Why is relying on scavenging described as an energy-saving strategy for Xenotarsosaurus?
Answer
It avoids the high energy cost and risk associated with pursuing large, living prey.
Scavenging functions as an energy-saving strategy because hunting large herbivores, such as sauropods or medium-sized ornithischians, demands significant energy investment and carries substantial risks, including injury that could lead to starvation. By contrast, scavenging allows Xenotarsosaurus to capitalize on food resources already expended through natural death or prior predation. This lower-risk activity provides a substantial caloric intake, allowing the animal to maintain nutritional stability without the constant, high-energy expenditure required for active pursuit.
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