Comments (Page 417)

resilent as rubber the utah gets up and snaps at the dilo then bites the snout and begins slashing. then kicks the dilo right in the gut, sending the 16 inch claw deeep into the stomach cavity.

Though it dosnt seem like it the Dilo's crests could withstand great forces, he will use this oppertunity to charge the raptor in mid-air head butting the raptor in the stomach sending it sprawling, but takeing two decent slashes to his side and one of his crests snaps at the top.

then the raptor backs up and kicks, sending that huge claw into the side. but the dilo evade most of the claw. only the tip of the claw went in. utah attacks and leaps up into the air!!!

Dilophosaurus being an agile animal would be able to dodge to the best of its abilitys. And as the raptor snaped at him he would use his own claws to rake the raptors face and neck, but keeping a wary distance from the raptors claws and mouth.

 the utah and dilo face off and size eacother up.the dilo lunges for the utah but the utah quickly evades then slaps him in the face, leaving three large,deep claw marks with blood gushing from the open wounds. then the utah charges with his mouth wide open, ready to kill.

Dilophosaurus wetherilli

Belonging to the most advanced Theropod family of the early Jurassic. Dilophosaurus was discovered in 1942 in the Kayenta Formation in Arizona by Sam Welles who described the first holotype of the species in 1954. Originaly named Megalosaurus wetherilli, the name was changed in 1970 to Dilophosaurus "two-crested lizard" because of the double crests on the top of its head.

utahraptor was the largest dromeosaurid ever at at a size of 24 feet on average and 1500 pounds and 6 feet tall. for weapons it has 1 to 3 inch teeth, 5 to 7 inch hand claws and of course a pair of 16 inch killing claws on each foot. this was the true predator package. it had brains,strength,weapons speed,size, and then more and more....... it was more then a match for dilophosaurus.

Before we start I would just like to say good luck to my competition. Your gonna need it.......... I couldnt say that with a straight face. But seriously let the best dino pair win.

possibly. i went there a few weeks ago they llooked like they were changing it.

Well, finally got something together, sorry it ain't better, got plenty on the go at the moment, and for the rest of the winter. 

From what I've just seen here, they are similar size. True, Oxalaia lived with other large predators, such as Ekrixinatosaurus (god I hate spelling that bugger's name) and Giganotosaurus, which would likely result in some interspecies conflict here and there, but perhaps not as often as one would think.

Being a Spinosaur, and being half the size of the largest predators in its area, while similar to others in size, it would likely have, like its larger cousin, Spinosaurus, stuck around rivers and ate fish most of the time. It would most likely have avoided competition if it could in normal situations, but come a drought or some other shortage of food, yes, it would be put into competition with its neighbours.

As for Tarbosaurus, yes, it was the dominant predator of the region and had little competition. However, during the mating season, territorial disputes, and fights for food, there would have been competition with other Tarbosaurus. Same for Oxalaia, but Tarbo may have had battles with more fatalities or critical injuries if it came down to a battle because of the higher bite force, capable of crushing bone. Sure, Oxalaia battles may draw more blood due to the slashing, but Tarbo battles likely had the higher fatality rate.

If the two were to fight, it's entirely possible they could kill each other, Tarbo biting the neck and crushing bone, but Oxalaia creating enough and/or large enough cuts to cause Tarbo to die of blood loss or infection. If one were to win more often than not though, I'd put my money on Tarbo if I was a betting man.

@Gojira2k, there's one other latest news article you missed.

Stock up on dino gear that's dino-mite at Jurassic Traders Gift Shop, now offering 20% off on select items.

I wonder what will happen when the timer ends?

I day gojira won since he had more tk go with from the start and used it to his advanrage.

GOJIRA2K - Hahaha! I'm extremely pleased that you approve of my ruling! You both did an absolutely fantastic job! I'm very impressed! :)

CARNOSAUR - Your preliminary information is extremely interesting and well presented! The vast majority of the composition is all new to me; just one of the many reasons why I greatly enjoy reading the posts you deliver! Keep up the fantastic work! :)

MR. HAPPY9097 - I'm extremely impressed by your willingness to let bygones be bygones - that takes an incredible amount of introspection! If the day ever comes where I've been party to an incredibly heated exchange, I hope I'll have the same amount of dignity and intellectual honesty as you to look beyond it. That aside, I just know you'll present incredibly interesting and thought-provoking facts for this debate! :)

The part I've found to be a very good tease of what we have in store is on the "Investors" Page. 

Since its inauguration in 2005, Jurassic World has captivated millions around the globe. By 2015 we are expecting our 10 millionth visitor to Isla Nublar. For investors, that spells success.

What does 2015 hold? We have a world-class genetics and research and development team who have some ideas that will take genetics to the next level. Using InGen technology, combined with Masrani innovation, the world is ours to make and enjoy. I wish all of you the best as we head into a new era.

And farther down on the same page:

Masrani Corporation's Chief Operations Officer Mr. Richard Wiesner described the year's success as merely acceptable. "You can't expect the world's greatest theme park to merely rely on the same attractions. We need to be proactive, thinking of bigger and better things. Isla Nublar only peaks in attendance during the American holiday season. Why? Proximity. The world has seen what we have to offer, but they aren't in awe as they once used to be. We need to change that. We have a chance to over the upcoming few years."

Despite speculations in the media that Jurassic World might be seen as a slowing attraction, investors can enjoy last month's announcement of a further 300 hotel rooms to be built on the island. Some big plans are coming, so stay tuned in 2014.

I meant how did you estimate the weight of the various parts of the body?

@UCMP 119742

The Albertosaurus was actualy the smallest of the large carnivores in the region, while it was a Tyrannosaur it weighed less than two tons, and while it may have been longer than the other carnivores it was also the smallest in height reaching slightly less than three metres. Where the other carnivores grew to agleast 2.5 tons, and stood (except for a sub-adult allosaurus) 3-3.5 metres and taller. And while it may have been an agile predator the Carnotaurus and Allosaurus were likely faster, and the unlike the other predators the Albertosaurus didnt have the intimidation factor to defend its kills from the said predators. And while it was a Tyrannosaur with a devastating bite, the other carnivores were just as deadly with the Allosaurus and Torvosaurus being its main competition. And it is my personal belief that the Torvosaurus would have overlaped with the Albertosaurus in so many areas that they would push them to extinction.

Colin Trevorrow replied to a comment

https://twitter.com/colintrevorrow/status/534807034344927232

Frank Marshall tweeted it as well
https://twitter.com/LeDoctor/status/535095156144234498

^I will most definitely take this!

@Dilophosaurus

Whilst I do agree with nearly everything, I must say that your reasoning on why Albertosaurus would go extinct doesn't seem that legitimate since Albertosaurus would have been the second largest predator in the eco system (after the extinction of Tarbosaurus and Mapusaurus) and being one of the most agile carnivores on the list would've also helped it quite a lot.

Awesome! It looks amazing, love it!

GOJIRA2K and SCI-FI KING25 - As the deisgnated judge of this exceptionally well-fought debate, after reading the scenarios you gentlemen prensented multiple times, I hereby declare what is known as a Two-Lead Tie! In accordance with the Cambridge Judiciary Scale, both participants within this debate presented arguments that were both accessible to the audience and well-rounded in scope. Taking into account all factors, GOJIRA2K earned an overall rating of 8.7 while SCI-FI KING25 also managed a rating of 8.7. Based on ad-hoc percentage scaling, both participants matched one-another's points and counter-points with above average to excellent articulation. As such, the rules demand that I declare an even draw!

    Absolutely fantastic work! :)

neat
keep up the good work guys :)

Nice! Can't wait for the Game, when is it going to get released? Nice job guys

Nice Carnosaur! Happy can't wait for you turn, also when did you come back?

Sorry I'm just a bit behind, this week I have had my first ever end year of exams, tomorrow is the last, Geography...year 7 has gone ucik first year of hig school almost over, few!

So yeah, hi! :D

I want to be a palaeontologist, but I'm still 13 and in school :P

                                     Carnivores

Survive: Carnotaurus, Allosaurus, Torvosaurus, Deinonychus, and Troodon.

Extinct: Velociraptor, Oviraptor, Albertosaurus, Tarbosaurus, and Mapusaurus.

This list is my personal view and my best judgment as pertains to these Dinosaurs.

                                Reasons for survival

Now this list will probably shock a lot of people but let me explain why these predators are my choices. The ones who survived didn’t fail in more than one of these categories; they wouldn’t be out competed for food, they weren’t overly specialized, they could survive the transition into the habitat described, and they wouldn’t be wiped out by a rival species. All the dinosaurs listed under survive didn’t get into more than one of these categories or filled a specific niche in the environment.

Allosaurus would have stalked the plains following the herds of Apatosaurus on their never ending migrations while hunting the Hadrosaurs they could catch and would eventually figure out how to hunt the Ceratopsians with minimal injury. They would have hunted Camptosaurus but wouldn’t have been able to catch the Gallimimus except by ambush.   

Torvosaurus would have followed mostly the same patterns as Allosaurus hunting Sauropods, Hadrosaurs, Ceratopsians, and the Camptosaurus.

With the inevitable fall of the super specialized apex predators and not much in the way of competition from the other large carnivores the Carnotaurus would inevitably become the top predator in the region. And I can say this with certainty because of what is known about these predators, the Carnotaurus skull was short and broad with long but slender teeth. And even though the lower jaw was relatively week tests show that the upper jaw was able to withstand great forces and had a bite force that was twice as powerful as the American alligator which also gave it the ability to hunt the regions Sauropods, the Saltasaurus. While the Carnotaurus was lightly built for a predator of its size, that would prove to be a formidable weapon as it was capable of the fastest movement speed of all large carnivores with speed estimations ranging from 25-40 mph. The Carnotaurus would have had the ability to feed on every prey item in the region from the Sauropods down to the Gallimimus and probably even the Ankylosaurs once they figured out how to hunt them. The Carnotaurus would have dominated this region setting up massive territories and defending these territories to the death. If the Allosaurus is considered the Lion of such forest and prairie environments then the Carnotaurus is the tiger.

Deinonychus would thrive in this ecosystem because of the available prey, and the closeness of the habitat to their original habitat. Deinonychus would live in the forest interior where their size would make chases in the dense foliage relatively easy, and ambushes almost imposable to detect, though some would be forced to move out onto the forest edge and the prairie hunting the Hadrosaurs, Camptosaurs, and Gallimimus. Deinonychus would also be the downfall of the Velociraptor through the stealing of their kills, and killing them for food and competition for territory.

Troodons would have likely inhabited the same places as the Deinonychus but would rarely if ever come into conflict over territory or food due to the fact that Troodons are thought to have been mostly nocturnal and eaten small mammals and reptiles instead of Dinosaurs. Although some Troodons in what is now modern day Alaska grew to the size of Deinonychus threw special hunting tactics of hadrosaurs that were developed and could be used here.      

                                Reasons for extinction

Very short list with explanations; they would be out competed for food, they were to overly specialized, they couldn’t survive the transition into the habitat described, and they would be wiped out by a rival species.

Mapusaurus would have died with the Argentinosaurus, and even before then the population would have been strained by the rival Tarbosaurus, Torvosaurus, Allosaurus, and Carnotaurus. And its inability to transition from an arid badlands type of habitat into the coniferous and humid forest and prairie habitat. And while they could hunt the smaller Sauropods their population would be so strained because of the fighting with the Tarbosaurus that they would eventually go extinct.

Velociraptor/Oviraptor would have lived for some time before their numbers dwindled because of improper habitat (they were adapted to desserts, I can’t think of a habit less supportive unless you threw it in the ocean) and being out competed by the Deinonychus, and the lack of proper prey.

Just like Mapusaurus, Tarbosaurus would have died off with the Gastonia even though it could hunt the Edmontonia, but living in the forest interior would have been too restricting for a creature the size of Tarbosaurus. Their numbers would have also been hampered by the rival Mapusaurus, Torvosaurus, Allosaurus, and Carnotaurus. The Tarbosaurus would survive by bullying the other predators but just like the Mapusaurus improper habitat, overspecialization, and fighting with other predators would drive them to extinction, and take the Mapusaurus with them.

Albertosaurus would survive after the fall of the apex predators, but with their numbers already strained, and more competition than the remaining population can handle, as well as being the smallest of the large carnivores. Their numbers would eventually dwindle due to being bullied out of their hunts, and getting killed by the other larger theropods, and that would lead to their eventual extinction.

I'm lovin' these skins!!  The stripes really add a camouflage element to them, so they can ambush their prey.

Doesn't the male's skin resemble the Andrewsarchus' pelt from Walking with Prehistoric Beasts?

For some reason whenever I try to edit the link on this discussion my edits won't work, so here is the link:

LINK for Poster

Make this an interesting debate and I'll certainly feauture it. I'm pretty sure it will be, Carno made a excellent start.

So long as there's no cussing and insults, I'm cool with it. 

Man if I get to do this for a whole week I;m gonna be going from to much time on my hands, to no where near enough. But it will deffinatly be a fun way to kill time.

Ah, not a career, but classes, a career choice, and extensive research.

I'm working on something based off of what I read that you said (no, I do not have anything proving a 12m Tarbo).

Overall, I'll do my best with the time I've got, but I've got several things on the go at home.

ah, i am following in your footsteps. i want to be a paleontologist some day.

                                Herbivores

Survive: Gallimimus, Edmontonia, Parasaurolophus, Camptosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, Styracosaurus, Vulcanodon, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Miragaia, Kentrosaurus, Edmontosaurus, and iguanodon.

Extinct: Stegosaurus,Pachycephalosaurus,Therizinosaurus, Argentinosaurus, and Plateosaurus.

The rest of the herbivores that are not mentioned were left out because of the lack of knowledge about the dinosaur in general.

I would like to say that these choices are from my personal understanding of these dinosaurs (or lack thereof).

                                Reasons for survival

Almost all of the dinosaurs I chose to survive were already well adapted to this type of habitat with the exception of Gallimimus, and a few of the Sauropods. Another reason for these dinosaurs survival is how they would be hunted by the carnivores in the area, as well as the amount of available food for all the different species to co-exist. The last reason I believe that these herbivores would survive is because of the different territories that they would all inhabit would leave the ecosystem in a decent balance. The large Sauropods would remain in the plains and prairie lands where the smaller Sauropods would live on the forest edge along with the Ceratopsians and Hadrosaurs, and at times the smaller Camptosaurus and flocks of Gallimimus roaming from one river or body of water to another. Inside the forest would be the refuge of the smaller animals and the clutching areas for many of the herbivores, the forest interior would likely contain the smaller stegosaurs, the smaller Sauropods, the Camptosaurus, and small flocks of Gallimimus that have found rivers in the forest interior. The Hadrosaurs would also move into the forest at night, likely sleeping there for added protection of the herd then grazing at the forest edge before moving out into the plains. Edmontonia would have stayed near the forest edge but traveled into the interior for clutching.

                                Reasons for extinction

The dinosaurs on this list are here for the most basic of reasons; they would be hunted to extinction, and they would be out competed for food. That’s pretty much it actually their isn’t a whole lot more to say on the Meta level so onto how they would be driven to extinction. The Stegosaurus would be both out competed for food, and hunted into extinction. The Pachycephalosaurus would be hunted into extinction without a doubt in my mind, not to mention the habitat is nowhere near what they were evolved to survive in; I mean they were built for desert life not lush forest, so for now my personal judgment says they would go extinct for the reasons listed above. The Therizinosaurus would go extinct mainly because of over hunting, even though it is equipped with heavy weaponry the overabundance of such large predators would make the Therizinosaurus a very tempting target, and if I’m honest I think that the Therizinosaurus claws could only do so much to intimidate and protect it. The Argentinosaurus would die of because it’s just too large for such a place with so many other herbivores, not to mention the amount of predators that were built to take down large Sauropods would lead to the death of many Sauropods but their sizes are within the boundaries of the habitat whereas the Argentinosaurus size would turn into a crippling disadvantage. For now I will say that the Plateosaurus would go extinct but wish to chew on it further so take this choice with a grain of salt.

Well that’s it for the herbivores; I’ll be back later with my thoughts on the carnivores.

Oh, right, you do this for a career, don't you? I'll do my best.

Agreed; i'll open this one up. Starting with the size of O. quilombensis:

O. quilombensis is a rather enigmatic spinosaur found in south america. Why so enigmatic? because its size is a subject of constant debate. However, i'll put some of the controversy to rest here.

The often talked about 1.35 m skull(and in turn 12+ m body length) is very dubious, and i'm 100% skeptical of it -- the premaxillae isn't that large.

Basing off of the fragments and comparing them with that of S. tenerensis, we get ~1.2 m for the skull length. Which puts it on par with Suchomimus in overall size -- 11 m and 3.5 tons

It has been suggested that O. quilombensis is just another species of Spinosaurus.

http://yutyrannus.deviantart.com/journal/Oxalaia-or-Spinosaurus-in-Cretaceous-Brazil-485191553

Using the new basis for the S. aegyptiacus finds, downscaling S. aegyptiacus to 11m gives a weight of 3-4  tons. 

In conclusion, Oxalaia was a Suchomimus sized Spinosaur at 11 m, 3.5-4 tons in weight.

Tarbosaurus has gone through dramatic size reduction as well though. Most tarbosaurus are actually just roughly comparable in size to a biggish daspletosaurus.

I find a 12 m tarbosaurus highly questionable... Happy, do you have anything suggesting a 12 m figure?

Anyway, Tarbosaurus skulls are ~1.1m long at most (Maleev 1955) That's comparable to D. torosus and A. Sarcophogus. This exception to this, though, is  PIN 551-1, the holotype, which is 122cm in premaxilla to occipital according to Maleev. An overall skull length would be ~1.2 - 1.3 m.

12 meter estimates were mainly due to a drastically elongated tail(same reason that T. rex was believed to be 14 m when it was discovered.

A more realistic figure,  IMO, gives a total length of 10m for PIN 551-1 and a little less than 9m for PIN 551-3...In any case it does not appear we can confidently claim there’s any known tarbosaurus specimen exceeding 11m.

The bigger specimens of D. torosus  are around 3 tons in weight(Pete 3 is figured to be ~3.5 tons, yet i haven't seen a full description on this) Tarbosaurus was somewhere between D. torosus and T. rex in overall body build, so a median weight of 3 tons is perfectly acceptable imo. PIN 551-1 is the exception here, perhaps weighing in at 4 tons.

Overall, they're pretty similar in overall mass but O. quilombensis was an animal that shared its habitat with large Carcharodontosaurids, Ekrixinatosaurus, and a variety of other smaller predsators. T. bataar is the only gigantic predator in its realm, so interspecific conflict was pretty limited(Z. magnus lived a couple million years before, despite common belief)

Also, if O. quilombensis was like S. aegyptiacus in overall build, it would have large arms that it could utilize here. Forelimbs are often used to "grapple" with prey, and manipulate the head of another rival predator(an example can be seen with leopards & hyenas) Spinosaurid skulls are resistant to lateral forces as well( an adaptation in dealing with catching fish) so, a wriggling similarly sized tyrannosaur isn't going to do much to O. quilombensis' jaws.

Ain't got nothing at the ready ATM fir the debate, but I have one thing to say to my opponent.

I know we've had our differences in the past, but let's not let our bad times get to us here. Just a clean, Tarbo is better than Oxalaia (or the other way around of course) debate.