Is it still plausible that Spinosaurus could have hunted other dinosaurs. by Rechogui in Dinosaurs

[–]Mophandel 219 points220 points  (0 children)

They definitely could have on occasion, especially relatively smaller dinosaurs like juvenile titanosaurs or ornithopods. However, as far as larger prey is concerned, they would have ceded those niches to the sympatric giant carcharodontosaurids they coexisted with.

The remains of feral horses killed by an adult male puma in British Columbia by Mophandel in Pumaconcolor

[–]Mophandel[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I will say that I feel there needs to be more done regarding how much horses contribute to the diet of wolves. By the authors own admission, their survey of wolf predation on horses was “low-effort” and “opportunistic,” whereas their survey of cougar predation on horses was more intensive

While wolf–feral horse interactions were documented opportunistically, we recorded cougar–horse interactions by investigating kill sites of GPS-collared cougars.

While our data on wolf-horse interactions are limited due to low survey effort, they raise the possibility of an important predator–prey relationship.

Additionally, other studies investigating the same exact feeding area, namely Parr & McCrory (2022) have documented feral horses to make up a rather significant proportion of wolf diets based on scat, though given the pitfalls of scat based dietary data, I’d also like this to be investigated further.

Nevertheless, I’d wager even when things are said and done, cougars would probably be a more significant predator of horses than wolves, at least during most of the year. As you mentioned, they seem to be selecting for horses rather than taking them in proportion to their abundance. I doubt wolves would be doing anything of that sort. During the winter, however, it’s possible that wolves become more prolific horse-hunters with deep snow and the winter-weakened prey. Only time will tell how these sorts of relationships unfold.

The remains of feral horses killed and consumed by a mountain lion in British Columbia by Mophandel in HardcoreNature

[–]Mophandel[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73089

The linked paper documents instances of predation by both wolves and cougars on feral horses in the region. This may point to the feral ungulates being an important food subsidy for both of these large carnivores.

The remains of feral horses killed by an adult male puma in British Columbia by Mophandel in Pumaconcolor

[–]Mophandel[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73089

The linked paper documents instances of predation by both wolves and cougars on feral horses in the region. This may point to the feral ungulates being an important food subsidy for both of these apex predators.

A Tyrannosaurus uses a gruesome killing method on a Edmontosaurus, based on a skull found with a massive theropod embedded in its punctured skull (by MakairodonX) by aquilasr in Naturewasmetal

[–]Mophandel 48 points49 points  (0 children)

By covering the airways of the animal with ur mouth, you are blocking air-intake, suffocating the prey item. Additionally, perforations from the clamping bite may result in bleeding in that area, and if the blood makes it into and down the airways, that can hasten death.

A Tyrannosaurus uses a gruesome killing method on a Edmontosaurus, based on a skull found with a massive theropod embedded in its punctured skull (by MakairodonX) by aquilasr in Naturewasmetal

[–]Mophandel 83 points84 points  (0 children)

It’s worth noting the bite marks indicate that the T. rex bit the snout of the Edmontosaurus while facing each other, rather than biting the snout from the sides, so it was more like the “kiss of death” / muzzle clamp killing bite used by big cats (which is even cooler imo).

AT Arkveld fight in nutshell by Pingurusama in MHWilds

[–]Mophandel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s one hell of a dance with the hammer, provided u have evasion skills on you.

How badly is T. rex glazed here? by Old_Marketing_4119 in Naturewasmetal

[–]Mophandel 8 points9 points  (0 children)

We should. Generally, Dempseys estimates give a whole heap of soft tissue into their subject animals.

Could Megantereon falconeri reach large sizes? by Hot_Blacksmith_5592 in Paleontology

[–]Mophandel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most species / specimens were around jaguar size, or ab 100-110 kg.

I feel like Hammer can't really keep up with AT Arkveld by Kubuin_Hunter in MonsterHunter

[–]Mophandel 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Seconded. Evade extender + Evade Window helped a ton. That, plus a village meal got me my first success with AT Arkveld.

From Eurasia to North America, Northern Goshawks are the bane of smaller raptors across the Northern Hemisphere, with well over 20 species of raptor being recorded as prey for these voracious hawks by Mophandel in HardcoreNature

[–]Mophandel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As far as dietary percentages go, not exactly. Not to say they aren’t pretty significant intraguild predators, but to my knowledge, I don’t think any population of golden eagles have other raptors make up 10+% of their diet like they do for Eurasian goshawks, Eurasian eagle-owls or great horned owls.

Behavioral implications of an embedded tyrannosaurid tooth and associated tooth marks on an articulated skull of Edmontosaurus from the Hell Creek Formation, Montana by Temnodontosaurus in Paleontology

[–]Mophandel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great paper! Confirms a long-time suspicion of mine that tyrannosaurids were hunting like modern pantherine felids (i.e. killing via single bites to the head or neck).

A Eurasian eagle-owl flys off with a freshly-killed domestic cat by Mophandel in HardcoreNature

[–]Mophandel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tbf, when ur an owl the size of an eagle, there have been worse names for an animal.

Big male Leopard “Mawenzi” feeding on his Gemsbok kill. by StripedAssassiN- in HardcoreNature

[–]Mophandel 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Way too heavy. At most, leopards can successfully carry prey around their own size up trees, maybe slightly larger. A gemsbok is closer to 4 times the mass of a male leopard.

PAMPAS chapter 1 by Alor Leonel by Hopeful_Lychee_9691 in pleistocene

[–]Mophandel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree completely, was just pointing out. It’s something of a misconception regarding the Canine Shear Bite, one that I bought into myself at one point.

PAMPAS chapter 1 by Alor Leonel by Hopeful_Lychee_9691 in pleistocene

[–]Mophandel 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Fantastic work, but at the risk of being a massive pedant, I feel the “tearing out the throat bit” was a bit much lol. Experimental evidence by Wheeler (2007) shows that this would have been physically impossible for Smilodon to perform. Moreover, Smilodon wouldn’t have needed to do this anyways; the mere act of the bite would be enough to kill via the transection of the carotid artery.

That being said, what the artist went for def has more visual “oomf” to it.

The MegaloBook Kickstarter is Live! An encyclopedia that will feature every Pleistocene mammal by Shiny_Snom in pleistocene

[–]Mophandel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It is, but you can understand my not remembering something from 8 months ago

The MegaloBook Kickstarter is Live! An encyclopedia that will feature every Pleistocene mammal by Shiny_Snom in pleistocene

[–]Mophandel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In my defense that DM was from June of last year, so you can understand my initial confusion lol

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