Poll: T-Rex - Predator or Scavenger?

[Wertbag]

I've been reading the debate over whether T-Rex was a pure scavenger, or whether they were a predator that would scavenge if the oppurtunity presented itself. Personally the evidence to my mind seems to point to a predator, with the relatively new scavenger only theory being based on only a few debatable traits. But it does seem to have divided opinions, so theres obviously enough evidence to support both ideas... so where do you stand? What do you base your belief on?

 

[wolf thing]

all the stuff iv see points to scavenger. but given it size it may have hunted as well.

 

[b3nn3tt]

Combination of the two. Most likely went after live meat but wouldn't turn its nose up at a corpse that only had smaller predators on it.

Before anyone brings up the arm argument, many larger predatory dinosaurs had diminutive arms to allow for a larger set of jaws.

Why couldn't they have both large jaws and arms? Not that I'm disagreeing, just curious

OT: I think both, but for some reason I'm inclined to say more scavenger. I kind of picture T-Rexes as being like lions, so maybe the female does go out and hunt things, and the males tend to scavenge more. Or maybe my theory is entirely wrong. I'm happy to be schooled in this, I loved dinosaurs as a kid and still find them fascinating

 

[silver wolf009]

Probably both. I dont think that any animal that lived by what we call jungle law and needed meat would have turned up its nose at any dead thing except the most putrid. Meat is meat, and dead meat dosen't run away.

 

[N1ceDreamz]

Think of it this way, a T-Rex was very big. Now, why would a scavenger be that big? Surely a scavenger wouldn't want to attract attention to itself.
So I say it was a predator that would scavenge in some cases (But this would be normal as hunters scavenge on occasion the same way savengers hunt on occasion).

 

[superbatranger]

Combination of the two. Most likely went after live meat but wouldn't turn its nose up at a corpse that only had smaller predators on it.

Before anyone brings up the arm argument, many larger predatory dinosaurs had diminutive arms to allow for a larger set of jaws.

Why couldn't they have both large jaws and arms? Not that I'm disagreeing, just curious

OT: I think both, but for some reason I'm inclined to say more scavenger. I kind of picture T-Rexes as being like lions, so maybe the female does go out and hunt things, and the males tend to scavenge more. Or maybe my theory is entirely wrong. I'm happy to be schooled in this, I loved dinosaurs as a kid and still find them fascinating

If they had larger arms and large jaws, there would be more weight towards the front, throwing them off balance. To counteract this, they would need to be heavier towards the rear as well. But, this would have probably resulted in a T-Rex who is slower.

Calvin said it better when he said they were so much cooler being predators than scavengers, though.

 

[darth.pixie]

Combination of the two. Most likely went after live meat but wouldn't turn its nose up at a corpse that only had smaller predators on it.

Before anyone brings up the arm argument, many larger predatory dinosaurs had diminutive arms to allow for a larger set of jaws.

Why couldn't they have both large jaws and arms? Not that I'm disagreeing, just curious

The arms were used to get up from a prone state or to hold struggling prey like meat hooks hence the muscles. Otherwise, in acquiring it, they were unnecessary.

There is also a theory that the younger dinosaurs used their arms, but as they grew, their purpose became obsolete so the arms never really grew past that state.

OT: I'm also going to consider both. Survival was the main purpose so I doubt they either only hunted or only scavenged.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

I'd say it was an opportunist. Most likely that it was capable of hunting but took the chance to scavange when it could.

 

[Crazy_Dude]

Even lions would scavenge if they could. Basicly every Predator cba to hunt if there are corpses to scavenge.

Most Predators arent 100% hunter or 100% scavenger almost always a mix.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Evidence nowadays seems to be supporting the idea that the T-Rex was more of a scavenger and opportunistic hunter than a super-predator. Of course nothing still messed with it, scavenger or not he stays a baaaaad ************.

 

[Do4600]

I like the idea that he just ran around eating little dinosaurs like popcorn.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

It's unlikely the T-Rex was a predator because of its sheer size, and difficulty in bringing those massive jaws to bear on anything with a defence mechanism.

Most likely, it would use its size to scare off animals that had made a kill; and if it did make kills itself, it would be on creatures that were already trapped.

Against 'raptors and other critters, it would be as much use as elephants against cats.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

Well, I think the forward facing eyes are a bit of a clue, as those are a common trait for most predators, and to be honest, compared to the other dinosaurs of the time, the T-rex wasn't as massive as it would be compared with animals of our time.

 

[antigodoflife]

Combination of the two. Most likely went after live meat but wouldn't turn its nose up at a corpse that only had smaller predators on it.

Before anyone brings up the arm argument, many larger predatory dinosaurs had diminutive arms to allow for a larger set of jaws.

Why couldn't they have both large jaws and arms? Not that I'm disagreeing, just curious

Not sure if this has been answered yet. Balance, it needs a giant ass tail to balance it's head. If it had giant ass arms and claws it'd be either a 4-legged dinosaur or it'd be dragging it's head on the ground.

OT: Scavenger, by it's anatomical and skeletal design it would have fallen over and broken it's neck if it tried to chase a faster dinosaur, it's brain cavity shows it was dumb as a rock so it couldn't exactly give a good strategical hunts. It most likely had a very un-evolved hypothalamus like say a crocodile, meaning if it would kill and eat when ever it could and not know when it had eaten enough and it'd be perpetually pissed off so sharing was out of the question - think of a T-rex as a zombie. Lastly it would have had a voice box and roaring would have scared all of the smaller dinosaurs away, making every meal easy so really there was no need for a T-rex to bother being a predator.

Not to mention they lived in the Cretaceous Period where life was already fucking harsh enough, so they were obviously scavengers LIKE EVERY OTHER DINOSAUR in that period.

 

[ApeShapeDeity]

I've been reading the debate over whether T-Rex was a pure scavenger, or whether they were a predator that would scavenge if the oppurtunity presented itself. Personally the evidence to my mind seems to point to a predator, with the relatively new scavenger only theory being based on only a few debatable traits. But it does seem to have divided opinions, so theres obviously enough evidence to support both ideas... so where do you stand? What do you base your belief on?

One might point out out that you've pointed out that there is evidence and educated opinion that suggests both, yet you've not added that as a poll option. Most apex preadators are both. Meat is meat, afterall.

I'd suggest you add that to the poll... (in case you don't know how it works) Edit, and alter the poll... this won't turn up right away cos one of the system admins will need to check it out 1st. I can't see it being a problem in this case...

 

[Wertbag]

One might point out out that you've pointed out that there is evidence and educated opinion that suggests both, yet you've not added that as a poll option. Most apex preadators are both. Meat is meat, afterall.

I'd suggest you add that to the poll...

I'd think my description clarified the options? Pure scavenger vs Predator that would scavenge as well. I don't think anyone would support a pure predator only idea, anything will take a free meal if offered.

 

[R Man]

Tyrannosaurus undoubtedly hunted. It probably scavenged too, which is what most big predators do. Evidence to suggest that T. rex was a hunter are the position of its eyes which suggest very good stereoscopic vision. In addition to this there is some evidence of a Triceratops that had survived a fight with a T. rex. It was also probably faster than it appears, due to the design of the foot with its long toes and metatarsals which may have helped with running. Anyway, it didn't have to be fast, it just had to be fast enough to ambush its prey and bite before they can react.

 

[Crusader1089]

I think of T-rex as a land shark. The apex predator that won't turn it's nose up when a massive sauropod of hadrosaur dies, prey it would never normally be able to catch, but will rely for most of it's diet on hunting.

There are partially healed Triceratops hip bones which suggest T-rex at the very least attempted to hunt, if it wasn't always successful.