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Researchers find first sign that tyrannosaurs hunted in packs
Guardian (UK) ^ | Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Ian Sample

Posted on 07/27/2014 6:46:58 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

The collective noun is a terror of tyrannosaurs: a pack of the prehistoric predators, moving and hunting in numbers, for prey that faced the fight of its life.

That tyrannosaurs might have hunted in groups has long been debated by dinosaur experts, but with so little to go on, the prospect has remained firmly in the realm of speculation.

But researchers in Canada now claim to have the strongest evidence yet that the ancient beasts did move around in packs.

At a remote site in north-east British Columbia - in the west of Canada - they uncovered the first known tyrannosaur trackways, apparently left by three animals going the same way at the same time...

The footprints were so well-preserved that even the contours of the animals' skin were visible. "You start wondering what it would have been like to have been there when the tracks were made. The word is terror. I wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley at night," McCrea said.

From the size of the footprints, the researchers put the beasts in their late 20s or early 30s – a venerable age for tyrannosaurs. The depth of the prints and other measurements suggest the tracks were left at the same time. They date back to nearly 70m years ago.

Close inspection of the trackways found that the tyrannosaur that left the first set of prints had a missing claw from its left foot, perhaps a battle injury. Details of the study are published in the journal Plos One.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: dinosaurs; godsgravesglyphs; paleontology; science; tyrannosaurusrex
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subtitle "Discovery of three sets of dinosaur trackways in Canada reveals that predators were running together".

1 posted on 07/27/2014 6:46:58 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: Renfield; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...
Thanks Renfield.


2 posted on 07/27/2014 6:48:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

3 posted on 07/27/2014 6:49:04 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy ("Harvey Dent, can we trust him?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBsdV--kLoQ)
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To: SunkenCiv

The stub arms might have been vestigial wings.


4 posted on 07/27/2014 6:49:28 PM PDT by BigEdLB (Now there ARE 1,000,000 regrets - but it may be too late.)
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To: SunkenCiv

With frickin lasers on their heads!!!!!


5 posted on 07/27/2014 6:49:54 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: cripplecreek

How much would Dr. Evil pay for one of those?


6 posted on 07/27/2014 6:53:20 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: SunkenCiv

So they are not lone scavengers who needed a huge territory to themselves??

These theories change too much. I thought that science was settled, darn it.


7 posted on 07/27/2014 6:57:17 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: GeronL

Theories are based on evidence, and more evidence is found all the time. It’s not handed down in stone.


8 posted on 07/27/2014 6:59:15 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

I think its possible that some hunted or even scavenged alone while others travelled in packs. Like the lions where the dominant male has booted out some rivals.


9 posted on 07/27/2014 7:01:19 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: cripplecreek; Jack Hydrazine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkB-hDXqffI


10 posted on 07/27/2014 7:03:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: cripplecreek

LGBT Trannyosaurs with lasers on their heads!!

Hunt in packs and strike terror in everyone!


11 posted on 07/27/2014 7:03:48 PM PDT by bakeneko
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To: BigEdLB

Their relatives the velociraptors hunted in packs, so this does make sense.


12 posted on 07/27/2014 7:04:06 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: ClearCase_guy

That must have been taught in art school. /badumpdump


13 posted on 07/27/2014 7:04:47 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Wow. A pack of 7 ton monsters terrorizing herbivores. The 8 year old kid in me is giddy at the thought. I subscribe to the theory that they could run and weren’t slow scavengers.


14 posted on 07/27/2014 7:05:50 PM PDT by miliantnutcase
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To: GeronL

That injury to one of them fits your idea very well.


15 posted on 07/27/2014 7:05:59 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Actually, it IS handed down in stone... Roflol


16 posted on 07/27/2014 7:07:08 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad (Impeach Sen Quinn)
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To: GeronL
“I think its possible that some hunted or even scavenged alone while others travelled in packs. Like the lions where the dominant male has booted out some rivals.”

You may be correct. Personally, I like to think that they subsisted on chocolate and peanut butter, but I have no evidence - except for those Reeses wrappers that were carbon dated to the Jurassic period.

17 posted on 07/27/2014 7:07:26 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: SunkenCiv

I like my idea too. :p


18 posted on 07/27/2014 7:08:16 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: miliantnutcase
Dave Mustaine posted this photo to twitter earlier tonight.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
19 posted on 07/27/2014 7:09:35 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Knockout game?


20 posted on 07/27/2014 7:15:02 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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