Clash of the Dinosaurs
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| Clash of the Dinosaurs | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Richard Dale, Bill Howard |
| Producer | Tim Goodchild |
| Original release | |
| Network | Discovery Communications |
| Release | December 13, 2009 |
Clash of the Dinosaurs is a four-part television mini-series produced by Dangerous LTD for Discovery Channel. The show premiered on December 13, 2009[citation needed] with a double-episode.
Featured genera
- Ankylosaurus
- Deinonychus
- Parasaurolophus
- Quetzalcoatlus (not actually a dinosaur, but a pterosaur)
- Sauroposeidon
- Triceratops
- Tyrannosaurus
Episodes
Extreme Survivors
In the first episode the survival strategies of the mid-Cretaceous sauropod Sauroposeidon are contrasted with those of Tyrannosaurus Rex. The primary distinction drawn is the difference between Sauroposeidon's speculated r selector method of reproduction (i.e. many offspring with no parental care) versus T. rex's proposed K selector method (i.e. few offspring with very invested parental supervision and care). This conception of T. rex as a nurturing parent borrows from popular depictions of the animal from the past decade, including Universal's The Lost World: Jurassic Park and the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs series. It should be noted, however, that no fossil evidence for any specific parental behavior on the part of T. rex has ever been found[1]. The notion of T. rex as a dedicated parent is possibly extended from other dinosaur species, such as Maiasaura, Oviraptor and Psittacosaurus, for which there is an abundance of evidence of strong parental care[2].
The program also highlights the differences between the brains and senses of T. rex and Sauroposeidon, contrasting T. rex's large brain size and well-developed senses of sight and smell with Sauroposeidon's supposedly rudimentary brain and sensorium. This comparison is mostly supposition, as no Sauroposeidon skulls have ever been unearthed. Indeed, the specimen is known entirely from a set of four neck vertebrae, which have identified the species as a sauropod of the family Brachiosauridae, from whose more completely described members Sauroposeidon's anatomy is conjectured.
Perfect Predators
This episode tells how predators such as Tyrannosaurus, Deinonychus and Quetzalcoatlus caught their prey.
The Defenders
The defenses used by Sauroposeidon, Parasaurolophus, Ankylosaurus and Triceratops against predators are featured here.
Generations
In this final episode, the dinosaurs' reproduction habits and evolution into birds is discussed.
Errors
- Just two Deinonychus are shown taking on Sauroposeidon, a dinosaur much bigger than themselves. Two Deinonychus would have never done such a thing, and even if they did, the Sauroposeidon would have "pulped them", as Mathew Wedel puts it.[3]
- There is no evidence of Parasaurolophus using ultrasound as defense, and it is unlikely that this was acoustically possible.[3]
- There was no evidence to support that Quetzalcoatlus could see in ultraviolet (or that dinosaurs urinated). [3]
Quote-mining controversy
After the series aired, paleontologist Mathew Wedel (who was interviewed for the series) strongly criticized the program, as he had been quote-mined. He was talking about the glycogen body of sauropods, mentioning the invalid theory that it served as a second brain and that its purpose is still uncertain. However, in the actual program, most of what he said had been removed, making it look like he supported the theory that it served as a second brain.[3] After coming in contact with the show's creators, the scene was removed from future broadcasts as well as DVD and Blu-ray releases.[4]
References
- ^ "T. rex In Depth". Unearthing T. rex: The World's First Interactive T. rex dig. Black Hills Institute. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Graham, Sarah (9 September 2004). "Fossil Supports Case for Dutiful Dinosaur Parenting". Scientific American. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d Wedel, Mathew (15 December 2009). "Lies, damned lies, and Clash of the Dinosaurs". Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- ^ Wedel, Mathew (17 December 2009). "Clash of the Dinosaurs: The Discovery Channel steps up". Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week. Retrieved 3 December 2011.