to go with the evidence, which is remain of pterosaur in the gut of velociraptor. The logic behind the theory is that pterosaur is a flying dinosaur too high for velociraptor to reach, and too large for velociraptor to go at unless the velociraptor is not afraid of being eaten alive by a much larger dino. It's also safe to conclude that a successful species such as pterosaur wouldn't leave its nest on the ground for other non-flying predators to feast. If that were the case they'd be extinct pretty quickly without a chance to leave much fossil. Based on the logic the conclusion is very reasonable, whereas your argument of a pack (no fossil evidence here) of velociraptor raiding a nest (no evidence here either) is based on too many assumptions.

Edited by taiwan, 16 March 2012 - 05:08 PM.