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Post by mingle on Apr 29, 2008 20:09:04 GMT 10
... what would it's diet have consisted of?
I know that at one point in time (is it still considered possible?) time it was postulated that TC may have been a specialised plant-eater.
If so, what would they have eaten?
I thought that it could've been some of the smaller palm/cycad-type plants, since many of them have very palatable cores, but you have to strip away the outer layers to get to the good stuff...
Seems to me that the teeth of TC would also have been well-suited to prising away the outer-layers (incisors) and then slicing neat chunks out of the juice heart (carnissals)...
You never know...
Cheers,
Mike.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2008 22:51:35 GMT 10
Yes I remember that. The theory was that it ate some kind of native melons. I can't remember whose idea it was, almost certainly not from Steve Wroe!  |
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Thylacoleo Gal
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Thylacoleo Gal
The Singularity is near.
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Post by Thylacoleo Gal on Apr 30, 2008 6:36:30 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2008 12:52:54 GMT 10
Ever tried native melons? I doubt whether even a hungry TC would want one, a nice juicy 'roo would have to be better and not seasonal. Part of the question arose because there are marks similar to those thought made by TC teeth found on bones that (in the words of Dr Gill) "appeared horizons after TC". It was assumed that if TC teeth marks were appearing on bones after TC was considered extinct then even the earlier ones may not have been TC but instead Aboriginal flint knives. Not for one minute did they want to consider the possibility of a remnant TC species.
I think Prof Owen got it right TC was/is a carnivore later teethmarks just show he lingered or lingers far longer than expected.
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Post by mingle on Apr 30, 2008 16:58:37 GMT 10
@dennis,
I can't say I've ever tried a native melon - can't be that bad, surely...
But it sounds a lot more appetising that a wallaby's behind...
I know which one I'D rather chew on!
Cheers,
Mike.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2008 14:41:57 GMT 10
Lots of them growing wild in Mallee regions and similar dry regions I have tried to figure a use for them (other than throwing) because if you could you could make a fortune there are tons of them around just waiting to be picked up. Honeydew melons grow in the same areas now they are worth picking, and are sown harvested and sold.
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Post by mingle on May 1, 2008 16:14:01 GMT 10
Hey Dennis,
Do those Honeydew melons grow in the wild too? Would be worth a trip to the Mallee just to load up on 'em!
Cheers,
Mike.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2008 10:06:31 GMT 10
Yes I have seen them growing wild along the side of roads near the Murray River @ Tooleybuc, Piangil and that area. It would be cheaper to buy one at the supermarket save the seeds and plant them in your own backyard. Locals will usually beat you to the wild ones, the other thing that grows wild all over the place (including Maryborough Cemetry) is asparagus. I can't believe the price they charge in the shops it grows all over the place and most people think it is just a weed (unless they see the spears sprouting).
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at supermarket prices I saw silverbeet at $4 a bunch I guess it's because most modern homes don't have room for a vegie patch.
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