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By KensonPlays in BlogDuring the Early Cretaceous period, around 113 million years ago, the Acrocanthosaurus was a dominant predator known for its unique blend of stealth, strength, and adaptive hunting strategies.
Stealth: The Silent Stalker
Acrocanthosaurus was a huge dinosaur, measuring up to 38 feet long and weighing about 6 tons. Despite its size, it hunted with stealth and agility. Its strong build allowed it to move quietly through the dense forests and floodplains where it lived.
Fossil evidence shows that Acrocanthosaurus hunted large plant-eating dinosaurs such as sauropods and ornithopods. These plant-eating dinosaurs had excellent vision and sharp senses, so Acrocanthosaurus had to approach them carefully. Acrocanthosaurus used its strong legs and long tail to move quietly and stay balanced while sneaking up on its prey.
Acrocanthosaurus Head, Nobu Tamura, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Strength: The Power Behind the Hunt
Acrocanthosaurus used its great strength to overpower its prey. Its strong, muscular body allowed it to take down much larger animals. Its large jaws had sharp, saw-like teeth that caused deep, deadly wounds.
Acrocanthosaurus was able to dominate physical confrontations due to its large size. Despite having shorter arms compared to some other theropods, its incredibly strong arms ended in large, clawed hands that were effective in gripping and subduing struggling prey. These powerful claws had an important role in securing the target while the powerful jaws delivered the fatal blow.
Adaptation to the Cretaceous Environment
Acrocanthosaurus lived in what is now North America. The area had wetlands, rivers, and forests. It had a high, spiny back made of long neural spines, which may have helped it control its body temperature in the warm climate of the Early Cretaceous. This might have given Acrocanthosaurus an advantage over other predators, allowing it to stay active when competitors couldn't hunt as well.
Its large size also allowed Acrocanthosaurus to defend its territory from smaller predators. The dinosaur's solitary hunting habits meant it didn’t need to share kills, further cementing its status as a dominant predator.
Apex Predator of Its Time
Acrocanthosaurus stood out for its adept use of stealth and strength. It wasn't just fast, but also patient, waiting for the perfect moment to ambush its prey. When it attacked, its massive size and physical power made it nearly unstoppable.
Acrocanthosaurus remains one of the most fascinating predators of the Early Cretaceous period. Its ability to combine stealth with brute force ensured its survival in a competitive ecosystem filled with massive herbivores and rival carnivores. For millions of years, it was the dominant predator, proving the significance of adaptation and natural selection.
In the ever-expanding world of dinosaurs, Acrocanthosaurus stood out as a fearsome and methodical predator. It left a lasting legacy on the fossil record and continues to capture the imagination of paleontologists today.
Conclusion
The Acrocanthosaurus was a pretty awesome dinosaur, and despite its size, it had enough knowledge to utilize its environment to remain at least somewhat stealthy while hunting its prey for food. You probably would not want to meet one in real life!
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By KensonPlays in BlogAh... the Ankylosaurus. An armored dinosaur that could take a beating from most predators. Imagine this — a dinosaur covered from head to tail in armor, essentially a living tank. It's one of the most iconic dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous period, heck, of all time! Let us dive in and learn more about this amazing creature.
Discovery & Naming of Ankylosaurus
The first fossils of the Ankylosaurus, also commonly shortened to Anky, were found by Barnum Brown in 1906. The name comes from the words Ankylo and sauros. Ankylo means "fused" or "stiffened", while "sauros" is a common ending for most dinosaurs, which means "lizard" or "reptile." The name resembles its distinctive features of having its body covered in thick, bony plates that are 'fused' to its body.
Slate Weasel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Physical Characteristics
This amazing dinosaur could reach up to 30 feet in length and was estimated to have weighed anywhere from 4 to 6 Tons, which translates to 8800 - 1300 pounds, on average. The armored plates on its body were known as osteoderms. They were not just decorations, but essential to its defense against predators. It may have helped regulate its body temperature too, but we will never know for sure, they're extinct!
When Ankylosaurus was young, it likely had smaller, less developed armor plates, and as it grew, it got larger and thicker. While these plates were thick and tough, they also were a little bit flexible, to allow them to have easier movement and more freedom of body movements, while protecting themselves.
Their club tail, though, is extremely dangerous. If a human were to be struck by its tail, you would get broken bones, internal injuries, and severe tissue damage. It's also possible that depending on where the tail struck you, it could kill you instantly. Even if they didn't hit any vital parts of a human, it would likely still cause catastrophic injuries. You would not want to be on their bad side!
Lifestyle & Behaviors
The Ankylosaurus is an herbivore, and thus it likely ate bushes and plants close to the ground, since it wasn't able to reach the trees like a sauropod. It is possible that its diet consisted of Conifers, Cycads, Ferns, and more. As for Conifers, which are trees, they would likely only have eaten those from fallen branches that broke off in one way or another.
Ankylosaurus' defense mechanisms would likely have included crouching itself closer to the ground to protect its more vital organs, legs, and more. That way, predators would have a much harder time getting to its soft underbelly. It would swing that dangerous tail around and if it connected, could break the legs of predators, giving it a chance to get away.
The Anky's Environment
This amazing dinosaur lived in forests and plains, most likely. It would have existed around the same time as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, which would be one of its predators. It also co-existed with the Triceratops, more than likely. It would have more than likely stayed near water sources, like watering holes, rivers, and similar. There was plenty of plant life around it that it could eat, so it would not have too many worries about food sources, and would probably have focused mostly on keeping its thirst at bay.
DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Pop Culture & Media
The ankylosaurus has been well-represented in media and pop culture. It makes a very brief appearance in Jurassic Park 3 (2001). It was more visible in movies such as Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie (2013), and The Good Dinosaur (2015; Disney). Some TV shows that feature the Anky include Walking with Dinosaurs (1999), Dinosaur Train (2009 - present), and Terra Nova (2011).
It also is in some video games! Some of these include Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis (2003), ARK Survival Evolved (2015), ARK Survival Ascended (2023), Jurassic World Evolution (2018), The Isle, and Saurian. Some of Ankylosaurus' sub-species are in games like Path of Titans, such as the Anodontosaurus. We do highly recommend checking out some of these games. You would likely be able to find one you enjoy!
Concluding Thoughts
This dinosaur, the Ankylosaurus from the Late Cretaceous, was certainly one to contend with. They had great defense, so they were hard to kill themselves, but they were also dangerous with that heavy-hitter clubbed tail that they had. Was the Ankylosaurus one of Kenson's favorite dinosaurs? Not in the top 3, but certainly in his top 10!
We hope this post gave you something new that you didn't know about this amazing dinosaur. Don't forget to check out our Discord server so you can hang out with us!
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By KensonPlays in BlogImagine this: A predator that's more fearsome than a lion, more cunning than a wolf, and fairly large. That's an Allosaurus. It was one of the top predators of the Late Jurassic period. Today, we'll learn more about this fascinating dinosaur!
Public Domain photo of Allosaurus Skeleton at San Diego Natural History Museum The Discovery of Allosaurus
This dinosaur was discovered in the late 19th century, around 1877, by Othneil Charles Marsh. One of the largest fossil sites they found it in was the Morrison Formation in North America. He (Charles) was known for his role in the "Bone Wars." This was a period of intense and competitive fossil hunting in North America.
One of the most famous specimens is "Big Al," located in the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. The museum is known for its extensive collection of dinosaurs, and their contribution to paleontological research. Their Allo fossil is very well preserved.
Fred Wierum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Physical Characteristics
This theropod was, on average, 28 feet in length, and weighed 1.5 Tons. It stood in a bipedal stance, with a large skull that had sharp teeth. It had extremely strong hind limbs, and shorter forelimbs, like most theropods. Some unique parts of their design included the crests above their eyes and serrated teeth. It has been commonly used in comparisons with other carnivores, like Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Allo's Behavior & Diet
It was a fearsome predator, for sure. It likely was an Ambush predator and may have hunted in small packs. There is evidence in the fossil remains that it was more predatory, and an active scavenger (more on the side). It mostly ate herbivores like Stegosaurus & sauropods! It most likely went for the older, weaker, or younger sauropods, since those herbivores were tough.
Their Ecological Roles
It lived approximately 155 - 150 million years ago. The Morrison Formation includes areas of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and others. It included several environments, like floodplains, river channels, and lakes. It was a semi-arid climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
It was considered an Apex Predator of its time, among the top in the food chain. It may have been both an active predator and scavenged where it needed to. There's fossil evidence they may have lived in packs, like Raptors. Especially when targeting larger prey like sauropods.
Significant in Scientific Communities
The Allo is significant in the scientific community. It has helped them understand the biology and behavior of dinosaurs. It has also allowed them to advance the technology they use, for example, 3D Modeling and CT scans. It has also given a fairly significant role in the Education communities, as well.
Concluding Thoughts
The Allo was indeed a very fearsome predator that lived in the late Jurassic period. You would not want to have one come up to "meet" you, since you would most likely be eaten by one! Unless, of course, that's what you wanted! We would say that the Allosaurus was a successful predator of its time and that it didn't have much in the way of others predating on it.
References
Thumbnail Allosaurus By:
- File:Allosaurus Juvenile Reconstruction.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
- File:Allosaurus jimmadseni skeletal.png - Wikimedia Commons
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By KensonPlays in Blog.fright { float: right; max-width: 30%; padding: 15px; }
Quick Facts
Name: Herrera's Lizard Period: Late Triassic Diet: Carnivore, small/med herbivores Size: 6m (20 ft) Weight: 350kg (770 lb)
Quick Bio
The Herrerasaurus was first discovered by a paleontologist & rancher in 1958, in South America. Its name means, simply, "Herrera's Lizard." There is not much detail available on it, but it was estimated it could run at a fast speed due to its stiffer tail.
© Wikimedia Commons | CC 4.0 Attr. Share-Alike Herrerasaurus - Discovery & What Is Known About It?
Discovering the Herrerasaurus
The Herrera (a short form of its name) is a smaller theropod, believed to be a Carnosaur at first, but then was debated over a 30-year period afterward. The dinosaur was originally discovered over fragmentary remains, with many parts missing. It was also thought to be a basal theropod, basal sauropodomorph, basal saurischian, and even considered at one point to not be a dinosaur at all, but a type of Archosaur.
What Is Known About it?
It came originally from the outcrops near the city of San Juan, in Argentina, in 1959. These rocks also yielded the Eoraptor, as well. There are two partial skeletons that are being used for research on this dinosaur, which they thought were two different species, but then finalized their findings on both belonging to Herrerasaurus.
© Wikimedia Commons | CC 4.0 Attr. Share-Alike
Herrerasaurus' Growth & Size
This dinosaur grew to be about 6 meters (20 feet) long and weighed an estimated 350 KG (or 770 Lbs). Adult skulls were found to be approximately 56cm (22 in) long, and it was fully bipedal. It had some strong legs for a smaller dinosaur. It is estimated that it could run upwards of 25 MPH. Even Usain Bolt only ran about 23 MPH in a 100-meter sprint. This dinosaur could outrun him, catch up, and eat even the fastest humans (on foot).
It had a long, narrow skull that lacked most specializations that other dinosaurs had. It also had a flexible joint in its lower jaw that could slide back and forth, making it able to deal a "grasping" bite to its prey. The teeth in its jaw, were equipped with large & serrated teeth for biting into flesh easier. Its neck was slender and was also flexible.
(C) Wikimedia Commons | CC0 (Public Domain)
How Herrerasaurus Lived Its Life
It most likely lived in lightly forested areas to hilly plains, where it could more easily catch up with its prey while running at its full speed (about 25 MPH). Pictured above, is a small synapsid that it just killed and is about to eat. That was most likely its primary source of food.
Herrerasaurus In Media & Games
This creature is depicted in the Legacy branch (old version) of The Isle as a "Sandbox Dinosaur" that was not normally selectable. You had to have a server administrator change your character file in the server's files in order to play as this dinosaur, or get nested in by another player. There was a mention of it in the Jurassic Park/World franchise but was not visible in the films. Conclusion
The Herrerasaurus is an interesting dinosaur from the early periods of dinosaur times (Triassic > Jurassic > Cretaceous). It was on the smaller side but still had a sturdy build, and could run fast to catch up with its prey. This dinosaur was likely a more common occurrence during its time, and you would likely have seen it running around doing its daily business more than say, other smaller theropods of its time. You can check out my streams to chat & learn more about the Herrerasaurus! We'd love to have you come and join the pack! References & Notes
Wikipedia Wikimedia Commons (Pictures)
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By KensonPlays in Blog.fright { float: right; max-width: 30%; padding: 15px; }
Quick Facts
Name: Tyrannosaurus Rex Period: Cretaceous Diet: Meat Size: 12.3m Weight: 8.4 - 14 Tons Nick: T. Rex, Tyrant Lizard Quick Bio
The Tyrannosaurus Rex is one of the most well-known dinosaurs that have ever existed, if not the most popular. This is in part due to its popularity in the Jurassic Park franchise, but also because there have been more than 50 individual near-complete fossils found, and many more less-complete ones, as well. The Tyrannosaurus Rex, also known as "T. Rex" is a Theropod. Its name "rex" means "King" in Latin. It lived throughout what is now known as western North America, on an island then known as Laramidia. It had one of the largest ranges of hunting grounds of most other tyrannosaurids. They lived about 66 Million Years ago. Did the T. Rex and Spinosaurus ever meet? In short? No. They lived in different parts of the Cretaceous period, and different regions of the Earth. Unfortunately, they would never have met in real life, unlike how Jurassic Park 3 depicts them fighting. (C) Wikimedia Commons CC Attr-Sharealike 3 Size & Stature
It was the last known member of the tyrannosaurid family and was among the last non-avian dinosaurs to exist. Like other tyrannosaurids and theropods alike, they were bipedal in nature, with a massive skull. The most complete specimen was 40 feet (12.3 meters) in length and was about 12 feet (3.66m) tall. It is thought to have between 8.4 and 14 metric tons in weight. There have been many discussions about whether they had feathers or not, as well. It was by far the largest carnivore in its environment, so it was most likely an Apex Predator and preyed upon hadrosaurs, armored herbivores (including Ankylosaurus), and quite possibly Sauropods like the Apatosaurus. The T. Rex was estimated to have the strongest bite force of all terrestrial animals of its time. Its feeding habits, though, have been a matter of a few subjects of debate. Some say it was more of a scavenger than an active predator, while others say that it was more of an active predator. Both of these were likely true, it likely ate both already dead animals (as in a scavenger), and actively hunted for food.
© Wikimedia Commons CC Attr-Sharealike 4 Body Design & Health
As for the debate on whether the Tyrannosaurus Rex was feathered or not, filamentous structures, which commonly are recognized as precursors to feathers, have been found in other tyrannosaurids like the Dilong Paradoxus found in China. They may have had feathers when they were younger and lost them when they grew, or they may have had them during their entire lifespan. Studies have found that they may have even only had feathers on the upper side of the trunk area. Their lifespan was likely around 30 years old if they survived that long. The fossil, Sue, was estimated to be 28 years old when it died, and they have found bones from an estimated 14-year-old T. Rex, as well as a 2-year-old T. Rex. The sudden change in growth rates at the end of their growth spurts may have indicated physical maturity; a hypothesis that is supported by the discovery of medullary tissue in the femur of a 16 to 20-year-old fossil from Montana. Medullary tissue is found only in female birds during the time of mating. This indicates that they may have been able to reproduce around that age. The Tyrannosaurus Rex was historically described as a "living tripod," with the body at a 45-degree angle, and dragging their tail along the ground, like a kangaroo. But in 1970, they realized that this was incorrect. It would have resulted in a dislocation or weakening of several joints, including their hips and the articulation of their head and spinal column. Thankfully, films like Jurassic Park used a more accurate posture to show to the general public! Modern representations of the T. Rex in museums, art, and film show that it was approximately parallel to the ground, with its tail extended to balance the head.
© Wikimedia Commons CC Attr 3 Speed & Survival
It is unknown how fast it could run exactly, but scientists have estimated that it could have been around 25 MPH (or 40 KM/h) on average, as low as 11 MPH (18 KM/h), and as high as 45 MPH (72 KM/h). There are many tracks of large theropods walking, but rarely (if any) have the pattern of running. Scientists think the T. Rex was able to run have pointed out that hollow bones and other features that would have lightened its body may have kept an adult to a max weight of a mere 4.5 metric tons; like ostriches and horses which have long and flexible legs are able to reach high speeds through slower and longer strides. The estimated top speeds of the Tyrannosaurus Rex were around 25 MPH, but were deemed impossible because it would require exceptional leg muscle mass of around 40 to 85% of its total weight! Even moderately fast speeds would require large leg muscles. If their leg mass was less, their max speeds would have been around 11 MPH. The Tyrannosaurus Rex may have hunted in packs at times, according to fossil evidence. This was because a fossil that has been found in South Dakota found 3 T. Rex skeletons in close proximity to each other. Some of their prey, like Triceratops & Ankylosaurus, had significant defenses, so it would have been more effective for them to hunt in groups. However, this behavior has been criticized, due to not having been peer-reviewed, like normal, as was discussed in a TV interview. The Tarbosaurus and Albertosaurus, on the other hand, likely did hunt in packs (the basis for this hypothesis). The T. Rex may have been severely affected by parasites and other traumatic injuries by other carnivores. Infections in a Tyrannosaurus Rex were rare, according to Scientific American's website. There has been evidence that the fossil Sue was infected by a parasite, which caused injuries to her lower jaw, which was a somewhat common occurrence amongst the Tyrannosaurus Rex species. The juvenile fossil, Jane, might have been bitten by another juvenile Rex, suggesting that the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex may have fought each other for food, as well. Conclusion
As one of our favorite species of dinosaurs, the T. Rex will sit firmly in our Top 10 Carnivores list. Keep an eye out for that video! Thank you for your time, have a rawrsome day, and we will see you next time in the Mesozoic Haven! Watch my streams for dinosaur gaming (and similar) content weekly as well! Notes & Resources
Thumbnail Background: By @KensonPlays at Witte Museum in San Antonio
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