What potential indirect relation might the large cranial crest of Parasaurolophus have to feeding?
Answer
Involvement in sound production for coordinating movement to rich feeding grounds.
While the crest is visually distinctive, theories suggest it played a role in communication through sound production. If Parasaurolophus lived in herds, this communication ability would be vital for coordinating their foraging movements. Being able to quickly signal and move the group efficiently to exploit a productive stand of cycads or a flourishing cycle of ferns would drastically improve the herd's success in meeting its constant energy demands, thereby indirectly influencing feeding strategy based on communal discovery.
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