Could Tyrannosaurus rex have been a scavenger rather than a predator? An energetics approach.
Arguments on whether Tyrannosaurus rex was likely to have been an active predator or a scavenger have been based on evidence from jaw morphology and/or dentition. Here, we adopt an entirely novel approach, using energetic arguments to estimate the minimum productivity that would be required for an ecosystem to support a scavenger of the size of T. rex. We argue that an ecosystem as productive as the current Serengeti would provide sufficient carrion for such a scavenger. Hence, T. rex need not have been an active predator and could have found sufficient food purely by scavenging.
Ruxton
Graeme D
GD
Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. g.ruxton@bio.gla.ac.uk
Houston
David C
DC
D000818:Animals; D025061:Dinosaurs / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*