Comments (Page 97)

Something Real - Yes, it is a relatively heavy snake.  But it isn't as heavy as one would think.  The 22 year old, 10 foot male gator at that same facility currently weighs 400 lbs, so it wouldn't be a surprise if this gator in North Carolina currently weighs that much.

ALPHADINO65 - Oh, goodness! That is an extremely heavy reptile! Thank you ever so much for this information!

Something Real - a wild female of 20 feet would probably weigh 180-200 lbs.  Males weigh slightly less, and are slightly shorter.

Also, I was wrong about presuming that a 10 foot Burmese python was a juvenile.  After further research, the average length of a Burmese python in the wild is about 12 feet, while individuals over 13 feet are uncommon.  So, if this 10 foot creature was a Burmese python, it wasn't a juvenile.  It could have been a small adult, or a sub-adult, but certainly NOT a juvenile.

I remember holding an albino Burmese python at a reptile zoo (with some help from 2 keepers and 4 other kids) when I was 10, and it was HEAVY!  That individual was about 12-13 feet long, and it was said to have weighed over 100 lbs.  I don't remember the exact dimensions of that specimen though, because it was such a long time ago, and to a 10 year old, things always look BIGGER than when you get older.

ALPHADINO65 - Saints alive! How much do you suppose a snake of such size would weigh? :)

ALPHADINO65 - Once again, I am in agreement with your sentiments!:)

North Carolina?  Dinosaur-like?  10-15 feet long?  Sci-Fi King25 is on to something...

The two problems with this report is that there is no photographic evidence, and the eye-witness accounts state different size's of (presumably) the same creature.  I know how they feel:  I find it very difficult to estimate length or height of something by sight alone.

It's almost certainly an American alligator.  A good size for a male gator is about 10 feet, and they are the only gators who could attain lengths of 14-15 feet (though it's so rare to find them).  And they are common in North Carolina.

But if it's not an alligator, it's most likely a Burmese python.  The southeastern United States has a problem with them, where people released them into the wild once they saw that they don't make good pets.  They adapted quickly to the environment, and are now these feral snakes rival the American alligator for the title of the region's apex predator.  They can attain lengths of 20 feet, so they are within that size range (presumably this specimen was a juvenile), and they are also common in North Carolina.

TVR- Edmontosaurus and Triceratops were probably somewhat fast. Rhinos and elephants are large but still fast.

But could juveniles run? Once they left the nest did they hunt prey such as Ornithomimus or Pachycephalosaurus?

agreed, good points alphadino

Something Real - while I do agree that T.rex would not have been able to maintain its maximum horizontal velocity for long, these computer models did take into account the loading and insertion points of the bones and muscles/tendons respectively, along with all the external forces and moments (torque measurements), so I will not agree with you that T.rex could "sprint".  Sprints mean you run, and T.rex couldn't, based on all the evidence we have put into biomechanical computer models.  If an adult did try to run, it would have fallen, and most likely suffered pathologies severe enough to impede its ability to survive.

But, if you're stating that T.rex's biomechanical properties were entirely different...then I truly hope you're right!  That would probably tie in to the "smaller Earth" theory, where the the gravitational force was much smaller millions of years ago.

Ultimately, we can only go on what evidence is available.  Nonetheless, to imagine...

G:KOTM - Hahaha! I knew it! ;)

G:KOTM - Hahaha! I understand. Are you absolutely positive it was not Goldberg dressed as Godzilla? :)

^Double post SR, you're banned now!!!

G:KOTM - Hahaha! :)

G:KOTM - It might have been...Goldberg...

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SCI-FI KING25 - That is a possibility! However, I believe it was a monster! :)

SFK- You could be right.

T.rex vs Alamosaurus is so tempting, but I want to expand my dinosaur knowledge beyond the Tyrant Lord.

^^^

Maybe it was a large snake, crocodilian, or fish (gar, arapaima, etc.) that someone bought and later released into the wild?

GG I kinda expected you to do T.rex vs Alamosaurus. And would your entry be canon in the The End universe?

Interesting. I've never heard of this cryptid until now.

^^

DRACONUS - Quite so! Each stride it took would be many feet in length! Furthermore, I strongly suspect Tyrannosaurus could "sprint" for short distances. Every terrestrial animal - even the largest and heaviest - can make quick bursts of speed. :)

It would likely catch up to its prey easily since it's so Goddamn big.

DRACONUS - That is quite true! However, I am still willing to bet T.rex enjoyed a little sport now and again and decided to run down other animals for a little variety in its diet. ;)

ALPHADINO65 - I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment! Additionally, I am still not entirely convinced Tyrannosaurus rex could not actually run for short distances. There may be mechanisms within the ancient animal kindom of which we are still not aware - such as tendon and muscle placement for optimized support. :)

Also agree with everything Alphadino stated.

On the plus side, it didn't really need to run. It hunted the slow-moving Edmontosaurus and Triceratops, the latter of which was seven to fourteen tons.

Knew this for years.  Plenty of articles stated this.  There was one a while ago that stated T.rex would need 80% of its muscle mass in its legs in order to run 40 mph, which is impossible.  

My biggest issue is that other articles reporting on this study have claimed that Jurassic Park's jeep chase scene was inaccurate, because T.rex couldn't actually run "like it did in the movie".  

WRONG!!!

To consider a certain gait to be a "run", there must be a flight phase in the gait cycle, as in all of the limbs must be off the ground at a certain point in time.

If one looks closely, Rexy was never running.  She had at least one foot on the ground ALL THE TIME!  She was race-walking after the jeep.  

Jurassic Park basically got the T.rex's gait analysis right in all 4 movies, and it annoys me to no end when people claim Jurassic Park's rexes ran.  NO THEY DIDN'T!!

Mapusaurus vs Argentinosaurus. May include Earth, probably will.

^Sorry, man. But good luck with your projects!

Unfortunately, I won't enter.  I have some big projects coming up in the next few weeks, so I won't invest time writing a good story just now.  I will enter a future contest.

DRACONUS - I simply wish to read the entries and take time to enjoy them this time around. I shall enter into the next one you present! I am very excited to read what the contestants shall provide! :)

SR, why won't you be entering?

DRACONUS - This is so very neat! However, I shall abstain from this competition in favor of simply reading and enjoying the entries! I can not wait to see what everyone shall present! :)

^I'm sorry KOTM, but those two didn't live in the same formation. Argentinosaurus was found in the Huincul formation with Mapusaurus, and Giganotosaurus was found in the Candeleros formation with Andesaurus.

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I will be doing these matchups and more in the next season of Prehistoric Death Battles, which is called "Titanic Tussles." The abbreviation will be PDBTT.

GORILLAGODZILLA - Oh, how very excellent! I greatly enjoyed the way in which you presented Tyran within this segment of your story! The pacing and detail are both quite well done as well! Thank you so very much for continuing to share this excellent adventure with us! :)

New chapter with raptors.