Dreadnoughtus/Segments

Main **Segments**

MainSegments

These are Prehistoric Planet segments which feature ***Dreadnoughtus***.

## Deserts

### Plot

The first segment of Deserts starts in a barren region in western South America. Walking through the shimmering heat of the wilderness are 17 male *Dreadnoughtus*, ready to prove themselves to a group of dozens or even hundreds of females that have already arrived to the desert beforehand, waiting for them. The males begin showing off their gular air sacs, and some of the males are already seen hissing and arguing with each other. One of the males appears appears to be successful in attracting the attention of many females with his display. This angers an old male, who was the dominant center of attention for two weeks straight. The old bull gets up to confront the new arrival, rearing up and inflating his air sacs to show that he is the boss. The new arrival doesn't back down, however, and continues to glare right into the eyes of the dominant male. Seeing that his rival chooses to continue to defy him, the two males circle each other, knowing that there is only one way for dominance to be established.

***“ This huge bull, white with dust, has held the center stage for two weeks. He weighs nearly 50 tonnes. And his display has, so far, intimidated all challengers. But this new arrival... is not deterred. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Deserts*
The two males rear up, the dominant male appearing to be taller than the new arrival, and both push at each other, clashing necks. They repeat this several times, staring each other down before rearing up and colliding. In one clash, the dominant male pushes his rival back. The new arrival responds by resorting to more primal tactics, biting down on the nape of the dominant male to grab him and break contact.

***“ Lifting up such a huge body is exhausting. It's a battle of endurance. As the conflict intensifies, each fighter tries to wound the other, stabbing with dagger-like spikes on each thumb, and raking the skin with their teeth. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Deserts*
Eventually, it is the dominant male that seems to be getting pushed back, and, as his rival repeatedly stabs at him with his thumb claws and bites at his neck, raking his skin off with his pencil-shaped teeth, the old bull appears to grow weaker.

***“ Until eventually... the knockout blow. The old bull's rule is finally over. The young victor takes his turn on the center stage. The price of defeat, for some, is very high. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Deserts*
With one final neck swing, the challenger knocks the old bull down to the ground. The old bull tries to stand back up, but the impact of his 50-tonne body hitting the ground proved too much, and he collapses, unable to fight anymore. The females bellow, either in surprise or to congratulate the new champion, who now shows off his air sac display to them unopposed.

Eventually, the view of the scene zooms out from above, showing the old bull lying on the ground, unmoving, as the day goes on and the number of *Dreadnoughtus* in the area dwindle. The segment ends at night, with only the deceased old male left in the vast desert.

### Trivia

* This is the third segment to feature a courtship ritual.
* This is the second segment to feature intraspecific combat, the first one to result in the younger individual winning, and also the first one to result in the death of the victor's rival.

## Prehistoric Planet: Uncovered - Were Dinosaurs Good Parents?

  **Were Dinosaurs Good Parents?**
**Subject**
The parenting strategies dinosaurs used to ensure the survival of their brood.

**Experts**
Dr. Darren Naish
Footage of *Dreadnoughtus* is briefly used in this Uncovered segment while the egg-caring habits of sauropods are discussed. Their appearance in this segment is otherwise irrelevant given how their sole appearance in the series is focused on their mating habits and the violent fights that may break out, with not a moment or even implication regarding their parental instincts.

## Prehistoric Planet: Uncovered - How Did Dinosaurs Get So Big?

  **How Did Dinosaurs Get So Big?**
**Subject**
The evolutionary means and efficient systems that let sauropods attain their massive sizes.

**Experts**
Professor Paul Barrett, Dr. Susannah Maidment
Footage of *Dreadnoughtus*, along with most of the other sauropods in the series, is used in this Uncovered segment, which is dedicated to discussing how sauropods got to grow bigger than their modern counterparts.