But in general, predators probably steered well clear of them," Hone added.
But they were dwarfed by adult sauropods reaching perhaps 50 tons.
Bites were detected on sauropod bones belonging to Camarasaurus, Galeamopus and Suuwassea as well as bones probably but not definitively belonging to Diplodocus, Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus.
The fact that theropods appear to have avoided hunting adult sauropods does not mean sauropods were not on the menu.
The researchers noticed high levels of wear on fossilized teeth of theropods that did not correspond to the rarity of bites on adult sauropod bones.
Persons:
Charles Platiau, David Hone of, Hone, Mathew Wedel, wouldn't, Wedel, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien
Organizations:
REUTERS, Rights, David Hone of Queen Mary University of London, Western University of Health Sciences, Thomson
Locations:
Wyoming, Paris, France, North America, California, United States, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, Morrison