January 26, 2011 12:02 pm
A new study has revealed that Tyrannosaurus Rex wasn’t a scavenger like a hyena; rather it hunted like a lion.
Scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) used an ecological model based on predator relationships in the Serengeti to find out if scavenging would have been an effective feeding strategy for the dinosaur.
“By understanding the ecological forces at work, we have been able to show that scavenging was not a viable option for T.rex as it was out-competed by smaller, more abundant predatory dinosaurs,” said Dr Chris Carbone.
“These smaller species would have discovered carcasses more quickly, making the most of ‘first-come-first-served’ opportunities.”
The study concluded that an individual T.rex would have roamed over large distances to catch its prey.
The research helps experts understand the behaviour of T.rex as a hunter.
The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
http://www.discoveryon.info/2011/01/t-rex-hunted-like-a-lion-did-not-scavenge-like-a-hyena.html
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