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Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 1:41 PMI am back from Baltimore and here's a "report" on what I figured out about T-rex and Giganotosaurus. To measure the skeletons, I walked "heel-to-toe" alongside them(my feet are about 1 foot long). Because the skeletons were not exactly straight and my steps may have been slightly off, I decided to add or subtract 1 foot just to be safe. I also did this for the Tarbosaurus skeleton.
Giganotosaurus- I counted about 40 ft for the total length. Because of the 1 foot addition or subtraction, this individual was about 39-41 ft long.
Tarbosaurus- I counted about 31 ft for the total length. Because of the 1 foot addition or subtraction, this individual was between 30-32 ft long.
Tyrannosaurus- I counted about 41 ft for the total length. Because of the 1 foot addition or subtraction, this individual was roughly 40-42 ft long.
The Rex and Giga were very comparable in length. There was almost no difference. Both skeletons were adult animals. Because of the slightly small size of the Tarbo, I concluded that this individual was a sub-adult and would have been around 35 or 36 ft long had it lived.
Based on the lengths and builds of the animals, this is what I came up with for weight.
Giganotosaurus- 7-8 tons
Tarbosaurus- 3-4 tons
Tyrannosaurus- 7.5-8.5 tons
The Rex skeleton was certainly more robust than the Giga one. I studied both individuals very carefully and there was no doubt about it. The Rex was heavier. This was a good situation as far as comparing the two goes. Both the Giga and Rex had similar lengths. The bones of the Rex were thicker and heavier than the Giga who seems to have had a slightly more slender build. The Giga had a skull that was slightly longer than the Rex's, but not as robust or heavy.
In conclusion, while Giganotosaurus and Tyrannosaurus had comparable, if not equal lengths, Tyrannosaurus does seem to be the heavier of the two. In the "professional" world of paleontology, that means it was bigger.
This is what I found out and concluded about Tyrannosaurus and Giganotosaurus. I am not favoring either dinosaur. Simply stating what I learned while visiting.
Chapter 7 of The Fight To Survive will be up shortly ;)
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
23 Replies
Lord Vader
MemberTyrannosaurus RexJul-31-2013 1:48 PMThat's pretty cool that they had a Rex and Giga skeleton. How much of a difference was there in the teeth?
Jack of all trades. Master of none
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 1:54 PMThey both had really long teeth, that's for sure. The Rex's were slightly longer and twice as thick at least. The Giga's were thin, but sharper than the Rex's. They were definitely for slicing while the Rex's were perfect for crushing.
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Deltadromeus
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 1:56 PMNice. Welcome back. I hope you had a good trip. Now for the paleontology. It is clear that T. rex is heavier ppf (pound per foot) but if we use the factor of having Giganotosaurus at 45-50 feet long, that half ton difference will disappear, and replaced by the Giganotosaurus's half ton. I have to remember that the length weight correlation is not you are ten pounds at three feet and twenty pounds at six feet. The length adds extra bone, and also a longer torso, which is most of the weight. The tail also lengthens and becomes heavier. So it is more fourty pounds at side feet instead of just twenty. I'm stating my opinion here, and I'm not criticising. I accually must say, good job. It sounds like a bit of work. Covered up by the amazement of seeing the fossils of some of the biggest theropods to ever live. Which for some reason reminds me, the legs will also be porprotionatly heavier in longer dinosaurs, even if the body build is exactly the same as something half as long. I'll be right back. I'm going to go do some math on Giganotosaurus.
Hi
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:00 PMGiga's legs were actually not much longer than Rex's. The Rex also had thicker and heavier leg bones, not to mention extra ribs which would add a little weight. It's stronger and more robust skull would add some weight as well. It was awesome to see two of the largest terrestrial predators ever in the same place.
MrHappy, you'll like this. They had an Albertosaurus there too. It measured roughly 24 ft, give or take a foot.
I did do my best to get the lengths and weights as accurate as possible.
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Deltadromeus
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:07 PMThat means Giganotosaurus was already taller than rex at only fourty feet! Using my theories, I have made a Giganotosaurus weight table:
40 ft=8 t
45 ft= 8.45 t
50 ft= 9
With increasing increments each time we go up in length. I didn't do one for T. rex because I don't think it gets past fourty fourty 2 feet.
Hi
Lord Vader
MemberTyrannosaurus RexJul-31-2013 2:07 PMThat's pretty cool. I figured Rex's teeth would at least be thicker than Giga's. too bad they didn't have a Spino skeleton.
I think Rex would be heavier pound for pound than even a full grown Giga because of the extra ribs, and heavier bones. I think if it were 1 vs 1, Rex would beat Giga because it was more equipped for combat, and Rex likely did a lot of solitary fighting, while Giga lived in packs.
Jack of all trades. Master of none
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:10 PMIt's likely that T-rex was also a pack hunter.
Delta- The Giga was taller than the Rex by less than a foot at the hip. There was very little difference in height, just like length.
One thing I liked was that they had a Compy standing next to the Giga. One of the smallest predatory dinosaurs next to one of the biggest, haha
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Lord Vader
MemberTyrannosaurus RexJul-31-2013 2:12 PMThat would have been funny. I meant that Rex would have been solitary sometimes, more than Giga for the most part.
Jack of all trades. Master of none
Deltadromeus
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:15 PMIt is very obvious that T. rex had thicker teeth. Railroad spike vs huge 8 Inch knife. The railroad spike is thicker for sure. Ten feet longer and only a half a ton to make up for is a bit silly. Based on your estimates Rex Fan, a fourty foot Giganotosaurus is about two tons per ten feet. Add another ten feet, and it will gain at least a ton. But yes MrHappy, in a one on one battle, T. rex will win around 65% of the time. Don't underestimate Giganotosaurus, it has large competitors too. Mapusaurus, 43-46 feet long, Tyrannotitian, 40 feet long, more robust. Ekrixinatosaurus, 35 feet long, six plus tons. A lone Giganotosaurus has got to be much stronger than a Giganotosaurus in a pack, otherwise, it will die.
Hi
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:16 PMPerhaps. If Rex was more solitary than Giga, then that just reinforces the theory that Rex was a better one on one fighter.
While I was examining the Rex skull up close(they had 2 separate skulls that were unattached to the skeleton), I was amazed to see how powerful it was. The structure of it really showed how powerful it's bite would have been. Truly amazing.
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Deltadromeus
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:19 PMEven a two-three ton bite force is amazing. That is a truck with sharp parts in an area slightly larger than a human.
Hi
Lord Vader
MemberTyrannosaurus RexJul-31-2013 2:20 PMThe skulls would have been cool to see. Rex does make up for the 10 foot length difference and half ton weight difference by having serrated railroad spikes for teeth. I love you're cover pic Delta.
Jack of all trades. Master of none
Deltadromeus
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:21 PMI thought a raptor with a gun would work for me. Can you tell which gun it is?
Hi
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:23 PMTell him what gun it is and then let's move on. This is a post about the size differences between Tyrannosaurus and Giganotosaurus after all. Don't wanna spoil your fun, but let's keep this one somewhat serious ;)
Thanks
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Deltadromeus
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:27 PMYep, I was wondering how the topic changed. Anywho. How long where the arms. And where they thick. For both Giganotosaurus and rex. I want to know!
Hi
DinoFights
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:44 PMThey were probably almost exactly the same size on average. At parity Rex would have been slightly heavier. Still, it's undeniable that both are very good candidates for the title of the baddest carnivore ever to walk the earth. Welcome back!
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Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:46 PMThe Rex's arms were a little longer than mine. At least 3 ft long, maybe a little longer. The arm bones were very thick and robust. Would have had strong arms when alive. The Giga had arms that were a little longer, maybe 4 ft. They were actually slightly less robust than the Rex's arms. But it's hand claws were a good bit longer.
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 2:49 PMOh, and thanks DinoFights.
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
futurepaleontologist1
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 6:01 PMDid yo maybe learn anything new dietarily or structurally, maybe some broken and then healed bones?
Pity is for the living. Envy is for the dead.
-Mark Twain
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusJul-31-2013 6:16 PMNo, not really as far as injuries. Both were pretty unmarked. Both were top predators and seems that these ones had pretty "easy lives." If they had any injuries, they were only flesh wounds.
As far as diet goes, by studying the teeth, it reinforced the theory that Tyrannosaurus crushed bone and was capable of taking on deadly prey like Triceratops. Seeing it's teeth and the strength of it's skull, I actually see Tyrannosaurus attacking sauropods with more frequency than before. While sauropods had thick bones, T-rex had teeth designed to crush bones. I think it could handle sauropods just fine. It's skeletal structure also supports the thought that T-rex hunted dangerous prey. It's legs were pretty long and very powerful.
Giganotosaurus' teeth were perfectly capable of slashing flesh. The skeletal structure and tooth design reinforce the theory that Giga performed the "slash and dash" move a lot. It's skull, teeth, and skeleton design were weak, relatively speaking, while it's legs were long and slender. This suggests that Giga was not built for heavy combat. Faced with a sauropod like Argentinosaurus, it would almost certainly run in at speed using it's slender legs, and slash with it's teeth. Not hold on and bite multiple times like T-rex. It would then back off and wait. Perhaps inflict another bite or two.
That answer your question?
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Lotus3
MemberCompsognathusAug-01-2013 7:47 AMRex Fan, that's really cool that you were able to see the skeletons firsthand in Baltimore. I found your observations about Rex's teeth particularly interesting. The fact that the strength and shape of T-rex's teeth make it able to crush bone goes completely against Jack Horner and his "constant scavenging" theory, as well as the belief of some people that T-rex's teeth were weak and suitable for crushing plants, like the guy Dinosaur.Fanatic was talking about.
I have always been a Spino fan myself, and I just wanted to hear your opinion about something. You say that Giga would have used the "slash and dash" technique. Do you feel that Spino would also attack this way, or would he make special use of the arms combined with the jaws?
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusAug-01-2013 8:40 AMWell, I don't see Spino taking on prey bigger than 20 ft long or so unless it had to. That said, I think it would use it's claws in battle, whether it was against prey or a rival, more than anything. It's teeth were designed for gripping, not crushing/slashing. It's jaws were powerful, but not much stronger than a modern day crocodile, a bit force of 2-3 tons seems reasonable. Spino's arms and claws on the other hand are very long and very strong. Even though I don't think it would take on sauropods or anything like that, let's say it did have to. I did use the analogy of fighting a sauropod for Rex and Giga, so I'll do it for Spino too. It would employ a maneuver similar to the slash and dash, but with a different twist, aka the hand claws. It would probably charge in and slash it's prey with it's claws and back off. It may repeat this move a few more times. Once it's prey was dead, Spino would use it's claws to tear it apart, not it's teeth. He would only use his jaws to feed and in battle if absolutely necessary.
Keep in mind this is all coming from a person who believes Spino ate primarily fish and small dinosaurs, along with the occasional medium sized dinosaur and carrion as well ;)
"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names."
―Alpha-98
Lotus3
MemberCompsognathusAug-01-2013 12:46 PMI also believe that Spino ate fish and small dinosaurs. Good example with the sauropod; I was refering mainly to the kind of attacks Spino would use if it were confronted by another large predator. I know 2-3 ton bite force is your personal opinion/ estimation, but I think the bite force was a little greater, 3.5 - 5.5 tons.
But thanks for answering my question! :)
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