The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
