Airborne Allosaurus?

Recently it was discovered that Allosaurus had broken ribs characteristic of fall injuries. It is argued that Allosaurus sustained these injuries due to 'belly flops' while pursuing prey. Since the ground-up theory of flight has been pretty much discredited with the discovery of flat-footed quadrupedal pterosaurs, perhaps the theropod relatives of Allosaurus, and perhaps even Allosaurus itself, tried to fly by belly flopping off of trees. May be, just may be, that's how Allosaurus injured its ribs!

Thank you 'cal',,this is a wonderful image with which to start my day!!

Museum of Zoology http://www-personal.umich.edu/~tdib University of Michigan 734-647-2192

I can just see it. Some Allosaurus's kid, standing on top of a garage with a SuperDino cape tied around his neck, jumping off and yelling, 'down with the evil mammals'!

I was imaging more along the lines of an Allosaur running through the brush and a mammal sticking his leg out to trip him.

By gum! I think I've discovered how the mammals took over! Thanks, Cal!

(more wonderful theories are yet to be born..._ Tom

> fall injuries. It is argued that Allosaurus sustained these injuries due to > 'belly flops' while pursuing prey. Since the ground-up theory of flight has > been pretty much discredited with the discovery of flat-footed quadrupedal > pterosaurs, perhaps the theropod relatives of Allosaurus, and perhaps even > Allosaurus itself, tried to fly by belly flopping off of trees. May be, just > may be, that's how Allosaurus injured its ribs!

What T*d H*ld*n could make of this...

The allosaur was, obviously, out 'moonwalking' around when the felt effect of gravity abruptly changed in mid-stride.