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 determines the winner of a battle between Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops, and second compares the strength of an ankylosaur and Velociraptor.
The programmes were broadcast on BBC 1 in August and September 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 a maximum of 25 mph.
- Scanning an endocast from Tyrannosaurus's skull, scientists theorise that Tyrannosaurus had a brain similar to that of a modern-day alligator.
- Tyrannosaurus had good vision, and a good sense of smell.
- Tyrannosaurus could bite through bone, at a bite force of at least 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 may have gored its predators.
- Triceratops was slower (15 mph) than Tyrannosaurus, but more agile.
[edit] Outcome
An even match. In the episode, Triceratops managed to win the fight.
[edit] Velociraptor VS an unidentified ankylosaur
[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, possbly to stab the vital arteries or the jugular vein.
- Velociraptor's feathers were used for balance and agility, like an ostrich.
- Along with its claws, Velociraptor's teeth were useful weapons.
- Velociraptor most likely hunted in small packs.
- Teeth of this dinosaur were found among its victims.
- The biomechanical claw provides evidence that the Velociraptor couldn't penetrate the ankylosaur's armour, when tested on a crocodile skin, it would break.
[edit] Unidentified ankylosaur
- Ankylosaur armour was similar to a crocodile's, though significantly harder.
- Young crocodiles have no armour, especially on the neck. Baby ankylosaurs were probably similar.
- A robotic ankylosaur tail shows that the tail club could break wood and bone with ease.
- This dinosaur's armour and club was used only on more threatening predators than Velociraptor.
[edit] Outcome
The ankylosaur would win, although Velociraptor could easily kill young ankylosaurs.
[edit] Minor Appearances
[edit] Tarbosaurus
- Tarbosaurus appears in the second episode briefly, fighting the ankylosaur, 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 Velociraptor and losing.
- Its beak and bony head were powerful weapons, but because of its small size, Protoceratops was most likely preyed upon by many Mongolian predators.
