Was the T. Rex a Scavenger?
In Was the T. Rex a Scavenger?, a team from the University of Glasgow explains that T. rex dinosaurs may have been able to survive as scavengers. This video is excerpted from BBC's Horizon: T. Rex, Warrior or Wimp?, a documentary featuring interviews with T. rex experts from around the world and exploring the science behind the legend of the dinosaur we love to hate.
Lesson Express
Q: Why do you think it is hypothesized that T. rex needed a lot of food?
A: It is often hypothesized that T. rex needed a lot of food because of its massive size and powerful body. T. rex’s large muscles and strong bones suggest it required a high caloric intake to maintain its strength and activity levels.
Q: Could T. rex have survived just off of scavenging?
A: It's possible that T. rex could have survived off scavenging because it didn’t need a lot of food to survive. The challenge would have been finding food in its habitat, as it would have had to rely on the carcasses of other animals.
Q: How might T. rex’s hunting strategy have changed if it relied more on scavenging?
A: If T. rex relied more on scavenging, it would possibly have spent more time searching for carcasses instead of hunting. Instead of chasing prey, it could have waited for other predators or events that would leave animals behind. The powerful teeth and jaws would have assisted with getting large carcasses.
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