# Tyrannosaurus rex: everyone's favorite dinosaur, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938 "2010-06-29T15:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/41 "2010-06-29T19:51:10Z")
On a related note, Ms. Attack recently suggested that we visit Drumheller Alberta. [thread=569007] Here’s the thread. [/thread] Dinosaur related comments are solicited. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/42 "2010-06-29T19:54:49Z")
Another vote for the Triceratops ---
**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:** [June 29, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/43 "2010-06-29T19:58:31Z")
Triceratops was Alan Grant’s favorite as a kid, too. So you know they’re cool! ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/44 "2010-06-29T20:06:43Z")
I second Styracosaurus. Sure he was smaller than the competition. But he was the proto-punk - he could grow his own liberty spikes! ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/45 "2010-06-29T20:12:14Z")
> [@Ambihelical\_Hexnut](#): > > I always liked the Stegosaurus. Glad to I’m not the only one. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/46 "2010-06-29T20:15:25Z")
Which one was the dino with the Thagomizer™? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/47 "2010-06-29T20:29:04Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I think I’m beginning to understand your user name. Just a bit. 😃 I’m all about savage, unrepentant killing. I mean… I guess think they’re cool lookin’ is all. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/48 "2010-06-29T20:34:35Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Which one was the dino with the Thagomizer™? This one. > [@Ambihelical\_Hexnut](#): > > I always liked the Stegosaurus. The plates on its back look really cool, and I’m amazed that such a huge animal could function with a brain the size of a peanut. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/49 "2010-06-29T20:35:26Z")
T-rexs can fly fighter jets. They win. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/50 "2010-06-29T21:19:33Z")
As already noted, pterosaurs weren’t dinosaurs. And neither were the various marine critters. The only “flying dinosaurs” were, and are, birds. Just so everyone’s on the same page 😛 My favorite is _Deinonychus_, and has been since I first learned of the critter. Not because he’s the most ferocious, or most awesome, or anything like that. _Just because._ For those hating on _T, rex_’s tiny arms, keep in mind that tyrannosaurs sacrificed forelimbs to grow large skulls (containing large teeth) and big feet with which to tear other dinos apart. Think of how birds of prey eat; they don’t need arms to do it, and neither did _T. rex_. _T. rex_ also had one of the greatest bite forces of any terrestrial animal. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/51 "2010-06-29T21:27:04Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > \ > The marine reptiles and flyers were totally cool and awesome, but they’re not technically dinosaurs. T-rex is big and toothy, but those tiny little arms are just silly. And sure they were huge, but were they really fierce predators or just overgrown vultures feeding on Jurassic road-kill? Fine then. if [mosasaurs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tylosaurus_proriger12DB.jpg) are not kosher, then my choice will be… drum roll please : [Giganotosaurus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giganotos_Db.jpg). Will you look at the [size](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Largesttheropods.svg) of that baby ! As an alternate I will chose [Spinosaurus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spinosaurus1DBa.png) whose skeleton was destroyed in Munich during WWII by the Dam Busters squadron (RAF 617[sup]th[/sup] squadron) ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/52 "2010-06-29T21:41:54Z")
> [@detop](#): > > As an alternate I will chose [Spinosaurus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spinosaurus1DBa.png) whose skeleton was destroyed in Munich during WWII by the Dam Busters squadron (RAF 617[sup]th[/sup] squadron) The holotype for _Spinosaurus aegypticus_ was destroyed,. but that’s not the only _Spinosaurus_ specimen ever found - there are a total of five other known specimens; all (including the original) are partial skeletons. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/53 "2010-06-29T22:03:44Z")
T-Rex and I had a falling out early on. He was the star of a horrifying nightmare I had when I was about 4 years old, in which he was as tall as the Empire State building, and trying to eat me. It was the most vivid terror I have ever felt. We were no longer on speaking terms after that. But even if that incident had never happened, I think I’d still love Triceratops best. As others have said, he wasn’t looking for trouble, but if you started something, he’d [mess you up](http://edaphosaurus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/cool-triceratops-killing-a-dumb-t-rex.jpg). ---
**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:** [June 29, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/54 "2010-06-29T22:08:02Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > But even if that incident had never happened, I think I’d still love Triceratops best. As others have said, he wasn’t looking for trouble, but if you started something, he’d [mess you up](http://edaphosaurus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/cool-triceratops-killing-a-dumb-t-rex.jpg). I hate the idea of blood sport but I know that if we had the technology for dinosaur fights, I’d be courtside for T-Rex vs. triceratops fights. (Hopefully the second act will be giant squid vs. sperm whale.) ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/55 "2010-06-29T22:22:24Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I was always partial to Triceratops though I have no idea why. They just seemed cool to my eight year old self. Me too. And T-Rex can’t even scratch his balls with those tiny arms. ---
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/56 "2010-06-29T22:25:37Z")
Fun [video](http://www.toplessrobot.com/2010/06/dont_mention_velociraptors_to_this_guy.php) I just came across yesterday. It’s a comedian who asks the crowd what their favorite dinosaurs are and just destroys anyone who says something other than what he wants to hear. I fully expected to see someone had already posted it here, actually. Just wait for the part where someone mentions the velociraptor. I always liked the Triceratops and the Parasaurolophus. ETA: Guy here. Still like the Trike. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/57 "2010-06-30T00:02:07Z")
Because it was the first dino fossil I ever saw and I had the colouring book and everything, it has to be the [Albertosaurus.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertosaurus) Its a smaller, gentler, _ **Canadian** _ Tyrannosaur. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/58 "2010-06-30T00:06:42Z")
Ankylosaurus, for sure. Wanna break your teeth off trying to snack on me? Go ahead, wear yourself out. Annoy me enough and I’ll swat your nose bloody with this tail. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/59 "2010-06-30T00:09:01Z")
Ankylosauruses are the most awesome dinosaur. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/60 "2010-06-30T00:15:43Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > And T-Rex can’t even scratch his balls with those tiny arms. He’s too busy killing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938.md?page=4)