Was the T. Rex Both a Scavenger and a Hunter?
In Was the T. Rex Both a Scavenger and a Hunter?, Ken Carpenter, curator of the Museum of Nature and Science, examines bones to discover whether the dinosaur they belonged to could have been killed by a T. rex. 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.
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Q: What was significant about the tail of the dinosaur, according to the scientist, and how does this discovery contribute to the hypothesis?
A: One of the vertebrae in the dinosaur’s tail was incomplete near the top, and the adjacent spine showed clear puncture marks. These puncture wounds formed a broad "U" shape, resembling a bite mark. This finding led scientists to consider the possibility of T. rex, supporting the idea that it could have been a predator itself.
Q: How did the discovery of bone growth in the injured dinosaur help support Ken Carpenter’s hypothesis?
A: The scientist found that the bones in the dinosaur’s tail, which had been punctured, healed over time. This indicates that the animal survived the injury, which suggests that it was alive and well enough to recover. If a T. rex caused these injuries, it would point to the idea that it was a predator.
Q: Was T. rex a scavenger or a predator?
A: The question of whether T. rex was a scavenger or a predator remains debated among scientists. Some suggest that T. rex was a scavenger, relying on the remains of dead animals, while others argue it was an active predator. Others believe that T. rex was a hybrid, capable of both hunting and scavenging.
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