Re: T. rex's vision as SUPPORT for scavenging activitiy...

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

Considering the remarkably limited flexibility of the quetz neck vertebrae 
and the shape of the tip of the lower mandible, the stork analog seems 
unlikely to me.  Prior to assuming a stork analog, I suggest taking an 
actual quetz neck and placing the vertebrae in maximum dorsal, ventral, and 
lateral deflections.  After doing so, I drew different conclusions (which 
doesn't mean that quetz wouldn't have picked up a tasty tidbit off the 
ground if it stumbled across one).
Jim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>
To: <jrccea@bellsouth.net>
Cc: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 8:28 PM
Subject: Re: T. rex's vision as SUPPORT for scavenging activitiy...


> Dr Naish concludes that, based on the anatomical evidence, "azhdarchids 
> were stork-like generalists, picking up assorted invertebrate and 
> vertebrate prey from shallow water and/or terrestrial environments."  I 
> like his line of reasoning, although I doubt it's the last word on the 
> topic.  I hope his blog on azhdarchid ecomorphology, by reference to 
> modern analogs, gets morphed into a paper.
>
> Cheers
>
> Tim