Transcript
Today – 4/05Today – 4/05
• Critter in the News
• Theropod tree
• theropod metabolism
• Little Das’ Hunt
Last time
Troodon nesting behavior
Evolution of flight
Early gliders
Oviraptor, Gallimimus, and T. rex
Volaticotherium – gliding mammal
About 2.5 oz, 5 inches long, older than 125 Ma, large furry gliding membrane!
Gliding is thought to have arisen 7 times in mammals (more to come!)
Teeth highly specialized for insectivory
Previous oldest flying mammal – 51 Ma bat
Predator / prey ratios
Cold-blooded predators need less food, and so ecosystems can support more of them
1% of biomass is predators in mammals
25% in modern ecosystems with cold-blooded predators
Bones say 3-5% in dinosaurs
Footprints say 15%