T-Party
Although I’m big enough of a person to admit that in Jurassic Park (1993) the scene with Dr Malcom or the whole ‘they DO move in herds‘ moment are probably way more iconic. Yet I’m still going to have to give a shout out to the T-rex dramatically roaring as the tattered “when dinosaurs ruled the earth” comes falling down behind her as one of the best moments of the film. And any other moment featuring the T-Rex throughout the film series if I’m being honest – the ending of Jurassic World (2015) anyone???
Jurassic Park (for its time) was surprisingly accurate based on our knowledge of dinos at that time – such as not being afraid to challenge the idea of some dinosaurs actually being birds. However, new knowledge has come to light that the solitary (and fearsome) T-Rex that they portrayed may actually have hunted as in packs – much like her co-stars the velociraptors or modern day wolves – and a big part of me hopes the directors would’ve at least considered a T-Rex pack…
AN ECOLOGIST’S RETROSPECTIVE ON JURASSIC PARK
A recent discovery of similarly aged Tyrannosaurus fossils at a dig site in Utah adds to an emerging pattern of mass burial sites of Tyrannosaurus and could be reflective of a much more social and gregarious species than what typically comes to mind when we thing of these once mighty beasts. One T-Rex must have been a terrifying encounter – let alone a whole pack of them!
The full article can de found here: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11013
I feel it is important to mention that I wrote this while sharing my desk with a (gorgeous) LEGO model of the T-rex from Jurassic Park – she approves of this article and demands that I get her some friends… Oh and that it is very important to mention that recent research shows that T-Rex do in fact have feathers but the artistic rendering skills need some time to get with the times – next time though!
Ecology for the Masses 
First of all, it’s always a pleasure to make the acquaintance of a fellow T-rex fan. My affair with the big guys began when I was maybe four years old when my father took me to the Museum of Natural History in New York. When you came through the archway from the prior hall, you entered a musty, cathedral-ceilinged room with crystal glass windows that allowed shafting light in which dust motes danced and as your eyes adjusted, their big T was looming over you mouth agog and little claws at the ready. Now, of course, he’s stooped over with his tail held outright behind him – doubtless the way he really was but in the bright LED lighting of the new hall he’s really lost a lot of his jolt quality.
Second, this new rex-pack view reminds me that saltwater crocodiles apparently pack hunt too, and I gotta wonder if that behavior has been handed down to them from some of their horror croc forebears like Sarcosuchas or Phobosuchas. So, you know, you’re an Olorotitan minding your own business and allasudden there’s a pack of T-rexes on your trail and you dash for the nearest river….and there is no joy in the tavern as on the road thereto, like they say.
Ah well.
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