Freethought & Rationalism Archive

bluefugue · 02-27-2002, 08:11 PM

First they're scavengers not predators, now they can't run, apparently:

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/02/27/tyrranosaurus/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/02/27/tyrranosaurus/index.html</a>

Calvin would be pissed.

theyeti · 02-27-2002, 08:21 PM

Luckily, there have been lots of recent discoveries of bigger, meaner dinosaurs that make T-rex look like a pussy. So don't worry, we'll still have an ultra-predator or two to admire. Of course, T-rex is an icon firmly entrenched into our collective psyche, so it probably won't be replaced as the all time master of ass whoopin' for awhile.

theyeti

tronvillain · 02-27-2002, 09:30 PM

Well, can you imagine something the size of a T-Rex slipping and falling? Even if they couldn't achieve a "running" gait, I wouldn't want to try to outrun one.

Automaton · 02-28-2002, 02:46 AM

Yeah, didn't you guys watch Jurassic Park 3?

liquid · 02-28-2002, 04:29 AM

In one of my exam papers we had to do an analysis of the physics involved when a t-rex falls over when running.

Conclusion was a big OUCH!

kwigibo · 02-28-2002, 05:15 AM

on the subject of meaner, what's the current consensus on Baryonyx, the one with the big, fuck-off claw? was that another iguanadon-esque stuff up?

butswana · 02-28-2002, 07:32 AM

The walking scavenger thing isn't really new. Jack Horner brought it up in The Discovery Channel's "Valley of the T-rex."
According to Jack, T-rex evolved from a fast running predator into a long distance walking scavenger.
He used changes in leg bone length, shrinking of the arms, and insanely large olfactory lobes(comparable to vultures, who can smell carrion 25 miles away) as evidence.

John Solum · 02-28-2002, 07:38 AM

I think this link has been provided before, but just in case my memory's faulty:

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/01/31/running.dinosaur/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/01/31/running.dinosaur/</a>

So at least one theropod could move along at a nice clip even if T. rex couldn't.

Late_Cretaceous · 02-28-2002, 08:21 AM

I still would not want to get between a pair jaws that could crush the pelvis of a Triceratops.

lpetrich · 03-01-2002, 01:14 PM

It would be interesting to work out how much territory a tyrannosaur would have to survey in order to find enough meat to survive; has anyone tried that?

It's interesting that present-day mammalian land carnivores are very wimpy by tyrannosaur standards; here are typical body masses:

T. rex: 6000 kg (estimated)

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos): 500 kg
Tiger (Panthera tigris): 180 kg (max. ~ 300 kg)
Lion (Panthera leo): 180 kg (max. ~ 250 kg)
Wolf (Canis lupus): 70 kg

So what allowed T. rex to grow so big?

02-27-2002, 08:11 PM	#1
bluefugue Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,427	T-Rexes keep getting lamer First they're scavengers not predators, now they can't run, apparently: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/02/27/tyrranosaurus/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/02/27/tyrranosaurus/index.html</a> Calvin would be pissed.

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02-27-2002, 08:21 PM	#2
theyeti Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Denver, CO, USA Posts: 9,747	Luckily, there have been lots of recent discoveries of bigger, meaner dinosaurs that make T-rex look like a pussy. So don't worry, we'll still have an ultra-predator or two to admire. Of course, T-rex is an icon firmly entrenched into our collective psyche, so it probably won't be replaced as the all time master of ass whoopin' for awhile. theyeti

02-27-2002, 09:30 PM	#3
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	Well, can you imagine something the size of a T-Rex slipping and falling? Even if they couldn't achieve a "running" gait, I wouldn't want to try to outrun one.

02-28-2002, 02:46 AM	#4
Automaton Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 717	Yeah, didn't you guys watch Jurassic Park 3?

02-28-2002, 04:29 AM	#5
liquid Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: UK Posts: 1,440	In one of my exam papers we had to do an analysis of the physics involved when a t-rex falls over when running. Conclusion was a big OUCH!

02-28-2002, 05:15 AM	#6
kwigibo Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia Posts: 5,814	on the subject of meaner, what's the current consensus on Baryonyx, the one with the big, fuck-off claw? was that another iguanadon-esque stuff up?

02-28-2002, 07:32 AM	#7
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	The walking scavenger thing isn't really new. Jack Horner brought it up in The Discovery Channel's "Valley of the T-rex." According to Jack, T-rex evolved from a fast running predator into a long distance walking scavenger. He used changes in leg bone length, shrinking of the arms, and insanely large olfactory lobes(comparable to vultures, who can smell carrion 25 miles away) as evidence.

02-28-2002, 07:38 AM	#8
John Solum Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 139	I think this link has been provided before, but just in case my memory's faulty: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/01/31/running.dinosaur/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/01/31/running.dinosaur/</a> So at least one theropod could move along at a nice clip even if T. rex couldn't.

02-28-2002, 08:21 AM	#9
Late_Cretaceous Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,049	I still would not want to get between a pair jaws that could crush the pelvis of a Triceratops.

03-01-2002, 01:14 PM	#10
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	It would be interesting to work out how much territory a tyrannosaur would have to survey in order to find enough meat to survive; has anyone tried that? It's interesting that present-day mammalian land carnivores are very wimpy by tyrannosaur standards; here are typical body masses: T. rex: 6000 kg (estimated) Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos): 500 kg Tiger (Panthera tigris): 180 kg (max. ~ 300 kg) Lion (Panthera leo): 180 kg (max. ~ 250 kg) Wolf (Canis lupus): 70 kg So what allowed T. rex to grow so big?

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