# Time Merger: Dinosaurs! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783 "2010-01-13T14:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/1 "2010-01-13T14:31:37Z")
Let’s say a wizard named Scott adjusted his pointy cap and waved his hands in the air while speaking some enchanted words. This, of course (why would it not?), had the effect of transporting all living fauna of the late cretaceous into 2010. Globally. What would this do to civilization as we know it? And who would win, us or them? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/2 "2010-01-13T14:36:11Z")
Does that mean our oil is now non-existent? 'Cause that’s gonna make a huge difference. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/3 "2010-01-13T14:55:43Z")
Surely not all of our oil came only from the late cretaceous? Let’s just say it had minimal impact on earth’s current oil reserves. Also, let’s bypass any other time-paradox by saying they transported over from a very parallel universe. rawr! ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/4 "2010-01-13T15:01:14Z")
We’d win. Not saying it wouldn’t hurt, but even T. Rex wouldn’t do very well against tanks and various anti-tank weapons. Maybe most pistols and even small caliber assault rifles wouldn’t do much, but I’d bet even on a .50 caliber over a T. Rex. And there are enough large caliber weapons, and trained users of such, around to effectively clear beasties from important areas. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/5 "2010-01-13T15:04:05Z")
Certainly people would out-fight and “tame” the dinosaurs. But we might get a few scenes like this first: [http://www.bobheffner.com/dinosaursattack/](http://www.bobheffner.com/dinosaursattack/) [http://www.bobheffner.com/dinosaursattack/front4.htm](http://www.bobheffner.com/dinosaursattack/front4.htm) [Dinosaurs Attack! - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurs_Attack)! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/6 "2010-01-13T15:13:28Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Certainly people would out-fight and “tame” the dinosaurs. But we might get a few scenes like this first: > [Bob's Dinosaurs Attack! HomePage](http://www.bobheffner.com/dinosaursattack/) > > [Bob's Dinosaurs Attack! HomePage](http://www.bobheffner.com/dinosaursattack/front4.htm) > > [Dinosaurs Attack! - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurs_Attack)! Or they might get [F-14s.](http://iconicionic.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/tyrannosaurus_in_f-14s.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/7 "2010-01-13T15:23:08Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Or they might get [F-14s.](http://iconicionic.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/tyrannosaurus_in_f-14s.jpg) Shit. I figured something like that might be possible. It’s their tiny forearms… gives them exceptional dexterity with the flight stick. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/8 "2010-01-13T15:46:53Z")
Well, I’m thinking the initial influx would be quite disastrous. If Scott knows what he’s doing (And I’m sure that he does), he’s going to redistribute the Dinos safely across the continents into the positions they’ve shifted to now (same with bodies of water). There would be much pandemonium. Also, I’m not sure how the carnivores would react to us puny humans. Let alone any huge beast like the Alamosaurus. It’d depend on their aggressiveness and their numbers, but I assume many of us would get trampled, injured and otherwise, eaten. The world governments wouldn’t take long to respond, surely, but it’d have to be a very precise strike against the big animals, as to minimize any collateral damage. The dinos would pretty much be everywhere. Thousands of species. Millions of creatures. Some sort of local militias would have to form to eradicate whatever else that remained. Then there’s the problem of the global ecology… ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/9 "2010-01-13T16:11:37Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Does that mean our oil is now non-existent? 'Cause that’s gonna make a huge difference. Despite the Sinclair logo, very little of our oil comes from actual dinosaurs: most of it’s plant mass (left alone by our wizard) and algae, plus plankton (which would count as fauna, and hence get brought here). The latter brings up a good point: not only would the oceans now be filled with re-historic monsters against whom current species would have little defense, but their plankton offspring as well, so there wouldn’t even be a generation gap to give the current species some breathing room. I’m thinking the oceans would be mass carnage. Again, this assumes our wizard knows about continental drift. If not, we’re going to have a lot of drowned dinosaurs washing up on the shores, and a lot of sea creatures flopping around briefly. Time Merger: the Stinkening! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/10 "2010-01-13T16:15:58Z")
Could we keep some of them as pets? The ones we didn’t blow up–the smaller, cuter ones. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/11 "2010-01-13T16:18:10Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > I’m thinking the oceans would be mass carnage. Plesiosaurs, mosasaurs… we’re definately gonna need a bigger boat. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/12 "2010-01-13T16:19:26Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > …Again, this assumes our wizard knows about continental drift. If not, we’re going to have a lot of drowned dinosaurs washing up on the shores, and a lot of sea creatures flopping around briefly. Time Merger: the Stinkening! Ahh, but of course! Scott the Wizard is no slouch, see previous post: > [@cmyk](#): > > …If Scott knows what he’s doing (And I’m sure that he does), he’s going to redistribute the Dinos safely across the continents into the positions they’ve shifted to now (same with bodies of water). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/13 "2010-01-13T16:29:50Z")
It wouldn’t be long before fast-food joints started serving green burgers. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/14 "2010-01-13T16:40:17Z")
Redneck paradise. No bag limits, no plug or caliber restrictions, and you can make boots and belts from the skin. Yee-haw! I’m gonna bag me an iguanodon. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/15 "2010-01-13T16:55:08Z")
It’s always winter somewhere on the globe. I think the weather would kill a lot for us. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/16 "2010-01-13T17:41:12Z")
Then it’d suck for those that live in the tropics! ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/17 "2010-01-13T17:52:35Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Could we keep some of them as pets? The ones we didn’t blow up–the smaller, cuter ones. When I was little I always thought that baby hadrosaurs looked adorable. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/18 "2010-01-13T18:03:29Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > When I was little I always thought that baby hadrosaurs looked adorable. [Cute as a bug](http://www.freewebs.com/thelandbeforetime01/ducky.PNG)! I want baby dinosaurs! Do they come with eyelash extensions and blue contact lenses? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/19 "2010-01-13T18:14:26Z")
Wouldn’t late-cretaceous dinos have some major problems even surviving nowadays? IIRC, oxygen levels were higher back then, which also meant there was more plant matter. If our nouveau dinosaurs didn’t straight up suffocate, I don’t think there’d be enough plant matter to sustain such large beasties, especially since the total fauna would be essentially doubling (unless we’re swapping current animals for old-skool models). Of course, that would probably take weeks to months to really kick in, and in the meantime, dino-burgers for everyone! ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783/20 "2010-01-13T18:16:02Z")
We’d win – our technology and communications would be big advantages, but the clincher would be population. Large carnivores always have startlingly lower populations than their prey, because it takes a lot of prey animals to support them. I’m sure someone knows some exact ratios; offhand I seem to recall something like the population of individual large predators being 3% or less of the population of the herd species they prey on. Humans are now the most abundant large animal species that has ever lived on earth, at six-billion-plus. We would outnumber the late Cretaceous dinosaurs and grossly outnumber the predators. If the educated speculation I’ve seen is true, Tyrannosaurus Rex would be a predator so fearsome and efficient it is difficult to imagine – probably the third greatest bite force of any animal measured, excellent binocular vision, fantastic sense of smell and the nerve structure to process smells, faster than humans even if some of the current theories about it being unable to run fast safely are true, gigantic in size, hot-blooded and energetic (and constantly hungry as a result of burning so much energy). But there wouldn’t be very many of them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-merger-dinosaurs/524783.md?page=2)