Elasmotherium sibricum vs. Purussaurus brasiliensis

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Elasmotherium sibiricum
Elasmotherium ("thin plate beast") is an extinct genus of large rhinoceros endemic to Eurasia during the Late Pliocene through the Pleistocene, existing from 2.6 Ma to at least as late as 39,000 years ago in the Late Pleistocene. E. sibiricum, was the size of a mammoth and is thought to have borne a large, thick horn on its forehead. Theories about the function of this horn include defence, attracting mates, driving away competitors, sweeping snow from the grass in winter and digging for water and plant roots. Like all rhinoceroses, elasmotheres were herbivorous. Unlike any others, its high-crowned molars were ever-growing. Its legs were longer than those of other rhinos and were adapted for galloping, giving it a horse-like gait. The known specimens of E. sibiricum reach up to 4.5 m (15 ft) in body length with shoulder heights over 2 m (6 ft 7 in). Elasmotherium weighed 4.5-5 ton.


Purussaurus brasiliensis
Purussaurus is an extinct genus of giant caiman that lived in South America during the Miocene epoch, 8 million years ago. It is known from skull material found in the Brazilian, Colombian and Peruvian Amazonia, and northern Venezuela. The skull length of the largest known individual of the type species, P. brasiliensis is 1,453 millimetres (57.2 in). It has been estimated that P. brasiliensis reached about 10.3 metres (34 ft) in length, weighing about 6.2 tons. Two other extinct crocodilians, Sarcosuchus and Deinosuchus, have similar proportions, but both are geologically much older, dating from the Early and Late Cretaceous, respectively, and another from the Miocene of India, Rhamphosuchus, is estimated to be slightly smaller, though assumed to have been proportioned like a gharial. During the summer of 2005, a Franco-Peruvian expedition (the Fitzcarrald expedition) found new fossils of Purussaurus in the Peruvian Amazon (600 km from Lima).

Credit to Wikipedia

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The fight would happen near the water. Either elshmotherium would survive or it would get killed. It would not win at less fight was strictly on land. And even then it would make more sense for it to simply run away. Only thing it could really do is trample the crocodile. Which would be difficult because crocodiles long skull and jaws which could snap the leg. Goring crocodile would be difficult too. But if it could get towards the crocodile from crocodiles side before crocodile would turn and hit it that might be elshmotherium's way to kill or at least injure the crocodile. Elshmotherium is fast but crocodile would not follow it to try to catch up to it. It would stand its ground and move only when elshmotherium would get close. While elshmotherium is fast its not very agile.  crocodile would move only when it had to. but at certain points it would need to turn quickly. however while attack from the rear is a big threat. In this particular case only thing at the rear is crocodile's tail which is well armored and does not contain any vital organs. crocodile would simply quickly turn and attack with its jaws. There is a posibility of the horn getting stucked in crocodiles mouth piercing its palate. but since it would be Elshmotherium circling the crocodile  it would actually be that crocodile would need to make smaller motion because it would be inside the circle around which elshmotherium would be going trying to find a weak spot. closer to the center of the circle smaller radius. less movement necessary to change position. It would also be unlikely that crocodile could get to his opponents side despite having less distance to cover because elshmotherium is faster. 

If crocodile would get to elshmotherium's side with over 15 000 pounds of force it would do greater damage to elshmotherium than elshmotherium would do to him than if it would be other way around. Elshmotherium might try charging but in order to be successful it would have to berry the horn deep down underneath the crocodile's body which would be difficult because of crocodiles low stands. Plus if crocodile would get at any part of the elshmotherium's body except the very front even one of the limbs he would cut is off and the fight would be over. 

if crocodile was on the land he would be headed for water as quickly as possible. if he was on the land but near the water he might try to make a meal out of elshmotherium. if crocodile would feel in danger he would retreat into the water. if elshmotherium would feel crocodile is too close for comfort it would run in opposite direction away from deep water and the crocodile. most likely place where the actual encounter would take place is the water hole where elshmotherium would go to drink. crocodile would wait until elshmotherium was close enough and then ambush elshmotherium. with surprise on his side, very powerful bite the fact that it could reach far forward because of his length and the fact that crocodile has slightly more weight. it would have a good chance of grabbing elshmotherium dragging it into the water and devouring it. if crocodile would miss, elshmotherium would run away and stay far from the water and look for the place to drink elsewhere. if it had to cross to the other side then it would be in crock domain. its victory would come if he survived and crock missed his meal. He would not be able to really hurt and definitally not kill the crocodile. 

only realistk way in my opinion elshmotherium could win is on the land. with crocodile far from the water. And if he was able to charge crocodile with lots of force hiting crocodile from the side. But even that would probably not kill crocodile and to elshmotherium would need to do this number of times and be successful every time while avoiding crock jaws. crocodile could let elshmotherium get just close enough to be in a position to quickly move his body to the side so to be parallel to elshmotherium with end of his snout being at the at the level of about middle point of elshmotheriums belly. And continu to swirl moving his tail away from elshmotherium while reaching towards elshmotherium's side with his jaws. Grab elshmotherium by the neck and kill it. Because needing to make smaller circular motion then elshmotherium for most of this maneuver and crocodiles great length. Both the body and the jaws it would have good chance to grab elshmotherium even if he himself is slower on the land

Best case scenario for elshmotherium is if he would get to crocodile's side before crock would turn. Ram it with its horn and do lots of damage. It is unlikely he would kill the crocodile with one blow but crock would have to retreat to the water, and elshmotherium would have won the day.

In most cases however crocodile comes out victorious. In the water hole where the actual fight would take place. With crock slightly larger weight very powerful jaws and the fact that elshmotherium would not know when or even if the crock was coming the crocodile would ether make the kill or not. under those circumstances only victory elshmotherium could hope for would be survival 

I don't wish to go into other peoples decisions on which animals they chose to put against each other. But it might be better if both opponents lived in the same environment. Or the comparison of their fight and fighting ability should be from the beginning be set only in the place they actually meet. (in this case the water hole) regardless on how they would fare against each other in any other setting. In some cases they would not meet at all in reality ( I don't mean because they lived in different times) but because their environments are too different from each other that there would be very limited or no interaction between them at all. Hippopotamus would never encounter elephant seal in a fight even if they exist in the same time period. One animal might be stronger then the other in its opponent in its own environment while opponent is stronger in his. But in this case crocodile would never go far from water to fight elshmotherium. And elshmotherium stands almost no chance against crocodile in the water  especially if water is deep enough. Utharaptor against hyena would be reasonable. But the winner would be decided before battle would even take place. Elshmotherium against Wooly Mammoth might be better. Two or three dire wolves against smilodon. Two marsupial lions vs meglania. Megladon vs Livyatan. And others such might be  more comparative because they lived in similar  environments.  

[dinosauria101]

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We debate this in various terrains. I'd favor the caiman most of the time due to armor and a powerful bite

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 Ok I hope I didn't sound rude I din't mean to. I agree the crocodile takes it.