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**Tyrannosaurus Rex** The undisputed king of predators, *Tyrannosaurus Rex* dominated late Cretaceous North America. Towering 12 feet tall with serrated teeth the size of bananas, this 40-foot carnivore relied on bone-crushing bites to hunt hadrosaurs and triceratops. Recent studies suggest a mix of scavenging and pack behavior. **Velociraptor** Contrary to Hollywood myths, turkey-sized *Velociraptors* used sickle claws to pin smaller prey in arid Mongolia. Feather-covered and nimble, these Late Cretaceous hunters likely relied on speed and coordinated strikes. Fossilized battle scars with Protoceratops reveal their gritty survival tactics. **Brachiosaurus** A Jurassic giant stretching 85 feet, *Brachiosaurus* browsed treetops with its giraffe-like posture. Weighing 50 tons, this herbivore’s heart pumped blood 30 feet upward to its brain. Fossilized trackways suggest migratory herds stripping conifers bare across lush floodplains. **Stegosaurus** Armored with bony plates and a spiked tail, *Stegosaurus* roamed Jurassic North America. Despite its 20-foot frame, its walnut-sized brain fueled debates about intelligence. Vascular plates may have regulated body heat or flashed crimson warnings to deter Allosaurus attacks. **Triceratops** This Cretaceous tank wielded three horns and a bony frill against predators. Herds of 30-foot *Triceratops* grazed cycads in Montana’s valleys, their beaks shredding tough vegetation. Fossil skulls show healed Tyrannosaur bite marks—proof of brutal survival duels. **Ankylosaurus** Nature’s battle wagon, *Ankylosaurus* boasted osteoderm armor and a club-like tail capable of shattering predator bones. Low-slung and wide, this Cretaceous herbivore foraged ferns in Wyoming, its fused vertebrae absorbing colossal impacts during defense. **Spinosaurus** Larger than T-Rex, semi-aquatic *Spinosaurus* prowled North African rivers 95 million years ago. Sail-backed and crocodile-jawed, it snatched fish or ambushed shorelines. Fossilized isotopes in teeth confirm a predominantly aquatic lifestyle—unique among known dinosaurs. **Pteranodon** Soaring Cretaceous skies on 20-foot wings, *Pteranodon* fished oceans with toothless beaks. Despite reptilian features, these flyers weren’t dinosaurs but close relatives. Hollow bones and keen eyesight made them masters of coastal air currents. **Allosaurus** The lion of the Jurassic, *Allosaurus* terrorized sauropods with blade-like teeth and hinged jaws. Pack tactics let these 32-foot predators tackle giants like Stegosaurus. Healed fractures in fossils hint at violent, high-risk hunting strategies. **Diplodocus** A 90-foot Jurassic titan, *Diplodocus* used its whip-like tail for defense and communication. Peg-shaped teeth stripped ferns efficiently, while gastroliths in its stomach ground tough plants. Trackways indicate herds moving seasonally for food. **Parasaurolophus** Cretaceous crested wonder *Parasaurolophus* used hollow head tubes to blast low-frequency calls across floodplains. Herds of these 30-foot hadrosaurs relied on safety in numbers while grazing, their duckbills processing fibrous plants nonstop. **Compsognathus** Cat-sized *Compsognathus* darted through Jurassic Europe snatching insects and lizards. Once mistaken for baby dinosaurs, these agile predators hunted in packs, their lightweight frames optimized for bursts of speed over dense undergrowth. **Iguanodon** Pioneering paleontology’s early days, *Iguanodon* was a Cretaceous herbivore with thumb spikes for defense. Early reconstructions inaccurately placed this spike on its nose. Herds migrated vast distances, chewing horsetails with specialized cheek teeth. **Pachycephalosaurus** Dome-headed *Pachycephalosaurus* rammed rivals in Cretaceous mating rituals. Fossilized skulls show healed fractures, debunking theories about purely display-based crests. These 15-foot herbivores likely headbutted at speeds comparable to modern bighorn sheep. **Mosasaurus** Ruling ancient oceans, 56-foot *Mosasaurus* crushed prey with conical teeth and a double-hinged jaw. Though technically a marine reptile, its dominance in Late Cretaceous seas earns honorary dino-game status. Fossilized stomach contents reveal sharks and plesiosaurs as common meals.
