Mesozoic Marvels: Episode 6

230 million years ago, a new group of animals arrived on the scene. Nothing, before or after, were like them. They are perhaps the most extraordinary creatures of all time. The dinosaurs. For 160 million years they dominated the Earth. From as far north as Alaska, to as far south as Antarctica. From the plains of Australia, to the forests of America. The dinosaurs were one of lifes great success stories. Now, take a journey back in time and experience their world. The world of these Mesozoic marvels.

Episode 6- Desert Dwellers

Mongolia. 80 million years ago. The land is covered in sand. The harsh conditions makes life difficult even for dinosaurs. For these desert dwellers, life is a constant battle for survival. One such desert dweller is a newly discovered species of bird-like dinosaur. It ranks among one of the largest feathered dinosaurs. The bizarre Gigantoraptor.

With a name like Gigantoraptor, one would think it was a large and dangerous raptor. While it was large, it was not all that dangerous. Adults measured nearly 26 feet in length and may have weighed close to 2 tons. They had large hand claws and long, powerful legs that they used for defense. These dinosaurs may have been able to run as fast as 30 miles per hour.

A flock of about a dozen Gigantoraptors are making their way to a watering hole not far away. Their splayed toes and sharp claws give them extraordinary traction on the sand. Despite their size, these dinosaurs are not invincible. The Gigantoraptors are currently being watched by one of the most famous and deadly carnivores ever to walk the Earth. The terror of the Cretaceous, it’s very name embodies the ferocity and deadliness of the raptor race. Velociraptor.

Velociraptor is easily the most famous raptor ever. While they aren’t particularly large, about 6 feet long and 100 pounds, they are, pound for pound, some of the nastiest dinosaurs ever. Each adult sports a 4 inch talon on the second digit of each foot and a mouthful of 80 sharp teeth. With a blinding top speed of 45 miles per hour, these dinosaurs are built for the kill. The point is, you are alive, when they start to eat you.

As the Gigantoraptors move, the raptors close in. Their dusty brown feathers blend in perfectly with the sand. They are within striking distance now. One Gigantoraptor senses trouble, but it’s too late. The pack is attacking. The flock scatters. They’re fast, but the raptors are faster. A pair of Velociraptors leap on to a straggler. The Gigantoraptor is slowed down by the extra weight and the rest of the pack easily catches up. The raptors begin their vicious assault on the dinosaur. They slash the Gigantoraptor wide open with their claws and cause hideous wounds with their teeth. The life blood of the dinosaur pours onto the hot sand. He does manage to take out a raptor with a kick from his powerful hind leg. But there are too many. He eventually slumps to the ground due to the injuries. After a bit of squabbling amongst themselves, the alpha male and female raptors step forward to take the first bites and choice parts. After they are satisfied, the rest of the pack feeds. Once they are full, the raptors even take part in a little playtime. It’s a way of keeping the bonds strong. It also shows how smart they are. While the raptors play, close cousins of them go about their daily business a few miles away.

Despite being closely related to the Velociraptors, these dinosaurs look nothing like them. These are some of the strangest looking dinosaurs ever. Therizinosaurus.

At 36 feet long and 4 tons in weight, these dinosaurs are the largest therizinosaurs. The diet of Therizinosaurus is disputed, although it was most likely a herbivore. Their long 10 foot arms end in massive claws over 3 feet long. The function of these claws is unknown.

This herd is about to see a major event take place. A young male Therizinosaurus challenges the current alpha male for the rights to lead the herd. He bellows at the alpha and the two face off. Like modern giraffes, they swing their long necks at each other like baseball bats. However, after one does not back down after a few minutes, they bring out the big guns. Now they use their massive claws. The two dinosaurs swing their arms and parry claw for claw. The goal is to injure the other male without getting injured yourself. The young male swings his claws and catches the alpha on the chin. The alpha staggers back and screeches. The young male gets cocky and shows off for the herd. While his back is turned, the alpha charges and shoves him to the ground. He places his claws on the young male’s throat, but does not kill him. He simply has him pinned. Then, the alpha rises to his full height and bellows. He just made a very clear point. He is the alpha and that’s how it’s gonna stay. The young male limps away in shame. The herd soon goes back to eating. They are eventually joined by an even bigger vegetarian. One of the largest hadrosaurs in the area. The titanic Saurolophus.

Saurolophus was your typical hadrosaur in many ways. Except one major way. It’s size. This giant measured over 36-40 feet in length and weighed nearly 5 tons. They get this big because of their very efficient way of eating. Hadrosaurs like Saurolophus have thousands of tightly packed teeth in their jaws. These teeth allow Saurolophus to chew and eat massive amounts of vegetation very easily and quickly. Their size is their primary weapon.

Herds of Saurolophus trek across the land looking for new sources of food. Giant herbivores like these require huge amounts of food. However, these titans in turn become a source of food for predators. In the brush, a Velociraptor watches the herd. Then, without warning, he’s crushed by a giant foot. Velociraptors are not the top predators here. That title belongs to a member of the tyrant dinosaur family. Sometimes referred to as the T-rex of the East, this is Tarbosaurus, AKA, the alarming lizard.

Easily the biggest predator ever to walk Asia Tarbosaurus measures nearly 40 feet long and weighs up to 6 tons as an adult. With teeth nearly 7 inches long and a bite force of 6,000 pounds per square inch, Tarbosaurus is a force to be reckon with. Although slightly more primitive than it’s more famous relative, Tarbosaurus was almost as deadly. It was as bad as it got for a while.

This female Tarbosaurus needs to get a meal. She has a family to feed. As she watches the hadrosaurs, she notices something interesting. Alongside the hadrosaurs is a herd of Therizinosaurus. One of them is limping. It’s the young male that lost to the alpha. The Tarbosaurus is intrigued. Although somewhat smaller than the hadrosaurs, an injured Therizinosaurus should be easier to kill than a healthy adult Saurolophus which could easily weigh as much as she does. The female attacks quickly. When she charges, the hadrosaurs and therizinosaurs scatter. But the injured male has no chance. Therizinosaurus’ are not particularly fast to begin with, let alone when they’re injured. He must stand and fight. But that’s hard to do with an injured leg. He can’t turn very well. He swings his claws and screeches at the Tarbosaurus in a feeble attempt to ward off an attack. The female simply outflanks the therizinosaurs and grabs him by the slender neck. The therizinosaur has little time to struggle before she breaks his neck. She drops the carcass and calls her chicks. A handful of young Tarbosaurus’ emerge from hiding and begin to feed.

The reign of the desert dwellers will continue until the extinction of the dinosaurs. Tarbosaurus will continue to reign as king. But in a forgotten land called North America, a whole new cast of dinosaurs will emerge and they will go down in history as some of the most famous dinosaurs ever. But these dinosaurs will also witness something extraordinary firsthand. The end of an era.