# Could any modern-day animal give a t-rex a run for its money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 19, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952 "2006-03-19T01:15:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/61 "2006-03-20T16:49:41Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > I guess any animal that was smart enough, and able to take out t-rex’s eyes first would have a chance. Yeah, but T-Rex can still smell just fine. T-Rex used both eyes and nose (contrary to what Jurassic Park claimed). > [@kanicbird](#): > > Piranha for one. I don’t see a T-Rex beng able to catch them, though he may be able to step on them. > > Even if it’s one piranha against 1 T-rex - the big T will come away with a injury and the P will come away with a full belly I was thinking piranha as well. But do they ever hunt alone? I thought they always attacked in schools (I concede that I could very well be wrong on this point). > [@Raguleader](#): > > If he can’t use a rocket launcher, can the man use a quad-50 anti-aircraft mount? 😃 What about a 1920’s style death ray? ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/62 "2006-03-20T17:32:23Z")
> [@Ludy](#): > > I would say that a [wolverine](http://blindkat.tripod.com/zoo/wolverine.html) that was motivated enough could give him a run for his money. They are small enough to make a bad target. He could just scamper up the T-Rex’s back out of his reach, dig in his claws and go for a ride. A small and vicious enough animal can take down a much bigger one, it just takes a little longer. > > And no X-Men jokes 😛 > > Well maybe a few I’ll take your Wolverine and raise you a [Honey Badger](http://www.honeybadger.com/FactFile/F.A.Q.htm) . Though the X-man called Honey Badger has yet to make much of a name for herself 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/63 "2006-03-20T17:50:10Z")
> [@Measure for Measure](#): > > Article from Physics Today: [How Fast Could Tyrannosaurus rex Run?](http://www.aip.org/pt/vol-55/iss-4/p18.html) Smaller dinos have fossilized footprints, which permit some guesswork. For the T-Rex, less accurate anatomical study is required. > > Estimates range as high as 45mph, but more recent work tends to support an upper bound of about 25mph, perhaps [10-25mph](http://tam.cornell.edu/students/garcia/.trex_www/naturepaper.html). I suddenly have this image of the new Deathrace 2050: A marathon with a T-Rex released, say, 40 minutes after the humans start running. You’ve heard of “march or die,” now it’s “run or die!” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/64 "2006-03-20T17:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > I suddenly have this image of the new Deathrace 2050: A marathon with a T-Rex released, say, 40 minutes after the humans start running. You’ve heard of “march or die,” now it’s “run or die!” “I don’t have to run faster than the T rex. I just have to run faster than you !” ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/65 "2006-03-20T19:37:40Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Versus Tyrannosaurs in F-15’s! With all due respect, the [original strip](http://www.slate.com/id/2129373/slideshow/2129415/fs/0//entry/2129405/) used F- **14** s. The difference is technical, making this a nitpick. Presumably the T-Rexes are using the super-long-range Phoenix missile system to compensate for their tiny arms? Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/66 "2006-03-20T20:08:40Z")
Of course, if a Nazi is riding atop the T-Rex, I doubt any force could stop it. mm ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/67 "2006-03-20T22:56:54Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > How 'bout a gorilla with a rocket launcher? Silly. Gorillas don’t use rocket launchers! Get a baboon. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/68 "2006-03-20T23:01:18Z")
As for the hippopotamus being an herbivore, I don’t think that’s an absolute. And they’re vicious animals. I think a T. Rex would probably learn to avoid them, or die. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/69 "2006-03-21T01:30:51Z")
> [@Martini Enfield](#): > > There are any number of incredibly venomous and poisonous creatures in Australia that could probably fell a T-Rex quite easily, although it would depend on a lot of biological and circulatory data for the Tyrannosaur that we just don’t have. > > Perhaps we could go for some kind of Tag-Team match? Maybe a Portugeuse Man-O-War Jellyfish and a Taipan Snake, or a Mexican Staring Frog Of Southern Sri Lanka and a Yowie… 😉 Drop Bears! Drop Bears! ---
**Author:** ![dhunter1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@dhunter1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhunter1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/70 "2006-03-21T02:00:44Z")
Well, if the sci fi channel is a reliable source, I would have to my money on Dinocroc, Frankenfish, or Chupacabra. I think any of them would be able to take on t-rex, but not Chuck Norris. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/71 "2006-03-21T02:53:59Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > My money would be on the Stobor. Yay for obscure references! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/72 "2006-03-21T03:00:24Z")
What about a T-rex with a ninja on its back and formula 409 in its hands? ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/73 "2006-03-21T04:39:05Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > I remember reading in Sci Am that it’s now thought that t-rex actually “allowed” bacteria to grow in its teeth ( :barf smiley: ) in order to infect its prey to inflict even more carnage. > > I guess any animal that was smart enough, and able to take out t-rex’s eyes first would have a chance. ALLOWED? You mean they didn’t brush and floss? Bob ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/74 "2006-03-21T04:52:32Z")
After being at the top of the food chain for the last 65 million years, T-rex would have evolved in to an intellectual giant. So we’d be facing a t-rex with rocket launchers. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/75 "2006-03-21T08:16:20Z")
\ Here ve see an ant. Zis ant is engaged in a life or death schtruggle vith ze tyrannosaurus. You can see ze ant creeping up on ze tyrannosaurus on all zixes. Now he stops to obserff. Zatisfied that ze tyrannosaurus has not heard him, he approaches nearer. Vith great skill he chooses his moment and zen, qvick as a limpet, vith one mighty bound buries his fangs in ze tyrannosaurus’s neck. Ze tyrannosaurus struggles to no avail. A battle of zis kind can take anything up to fifteen years because ze timber ant has such a tiny mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/76 "2006-03-21T10:05:37Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > I suddenly have this image of the new Deathrace 2050: A marathon with a T-Rex released, say, 40 minutes after the humans start running. You’ve heard of “march or die,” now it’s “run or die!” Eh, I seriously doubt that old T Rex was fit to run a marathon. Over the super-long distances, men \* tend to run down any other ambulatory species. There are exceptions, but they’re rare. \*_Homo Sapiens_, not me. I personally would be begging for the dinosaur to end the misery after not more than 300 yards. > [@greenback](#): > > After being at the top of the food chain for the last 65 million years, T-rex would have evolved in to an intellectual giant. > > So we’d be facing a t-rex with rocket launchers. Nope, after being at the top of the food chain for 65 million years the T-rex would still have a tiny brain. It’s being a tiny little ground-hugging shrewoid that gives you the stimulus to evolve intelligence; or being a frugivorous plains ape that’s not much better than a walking snack for the leopard population. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/77 "2006-03-21T13:17:26Z")
He could be bewildered by a bewilderbeast. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/78 "2006-03-21T14:07:09Z")
I’m going to posit that any of the recently extinct animals that were specifically made extinct by man out of fear, could have taken T-Rex. Simply because T-Rex would have been one of that group if he had lasted to human times. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/79 "2006-03-21T15:32:42Z")
I don’t think he’d have fared too well against a bunch of monkeys flinging feces at him and taunting him in monkey-talk. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952/80 "2006-03-21T18:46:31Z")
But would the T-Rex have survived the French flinging [cows](http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/grail/large/HolyGrail061.jpg) at him? Either he gets pummeled or he bursts when engorged. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-modern-day-animal-give-a-t-rex-a-run-for-its-money/348952.md?page=5)