So, the Obnoxious Kid in Jurassic Park

fossiltrader · Post by **fossiltrader** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:47 pm

One of the best studies i have seen on T-rex stated that on most T-rex fossil remains the injuries visible where from other T-rex possibly showing they fed as a pack and squabbled a lot a bit like vultures do.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:06 pm

Pack animals, ie, social, are usually more intelligent than their solitary counterparts.

Post by **Minimalist** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:23 pm

Rokcet Scientist wrote:You could see T.Rex comin' from a mile away!
And hear him from three miles away!
The MF was twice the size of a bull African savannah elephant!

People get stomped by elephants all the time. What's their excuse?

Digit · Post by **Digit** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:59 am

Hard of hearing?

Rokcet Scientist · Post by **Rokcet Scientist** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:20 am

Minimalist wrote:
Rokcet Scientist wrote:
You could see T.Rex comin' from a mile away!
And hear him from three miles away!
The MF was twice the size of a bull African savannah elephant!

People get stomped by elephants all the time. What's their excuse?

Stupidity!
Those people didn't get out of the way. Probably trying to save their little patch or hut from that oncoming locomotive/bulldozer.
Plain stupidity.

Post by **Minimalist** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:08 am

Ok, then. And with all that they are probably still a few degrees brighter than you average triceratops!

Digit · Post by **Digit** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:15 am

T Rex and associated types had binocular vision by all accounts. Can't see that being needed for a scavenger.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:56 am

I've never read that anywhere Dig. I would have thought T. Rex had the full field vision of most predators and birds. I'm trying to envision Mr. T and I thought his eyes were separated by his snout.

Digit · Post by **Digit** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:26 pm

The side view of the head Beag, showed in some tests I saw on TV, that the step in the upper face permitted overlapping vision.

Post by **Minimalist** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:06 pm

I thought that T-Rex's vision was based on movement? That seems like an odd skill set for a scavenger.

Forum Monk · Post by **Forum Monk** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:12 am

Minimalist wrote:I thought that T-Rex's vision was based on movement? That seems like an odd skill set for a scavenger.

I know Jurassic Park pointed this out, as well as Velociraptor steaming the windows with its breath, which suggests it was warm-blooded. I can't imagine how anyone could know T-Rex's vision was motion oriented. Many predators do possess this kind of vision today, but I agree with many here, that T-Rex was better suited to scavenging and dead things don't move around much.

kbs2244 · Post by **kbs2244** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:42 am

I always did like that steamed windows scene.
I am sure it was put in as a joke, Hollywood at that level has some pretty good fact checkers, but kept in for its impact.
It is amazing how many people just don't get it.
Of course, the whole action sequence that it was a part of was pretty intense, so it is a detail that may have just gone over the heads of many.

Forum Monk · Post by **Forum Monk** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 10:16 am

I remember the breath on the window and it immediately struck me, KB. I also remember that the warm-blood argument had picked up additional "steam" when certain skull studies revealed the nasal passages were similar to the design of modern, warm-blooded animal skulls.

As for the vision, if one cares to notice, practically all so-called higher predators have a pair of forward looking eyes. This development allowed the animal to have stereoscopic vision and depth perception which was a big advantage to running down prey. Effective for close range vision, it also allowed the animal to "lock on" to its victim without having to turn its head, side to side.

Most dinosaur skulls and depictions I have seen, show eyes on the sides of the skull. Prey animals which have this type of vision are able to see nearly 360 degrees but it is only effective when the threat is at a distance.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 10:26 am

Good points Monk. Let me add that the type of vision an animal develops is not always due to it's prey/predator status.

All primates have binocular vision, that developed when they were prey. But being tree dwelling, they required depth perception to leap from one branch or tree to another. That would have been a terrible misjudgement.

And it helped us make the transition to predator.

Digit · Post by **Digit** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 10:41 am

I agree with all the above, but would point out one thing. An animal with over lapping vision could eat carrion, but a carrion eater without that advantage is rather unlikely to be a sucessful predator.
A sure guide to the difference is the existance of a step in the upper jaw line, a 'stop' is the technical name, and it is this that permits the over lapping of vision.
The same advantage can also be achieved of course with a short muzzle, as with HSS.