Hello everyone.

Did anybody catch the Bill oddy programme on BBC 1 on 28th (sunday)?

I know the animation wasnt as hot as W.W.D. and to be honest this is
what has sold many of these programs since then but at least it had
a bit more content over than the usual "dinosaurs were very
big....old.....dead....etc".

For a first timer this will have been an eye opener, but I found
much of this to old news having read much of it before from books
and the various university sites.

The program tried too hard to make one species the "winner".
Though the "possible outcome" was not implausable it was given to
thrill the audience as much as highlight that the tyrannosaurus was
the invincible predator that we think it was.

It is my belief that a majority of hunts ended in either failure or
a stand off rather than a heroic fight to the death.

The triceratops is believed to have been a herd animal and it is
likely that they combined to form a wall of horns and bony frills in
response to a visible threat forcing any predator to withdraw and
start the stalk anew or find another quary.

The tyrannosaurus would undoubtly use experience and for an animal
with a skeleton designed to be lightweight, wouldnt be looking to
make any kind of attack that held the risk of serious injury.
Standing and fighting when the triceratops was prepared for it was
not really an option and a hasty retreat would probably ensue.

There is too great a risk of injury not from a charge but from being
gored much the same as an african water buffalo can gore a lion.

The most likely tactic was shown wherein the predator attacks a
target at the edge of a herd and pretty well spaced from the other
members.

The predator tries to line itself up behind the target and use any
available cover to get as close as possible without being heard/seen
or smelt meanwhile ensuring that there are not too many obstructions
to the intended target.

The attack would focus on the targets back or hind quarters. The
predator could use to powerful jaws to secure itself to the targets
back whilst digging one strong foot onto the target and applying its
full body weight ,increasd by the momentum to push the target down.

This skillfully done would be very effective but I suspect it would
be extremely dangerous for a younger specimen to attempt.

Most likely, I believe the senario outlined in the W.W.D book to be
the most acurate.

I refer to the final chapter "death of a dynasty" where the
tyrannosaurus stalks the torosaur- attack from a position in the
animals blind spot, deliver a mortal wound and wait for it to bleed
to death.

No horns to deal with, smaller chance of toppling over or being
kicked in the struggle which could entail a fractured shin or leg
bone - an injury that could lame the hunter and kill it as surely as
a well placed horn though the underbelly.
Just a matter of patience.

Let me know what you think,

Nick.