The Dinosaur vs. Thread!!!!!

I thought the original theory (as shown in Jurassic Park) was that the Raptor's claw was used for slashing at the abdomen of prey, to disembowel. However of late, I was under the impression that the leaning was towards the claw's use as a 'dagger' of sorts, used to puncture rather than slash.

You'd be familiar with the 'Fighting Dinosaurs' fossil formation, which shows Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat. The Raptor's sickle claw is embedded in the 'neck' (there's no tissue left of course) of the Protoceratops, and this is what is believed to have been the fatal blow. The puncture could also be used as a 'holdfast' for the Raptor. If this was the case, then once hooked onto the victim, Velociraptor would have put those razor sharp teeth you mentioned, to good use.

No doubt it could of doubled as a slashing tool, especially if its victim was smaller and on the ground. What are your thoughts?

I see no reason why not. We'll see if the recent enthusiasm continues

Thirty Giganotosaurus would have no trouble in finishing off sixty Deinonychus. The ratio of two Raptors against one Giganotosaurus makes it an obvious conclusion.

Probably giganotosaur.

however the Imperial Mammoth, which lived around california, reached similar sizes to a triceratops; maybe even a little larger. And while ceratopsians were quite possibly eaten by giganotosaurs, I would imagine that they were not the easiest prey to take down.

So, probably: Advantage giganotosaur, but possible mammoth victory, especially if the giganotosaur could not attack from ambush.

Originally posted by Count Belisarius Keep in mind we aren't dealing with a great white, and the tylosaur has to surface to breathe, and if the tylosaur starts to bleed the shark will go in to a frenzy.

One can also add that the most ferocious sea reptile probably was not the mosasaur Tylosaurus but one of the pliosaurs (like Pliosaurus or Liopleurodon).

Originally posted by Carcharodon   Probably the Tylosaur was more intelligent than the Megalodon (but of course not so intelligent as a killer whale) and it´s manouverability was probably also greater.

Considering all the information we have about them is in the form of massive rocky bones, those are some pretty large assumptions to make. Sharks are a hell of a lot smarter than they appear, believe me. And we don't really know that much about their behavior or social structure. Certainly a lot less about their massive whale-eating ancestors.

Also, I'd like to make a point: I've met people of similar mass to myself who I'm probably smarter than - at least in terms of measurable stuff like grades, vocabulary, etc. - who could beat the hell out of me in a fight. Intelligence is useful in a fight when you have the time and/or self-control to use it; most of the time it can even be a bad idea to think too much. Most fighting systems are meant to develop your instincts, not hone your intellect. For good reason; instincts are about all you have in a real fight.

In addition, maneuverability is a little overrated. In the crush of combat, generally your good options as far as movement are pretty restricted. Not to say that it's useless, just that a fight tends to go well for those who are heavier, stronger, and more resilient.