# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/81 "2010-06-30T16:45:44Z")
I’m not sure if I have an actual favorite… but it wouldn’t be the T-Rex if I did. Probably Triceratops but not sure. The T-Rex may be big and scary, but it just isn’t that cool. There are bigger dinosaurs, there are scarier dinosaurs, etc. and “scary” isn’t really what I like about dinosaurs anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/82 "2010-06-30T18:04:33Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I was always partial to Triceratops though I have no idea why. They just seemed cool to my eight year old self. > > [Favorite dinosaur book.](http://www.amazon.com/Enormous-Egg-Oliver-Butterworth/dp/0316119202) Yah, I’m another Trikki fan of long standing. They don’t look as scary-and-dumb as the T-Rex. Trikkies used to be very popular growing up (on a par with Ts and Brontos; most kids couldn’t pronounce Pterodactyl), by the time T’s popularity got ahead I was old enough to vote. The Ts make me think of a very, very, very dumb bully. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/83 "2010-06-30T18:13:39Z")
Geez, I had no idea there were so many trike fans out there. Here, I found a video just for you: [Triceratops Tribute](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Ab2bGs6Ls). And, to those who aren’t Tyrannosaurus fans, maybe I can change your minds with a short video that I made especially for this thread: [T. Rex hatching](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fp3HGtxlgA) 😃 ---
**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:** [June 30, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/84 "2010-06-30T18:38:06Z")
I have read (somewhere) that _Triceratops_ is the “most loved.” Personally I’ve been a fan of _T. Rex_ ever since I read that they were in danger of being written off as slow scavengers…they’ve been sort of a whipping boy for any grad student who wants to draw attention to a paper. We all know in our hearts the conception of them as hot-blooded, fast-running, tail-balanced predators – with fantastic sense of smell and the most powerful bone-crushing bite in the history of life – must be true. I also recently heard that they are believed to have hunted in packs. Take THAT, _Velociraptor_ fans! But don’t sell _Triceratops_ short. Not only was an adult Trike capable of fending off or killing a _T. Rex_, but I saw a program in which they claimed that a typical herbivore behavior is to hunt and kill the helpless young of your chief predator (to thin the herd of herd-thinners, so to speak). This program depicted it as common for _Triceratop_s to kill unattended _Tyrannosaur_ young whenever they found them. Also, _Triceratops_ has the heaviest skull of any land animal ever, and _it’s mounted on a ball joint_ to enable quick changes of direction – to thrust and parry with those swords and that huge shield. There’s no question this was a fighting animal when necessary. ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/85 "2010-06-30T18:50:45Z")
I used to love the T. Rex, then I read the one Jurassic Park book where the heroes went into the Pterodactyl enclosure. Dive bombing dinosaurs! Hell yeah! ---
**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:** [June 30, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/86 "2010-06-30T18:53:44Z")
The Discovery Channel program [Mega Beasts](http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mega-beasts/) says that mosasaurs wiped out a giant shark that competed with them (the “Ginsu shark”) and drove the plesiosaurs into waters the mosasaurs didn’t inhabit, and by the end of their reign were the sole large ocean predator of note. That’s pretty badass. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/87 "2010-06-30T19:06:39Z")
I hate not being all unique and stuff. But Triceratops was always my favorite as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/88 "2010-06-30T19:13:50Z")
Since this thread opened, scientists have announced the discovery of a 17-meter monster named [Leviathan melvillei](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10461066.stm). Technically not a dino, but worth a mention here. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/89 "2010-06-30T19:18:58Z")
Why Triceratops and not some of the othe Ceratopsids? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2010, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/90 "2010-07-01T12:21:47Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Since this thread opened, scientists have announced the discovery of a 17-meter monster named [Leviathan melvillei](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10461066.stm). Technically not a dino, but worth a mention here. That’s a pretty stupid write-up, implying the modern sperm whale is non-carnivorous and even “gentle” because it eats squid. Tell that to the squid! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/91 "2010-07-01T12:34:37Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Since this thread opened, scientists have announced the discovery of a 17-meter monster named [Leviathan melvillei](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10461066.stm). Technically not a dino, but worth a mention here. From the article: > [@](#): > > “And it’s interesting to note that at the same time in the same waters was another monster, which was a giant shark about 15m long. It’s possible that they might have fought each other”. An intern for Syfy read this sentence at 12:11 p.m. Pacific time yesterday. A script was completed by 12:48 p.m. and _Giant Shark vs. Leviathan_ is now in pre-production. It’ll be on the air during Shark Week. 😛 ---
**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:** [July 1, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/92 "2010-07-01T14:00:47Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > That’s a pretty stupid write-up, implying the modern sperm whale is non-carnivorous and even “gentle” because it eats squid. Tell that to the squid! The image is pretty misleading, as well. One imagines a giant-size monster gobbling up a blue whale or something like that. Really, though, _Leviathan_ (and there is some speculation that the name might be invalid…) was a good 10 meters smaller than a Big Blue, making this fellow…not all that impressive (the article itself says it was sperm-whale sized anyway, so I’m not sure why they chose that image). Heck, sperm whales can reach 20 meters in length, making Moby Dick bigger and meaner than this guy. The article says, “The researchers speculate that Leviathan was able to feed on very large prey up to 8m long.” Yeah…that’s dolphin-sized. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/93 "2010-07-01T14:47:46Z")
Ha! I knew Triceratops would own this thread. My favorite too. > [@yendis](#): > > Deinonychus was my favourite until it was discovered that they had feathers, now they look like [attack chickens](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Deinonychus_im_NHM_Wien.JPG). I’m kinda digging the attack chicken too. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/94 "2010-07-01T15:10:34Z")
Yeah, looking through the dromaeosaurs and oviraptorids on Wikipedia, they’re nothing like they were when I was little. (Is it time to start waving a cane yet or shall I wait for the next major anatomical revision? 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/95 "2010-07-01T16:30:12Z")
I was always a brontosaurus guy. Changed my mind when I found out I was supposed to call it apatosaurus. My favorite extinct reptilian was always the kronosaur though. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/96 "2010-07-01T18:20:15Z")
I was a Triceratops and Brontosaurus fan. Is it the Brontosaurus that doesn’t exist anymore? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/97 "2010-07-01T18:30:41Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Is it the Brontosaurus that doesn’t exist anymore? It exists as _Apatosaurus_. The _Brontosaurus_ name is still associated with what is now _Apatosaurus_ as a junior subjective synonym (in ICZN\*-speak), so nothing else can be named “Brontosaurus” in the future. [sub]\* International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/98 "2010-07-01T19:40:28Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Is it the Brontosaurus that doesn’t exist anymore? > [@Darwins\_Finch](#): > > It exists as _Apatosaurus_. The _Brontosaurus_ name is still associated with what is now _Apatosaurus_ as a junior subjective synonym (in ICZN\*-speak), so nothing else can be named “Brontosaurus” in the future. In laymens’ terms, that means _apatosaurus_ and _brontosaurus_ were originally identified as distinct species, and when somebody figured out they weren’t, the first name applied took precedence. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/99 "2010-07-01T21:58:38Z")
For you _T. rex_ fans, [this](http://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app20090133.html) just in: > [@](#): > > Overall, this new trace fossil provides much new information about tyrannosaur feeding behaviour. There has been much debate as to whether tyrannosaurs were scavengers or predators (e.g. see Holtz 2008 for a review), and although nearly all extant predators combine varying levels of scavenging with predation, this single event can be marked down confidently as a tyrannosaurid scavenging from a hadrosaurid carcass. The scavenging critter in question was _Tarbosaurus_ (an Asian tyrannosaurid), rather than _Tyrannosaurus_, but the two are closely related. You can get the whole manuscript at the above link. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938/100 "2010-07-01T23:48:58Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Hmm…is triceratops the favorite dinosaur of the girls? It’s looking like it… Yeah, this is kind of embarrassing. But I have [a theory.](http://www.dvd.net.au/movies/l/08532-2.jpg) For those who have tragically missed this masterpiece of cinema, it’s a screenshot of _The Land Before Time_, a movie I worshiped as a kid, which features a young, female triceratops heroine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrannosaurus-rex-everyones-favorite-dinosaur-right/544938.md?page=6)