Add cannibalism to the fearsome attributes of Tyrannosaurus rex, the big-headed dinosaur that roamed North America 66 million years ago and took no prisoners. A study released on the scientific website PLoS ONE suggests T. rex made the tooth marks on four specimens of Tyrannosaurus rex. "If something is dead, it's lunch," said study co-author Gregory M. Erickson of Florida State University. Erickson and three other researchers studied the four T. rex remains and those of 13 herbivores, all found in museum collections. Neither Erickson, nor Nicholas R. Longrich, who led the team, know for sure whether the predator killed its brethren in combat and then ate, or whether they were scavenging, a popular activity of animals then and now. The latter seems the more likely scenario. T. rex, known for "puncture and pull" feeding, left discernible marks in the bones of its prey. And, researchers said, no other carnivore living at that time could have left such bite marks in skeletons. They also determined the pattern and nature of the gouges left from bite marks indicated the attacker was likely feeding on a carcass. Erickson said the finding adds another piece to the mysterious life of T. rex and said he hopes it will spur more research on the habits and behaviors of the beast. "Piece by piece we can put it together," said Longrich, a Yale University paleontologist whose current research includes an ancestor of the three-horned Triceratops. The study also points out that cannibalism is common in nature, especially among larger species such as bears, Komodo dragons and hyenas. Immortalized in the popular culture and the movie "Jurassic Park," Tyrannosaurus rex is the poster child of prehistoric creatures. The discovery of T. rex fossils has increased steadily in the past 10 years, Erickson said.
Kinjo Note: Nom nom nom nom nom nom! I will never watch jurassic park the same again.
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 16, 2010, 11:10:24 PM
its all just meat in the end.
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Wesker on October 17, 2010, 08:32:12 AM
I seriously doubt that dinosaurs had a code of morality or decency in their time, so yeah this doesn't surprise me.
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: bloo-apple on October 17, 2010, 02:25:53 PM
They had really small brains... I bet they never they made an ethical decision in there life...
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Adelaide on October 17, 2010, 05:43:17 PM
:D Sounds a whole lot like what society is becoming today
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: tkoold on October 18, 2010, 02:08:11 AM
Yeah im not suprised eaither lots of Male animals eat their young or same Animals if they appear weak and whatever.
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Adelaide on October 18, 2010, 03:24:48 AM
female spiders get knocked up and then eat their mate for nutrition, then her children eat her as their first meal C:
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: kinjo on October 19, 2010, 07:10:58 AM
didnt mantas do that too
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Adelaide on October 19, 2010, 07:26:51 AM
Actually no, matis cannibalistic mating rituals only occur in labs when the female is trying harder to survive; when in taped mating in natural habitats, they don't usually kill their mate :3
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: kinjo on October 19, 2010, 08:04:56 AM
addy the goto gal for insects knowledge!
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 19, 2010, 09:15:41 AM
"only occur in labs" "in natural habitats, they don't usually kill their mates" INCONSISTENT!
They don't if they don't have to, but if they feel threatened or provoked they will.
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: kinjo on October 19, 2010, 02:48:49 PM
the things people spend money on testing, how about they spend money on the 4m! advertising worldwide!
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Adelaide on October 19, 2010, 10:39:02 PM
Thats basically what I said D: it happens almost always in labs because they feel threatened I just didnt elaborate as concise
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 20, 2010, 12:46:43 AM
you said only occur in labs, but then said may happen in the wild. both cant be true with that wording!
Title: Re: Tyrannosaurus rex munched on its own kind
Post by: bloo-apple on October 20, 2010, 09:04:02 AM