The distinctive claw, on the second digit of dromaeosaurids, has traditionally been depicted as a slashing weapon; its assumed use being to cut and disembowel prey. In the "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen, the Velociraptor lies underneath, with one of its sickle claws apparently embedded in the throat of its prey, while the beak of Protoceratops is clamped down upon the right forelimb of its attacker. This suggests Velociraptor may have used its sickle claw to pierce vital organs of the throat, such as the jugular vein, carotid artery, or trachea (windpipe), rather than slashing the abdomen. The inside edge of the claw was rounded and not unusually sharp, which may have precluded any sort of cutting or slashing action, although only the bony core of the claw is preserved. The thick abdominal wall of skin and muscle of large prey species would have been difficult to slash without a specialized cutting surface. The slashing hypothesis was tested during a 2005 BBC documentary, The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs. The producers of the program created an artificial Velociraptor leg with a sickle claw and used a pork belly to simulate the dinosaur's prey. Though the sickle claw did penetrate the abdominal wall, it was unable to tear it open, indicating that the claw was not used to disembowel prey.
"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past." Patrick Henry 1775
I personally believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and that deficit spending is sustainable forever. We really do need more Admirals in the Navy than ships and that millions of more poor immigrants will jump start the economy.
"There's a sucker born every minute." Phineas Taylor Barnum
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 109,565PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 109,565
Miami, FL USA
I’ve lived in Florida almost my entire life and I’ve never had any close encounters with gators, cassowaries, poisonous snakes, barracudas, sharks or inner-city thugs. I guess I’ve been lucky.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Pretty much you can bet the vast majority of "Florida Men" are NOT from Florida.
As for the spaghetti monster... Were was Magnum when you need him?
"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past." Patrick Henry 1775
I personally believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and that deficit spending is sustainable forever. We really do need more Admirals in the Navy than ships and that millions of more poor immigrants will jump start the economy.
"There's a sucker born every minute." Phineas Taylor Barnum
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 109,565PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 109,565
Miami, FL USA
I’m quite offended at my State being badmouthed!!!
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
We're not badmouthing Florida. We're in awe of the legend that is Florida Man. Florida Man has given us hours of quality entertainment over the past years. Even Florida Woman occasionally appeared in supporting roles.
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 109,565PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 109,565
Miami, FL USA
Meth is a terrible drug.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
I’ve lived in Florida almost my entire life and I’ve never had any close encounters with gators, cassowaries, poisonous snakes, barracudas, sharks or inner-city thugs. I guess I’ve been lucky.
Seriously? Do you ever leave the house? I've never seen cassowaries, but I'll see a gator every couple of months at least, poisonous snakes at least once a year(ring neck, rat snakes and black racers monthly)... never ran across a barracuda in FL, but fishing in CA... had a small shark approach me while snorkeling and another while fishing from a sandbar when I was younger and I see inner city thugs multiple times a day on my drive to work (tampa/ybor). I do live at the outskirts of a smaller town though...rural-ish (no pizza delivery or cable tv/internet)
I do try remain vigilant for 'Florida Man' and give him a wide berth when spotted.
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Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 109,565PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 109,565
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by K6_Scorpion
Seriously? Do you ever leave the house? .
I do! I've just always lived in a heavily urbanized and densely populated area of Florida so hence why I never had any close encounters with the dangerous wildlife.
Zoos don't count of course.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 04/18/1910:30 AM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”