The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs

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The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs is a two-part BBC documentary, presented by Bill Oddie, in which a group of scientists test out the strength of dinosaur weaponry using biomechanics. The first episode detemines the winner of a battle between Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops, and second compares the strength of an Ankylosaurus and Velociraptor.

The programmes were broadcast on BBC 1 in July and August of 2005.

Contents

[edit] Episodes & Evidence

These are the episodes and the evidence revealed in them.

[edit] Tyrannosaurus VS Triceratops

[edit] Tyrannosaurus

  • Evidence of head injuries on Triceratops indicates Tyrannosaurus attacked living Triceratops
  • Using a steel Tyrannosaurus skull, scientists learned that Tyrannosaurus could easily crush a small car
  • Scientists learn that Tyrannosaurus could run at 25 mph tops
  • Scanning an endocast from Tyrannosaurus's skull, scientists theorize Tyrannosaurus acted like an alligator and wasn't very smart.
  • Tyrannosaurus had good vision, and a good sense of smell
  • Tyrannosaurus could bite through bone, at a bite force of 4 tons per square inch

[edit] Triceratops

  • Doing a crash test with an artificial Triceratops skull, made of resin, scientists learn that Triceratops probably didn't charge at predators, for its skull would likely break
  • Triceratops likely gored its predators
  • Triceratops was slower than (15 mph) Tyrannosaurus, but more agile
  • Triceratops likely didn't have time to think

[edit] Outcome

An even match. In the episode, Triceratops managed to kill Tyrannosaurus.

[edit] Velociraptor VS Ankylosaurus

[edit] Velociraptor

  • Velociraptor was only the size of a turkey
  • Velociraptor had feathers
  • A robotic Velociraptor leg provides evidence that Velociraptor didn't disembowel its prey
  • The fossil of a Velociraptor fighting a Protoceratops shows that the Velociraptor pierced the neck of its prey
  • Velociraptor's "wings" were used for balance and agility, like an ostrich
  • Velociraptor's teeth were useful weapons
  • Velociraptor hunted in packs
  • Teeth of this dinosaur were found among its victims
  • The biomechanical claw provides evidence that the Velociraptor couldn't penetrate the Ankylosaurus's armour, when tested on a crocodile skin, it would break

[edit] Ankylosaurus

  • Ankylosaurus armour was similar to a crocodile's, though significantly tougher
  • Young crocodiles have no armour, especially on the neck. Baby Ankylosaurus were probably similar
  • A robotic Ankylosaurus tail shows that the tail club could break wood and bone with ease, along with the Velociraptor
  • This dinosaur's armour and club was used on a much bigger threat than Velociraptor, eg: Tarbosaurus

[edit] Outcome

The Ankylosaurus would win, although Velociraptor could easily kill young Ankylosaurus.

[edit] Minor Appearances

[edit] Tarbosaurus
  • Tarbosaurus appears in the second episode briefly, fighting the Ankylosaurus, and losing.
  • It was related to Tyrannosaurus, and had the same bite force, which was still not enough to break the herbivore's armor.
  • The top predator in the Mongolian plains.

[edit] Protoceratops
  • Appears briefly in two fights against Velociraptor. The first is a re-enactment of the fighting dinosaurs scene. The second has it up against two Velociraptors and losing.
  • Its beak and bony head were powerful weapons, but because of its small size, Protoceratops was on the menu of many Mongolian predators.

[edit] External links

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