Two mean, green,
eating-machines will duke it out
for dominion over food, water,
and shelter
tonight in a Cretacious cage-match!
Get ready for a dino death match.
These two dinosaurs may choose
leaves over meat, but make no mistake,
they can be as vicious
as predatory beasts.
Each dino is equipped
with defense mechanisms
that can beat even a T. rex
into submission.
What will happen when they turn
their weapons on each other?
First up is the pummeler
from the prairies,
Weighing n at 2.5 tonnes (2.75 tons),
this behemoth is 6 m (20 ft) long.
Its 3 m (10 ft) club-like tail,
fully armored body
and low center of gravity
make this ankylosaurus
an immovable, dangerous competitor.
It was named Zuul crurivastator,
destroyer of shins,
after the Zuul monster
in the Ghostbusters film.
"There is no Dana only Zuul."
"What a lovely singing voice you must have."
But will its strong defense be enough
to win this match?
Opposing him tonight is the T. rex Killer,
Fossils from the Cretacious period reveal
that despite triceratops being on
the T. rex's menu,
the triceratops' size
made them formidable foes.
Weighing in at 5.4 tonnes (6 tons),
the triceratops is about
9 m (30 ft) long and 3 m (10 ft) tall.
These vengeful vegetarians
are ready to duke it out
for the prime spot in the prairies.
The triceratop's skull is the largest
of all land animals'
at about 1/3 of its body length.
It has three tough horns to attack with
and a massive frill of bone
at the back of its head.
Trust me, folks.
It's even more terrifying up close!
The triceratops strides over
to the ankylosaurus,
tossing its head
and looking intimidating.
It circles the ankylosaurus,
looking for a weak point
to thrust its horns into.
Zuuly holds its ground and waits.
Its body is armored with osteoderms.
They're made of two layers of bones
and covered
by keratin,
the stuff of nails, scales and horns.
Armadillos and crocodiles
have osteoderms too.
And with so many
on the ankylosaurus' body,
it's hard for the triceratops
to find weak spots to hit.
But what's this?
The triceratops spots a target,
the ankylosaurus' fleshy belly.
It won't be easy to reach,
and it'll require some quick
thinking to pull off the attack.
Covered head to tail in osteoderms
and with that low stature,
it's no surprise
that the ankylosaurus
isn't the fastest dinosaur.
With a top speed of only 9 km/h (6 mph),
all it can do
is keep an eye on the triceratops
until it comes close enough.
Then the triceratops could feel the wrath
of the ankylosaurus' heavyweight tail.
But the triceratops stands more upright,
like a mammal.
So it moves faster than its opponent,
at about 15-32 km/h (9-20 mph).
But is the bigger, faster dino
getting overconfident?
Using all the strength he can muster,
the ankylosaurus takes a risk
and swings his mighty tail
toward the triceratops.
A good thump might be enough
for the triceratops
to give up on laying claim to this spot.
But, what's this?
That massive tail has 100 degrees
of motion
and a whopping 14,360 newtons of force.
If that move had made contact,
the triceratops could have been done for.
The triceratops is furious.
If it can get in close and move fast,
it might avoid its competitor's
powerful tail
and hook its horns into the smaller
dinosaur's belly, piercing its organs.
But the ankylosaurus knows
it needs to stay low
and keep the triceratops
away from its soft spots.
Both dinos are getting tired,
but who will win?
Can the ankylosaurus
stay on guard a little longer?
Or will the triceratops
keep trying to throw its weight around?
It's moving again!
Could it be?
The triceratops has given up!
The victory goes to the heavily
armored bruiser,
Looking for more all-out dinosaur action?
Let's see if this triple-horned threat
can take on the terrifying T. rex.
We'll see who wins
on another round of VS.