DDD: Fight 24- Platecarpus vs. Ichthyosaurus

Let's meet our contestants-

Platecarpus

Platecarpus was a large carnivore that lived in the United States during the Late Cretaceous period. This individual is 12 feet long and 1 ton.

Ichthyosaurus

Ichthyosaurus was a medium carnivore that lived in Europe during the Early Jurassic period. These indivuals (average size) are 5.5 feet long and 800 pounds.

BEGIN!

     An Ichthyosaurus pod is swimming away from a pair of the much larger Ophthalmosaurus. The pair chases the group out of their territory, however, a dark silhouette in the deep blue water slams into the smaller Ophthalmosaurus with the force of a semi, breaking a couple of the creature’s ribs and stunning it for a couple seconds. Immediately after, the remaining Ophthalmosaurus chases the creature back into the depths.

     As the Ichthyosaurus pod safely makes the way back to their reef homeland near the island’s lagoon, the mysterious object from earlier comes into view. Slowly, the head, then the body, and finally the shark-like tail are lit by the sunlight. The creature is a Platecarpus.

     The creature dives back down as the Ichthyosaurus pod hurries back to the sanctuary of the reef. However, the attack comes from below as the Platecarpus darts up, catching an Ichthyosaurus by the tail. The Platecarpus bursts through the surface with the dolphin-like creature in its deadly jaws. The sudden eruption alerts some of the passing pterosaurs, and they quickly flee the area. As the Platecarpus slams back down into the water, it smacks the Ichthyosaurus against the surface. Finally, the larger Icthyosauruses slam their beaks into their attacker’s sides. Wincing in pain, the Platecarpus turns around and rams his head into the largest Ichthyosaurus. As it floats backwards, the Platecarpus swims in to finish the attack.

     However, two more Ichthyosaurus start slamming into the Platecarpus. Finally, the creature backs off and the Ichthyosaurus pod chases it, snapping at its tail and sides. Hissing, the Platecarpus dives deeper and turns around. He rams into the already injured Ichthyosaurus from below and locks its jaws around the creature’s soft abdomen. Shaking his muscular head and neck around, he tears the unfortunate creature to shreds.

     The four remaining Ichthyosaurus start ramming into the Platecarpus and slapping him with their tails. Two minutes later, the Platecarpus slaps one with his tail and turns around. He opens his jaws to attack, but two Ichthyosaurus attack one part of his body. One locks its jaws around one of his pectoral fins and tears it. The wounded Ichthyosaurus attacks the same flipper, and soon the two tear it off. Bellowing in pain, the Platecarpus tries to swim off. The pod jab their beaks into him and snap at his fins. However, the Platecarpus becomes trapped by the coral as he tries to swim deeper, and he prepares for one last stand.

     The Platecarpus turns around and lunges at one of the smaller Ichthyosaurus. He slams his jaws shut on the neck and slams the creature against the rocks twice before throwing it onto them. The predator watches as the corpse slams against the coral. Small fish scatter in every direction as blood, coral fragments, and debris rise from the seabed as the dolphin-like body skids along the rock before coming to a stop. The remaining three Ichthyosaurus ram into their adversary and begin to bite him. The smallest, fastest Ichthyosaurus jabs his beak into the predator’s left eye, stunning and half-blinding him. Hissing, he attempts to escape with his life.

     Desperately trying to lose the pod, the Platecarpus goes deeper and deeper. Watching the pod swim to the surface, he realizes he forgot about something. As he makes a dash for the surface, the pod scatters. The Platecarpus pokes his head out of the water and takes in a deep breath of air. However, he notices a fin slice through the water. It’s not very big, yet the surfacing creature is still concerned. As he dives down again, the Ichthyosaurus pod approaches him at their top speed. All three ram into him at once, forcing him back and momentarily paralyzing him. The group takes the moment to finish off the stunned creature…

     All three bite and jab the creature until it lets out a loud bellow of pain. Then, the pod push him out to the open sea, taking turns making small attacks before swimming off to their reef sanctuary, leaving him to die. As the creature sinks, an Ophthalmosaurus trio jab him out of the water with their beaks, using him as a ball.

Winner: Ichthyosaurus

These dolphin-like creatures used their speed and numbers to their advantage. Even though the Platecarpus killed two of them, the majority survived and killed the Platecarpus.