2006-08-23 05:13:23 · 6 answers · asked by hopefullift 1 in Environment
Yup, if there was enough evidence.
I for one would like to believe so. T Rex was big, but so are lions and killer whales in the ocean today. It is really not out of the picture that T Rex hunted in groups.
2006-08-23 05:55:58 · answer #1 · answered by dennis_d_wurm 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As is always the case with good science, the evidence would need to come from a number of credible sources and would typically require multiple types of evidence. All of which stand the test of time and peer-reviews.
Having said that, in this case it would need to be very persuasive as it goes against what is the norm for most large land and ocean predators/ scavengers. Lions and Hyenas (which both scavenge and hunt) are among the most notable exceptions and provide an interesting prediction. The mating structure of these animals are almost diametrically opposite (patriarchal verse matriarchal), but have in common that there is little pair-bonding.
I'd be more likely to consider T-Rex to be a pack hunter, you had fossil evidence showing mating and nesting behaviors that didn't imply bonded pairs.
2006-08-23 15:19:55 · answer #2 · answered by soulrider 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the evidence were compelling, sure, but it would have to be backed up by more than just the statement. Since T Rex hasn't stomped the earth for more than 60 million years or so, it's hard to say what it's behavior is like, but recent examinations of complete T Rex skeletons by paleopathologists indicate it was probably a scavenger and not a a big hunter -- it's actually not built for prolonged speed (regardless of the Jurassic Park image that we all have of the beast), and would be much better at chasing off smaller predators from their kill. This is not to say that T Rex was incapable of hunting for itself, only that it would be easier for it to steal than to kill.
2006-08-23 12:18:35 · answer #3 · answered by theyuks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be an interesting theory and not too surprising to me. I would like to point out that Dr. Horner, who pushes the theory of T. rex as a scavenger has an honorary degree and it is mainly the journalist and movie producers that take him seriously. Dr. Robert Baaker, among others, has a real doctorate and his analyses of T. rex is at odds with little jack horner.
2006-08-23 14:45:31 · answer #4 · answered by JimZ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I tend to think of T Rex as I would modern land predators, or sea for that matter. The large ones (excluding Orcas) generally hunt alone & tend to scavenge wherever possible. Less eergy more protein. I'd be skeptical on pack mentality, but lions do it, even educated bears do it.
2006-08-23 13:27:05 · answer #5 · answered by Auggie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't imagine T Rex sharing anything or cooperating with other T Rex.
2006-08-23 12:20:04 · answer #6 · answered by Peach 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋