The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs

***The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs*** (also known as ***Dinosaur Face-Off***) is a British two-part documentary miniseries presented by Bill Oddie and produced by the BBC Natural History Unit. It follows scientists who use biomechanics to test out the strength of dinosaur weaponry. It was first aired in the United Kingdom, and subsequently in the United States, in 2005.

## Episodes

These are the two episodes and the evidence revealed in them.

 **Tyrannosaurus*** Evidence of head injuries on Triceratops indicates Tyrannosaurus rex attacked living Triceratops
* Using a steel Tyrannosaurus skull, scientists learn that Tyrannosaurus could easily crush a small car
* Scientists learn that Tyrannosaurus could run at a maximum of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h)
* Scanning an endocast from Tyrannosaurus' skull, scientists theorize that Tyrannosaurus had a brain similar to that of a modern-day alligator
* Tyrannosaurus had good vision, and a good sense of smell
* Tyrannosaurus could bite through bone at a bite force of at least four tons per square inch

**Triceratops*** Doing a crash test with a Triceratops skull made of resin, scientists learn that, contrary to portayels in the media, Triceratops probably did not charge at predators nor other dinosaurs, for its skull would likely break
* Triceratops may have gored its predators
 2
 **Velociraptor*** Velociraptor was only the size of a turkey
* It had feathers
* A robotic Velociraptor leg provides evidence that it did not disembowel its prey
* The fossil of a Velociraptor fighting a Protoceratops shows that the Velociraptor pierced the neck of its prey, possibly to stab the vital arteries or the jugular vein
* Velociraptor's wings were used for balance and agility, much like the wings of an ostrich
* Along with its claws, Velociraptor's teeth were useful weapons
* It most likely hunted in small packs
* Teeth of this dinosaur were found among its victims
* The biomechanical claw provides evidence that the Velociraptor did not penetrate the ankylosaur's armor; it broke when tested on a crocodile's skin

**Ankylosaur*** Ankylosaur armor was similar to a crocodile's, though significantly harder
* Young crocodiles have no armor, especially on the neck. Baby ankylosaurs were probably similar
* A robotic ankylosaur tail shows that the tail club could break wood and bone with ease
* The dinosaur's armor and club were used only on more threatening predators than Velociraptor**Outcome**The ankylosaur would win, although Velociraptor could easily kill young ankylosaurs, which have easily penetrable armor.Outcome 1: (Winner, ankylosaur) The ankylosaur is being harassed by two Velociraptors. They try to attack it multiple times, but its armors proves too thick. The ankylosaur eventually drives them away by swinging its tail (one blow would have killed one of the Velociraptors)Outcome 2: (Winner, Velociraptor) A mother ankylosaur is grazing and her young browse very close to her to avoid danger, but one of them wanders off to an unsafe distance. Two Velociraptors lay a trap around the baby; one of them bursts out of cover to stampede the baby, and the baby escapes the Velociraptor, only to be driven into the clutches of the other one. The two Velociraptors attack the baby, slashing with their claws. The baby tries desperately to defend itself with its tail, but it is inexperienced and quickly overwhelmed. One of the Velociraptors drives a claw into the baby's neck, killing it. The two Velociraptors have the baby as a meal.

**Minor appearances*** This episode also features appearances from two other species:The first is a Tarbosaurus, which was the top predator of Mongolia and fights the ankylosaur but loses when the tail club breaks its leg. The other is a Protoceratops, which appears in two fights with the Velociraptor. The first of these is a re-enactment of the Fighting Dinosaurs fossil, while the second pits it against two Velociraptors, where the latter win. Its beak and bony frill were powerful weapons, but its small size made it an easy target for larger predators.

### American version

For the American release, the miniseries was presented as *Dinosaur Face-Off*, which aired on the Discovery Channel on November 5, 2005. This version also had Oddie's scenes removed and replaced with a voiceover narration. It was later released on DVD as a Discovery Channel Store exclusive.

## Home media

Main article: *The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs (Home video)*