African Bush Elephant vs Torosaurus

[DinosaurMichael]

African Bush Elephant - Loxodonta africana
The African Bush Elephant or African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the larger of the two species of African elephant. Both it and the African Forest Elephant have usually been classified as a single species, known simply as the African Elephant. Some authorities still consider the currently available evidence insufficient for splitting the African Elephant into two species. It is also known as the Bush Elephant. The African Elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal, normally reaching 6 to 7.3 metres (19.7 to 24.0 ft) in length and 3.5 to 4 metres (11.5 to 13.1 ft) in height at the head, and weighing between 6,000 to 9,000 kg (13,000 to 20,000 lb). The largest on record, shot in Angola in 1955, was a bull weighing 12,274 kg (27,060 lbs and standing 4.2 metres (13.8 ft) high, the body of which is now mounted in the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.. (The museum's website states that the specimen weighs only 8 tons.) The Bush Elephant normally moves at a rate of 6 km/h (4 mph), but it can reach a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) when scared or upset. The animal is characterized by its large head; two large ears that cover its shoulders and radiate excess heat; a large and muscular trunk; two prominent tusks, which are well-developed in both sexes, although more commonly in males; a short neck; a large, barrel-like body; four long and heavy legs; and a relatively short tail. The animal is protected by a heavy but flexible layer of gray-brown skin, dotted with mostly undeveloped patches of hair and long, black hair at the tip of its tail. Its back feet have three toes that form a hoof, while the number of toes on the front feet have varied between four and five. The forehead is smoother and less convex than that of the Asian Elephant. The trunk is the most characteristic feature of the African Bush Elephant. It is formed by the fusion and elongation of the nose and upper lip, forming a flexible and strong organ made purely of muscle. Little scientific research has been carried out into elephants' cognitive or perceptual abilities. An exception is a recent report that African Bush Elephants are able to use seismic vibrations at infrasound frequencies for communication.



Torosaurus - Torosaurus latus
Torosaurus ("perforated lizard", in reference to the large openings in its frill) is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Cretaceous period, between 66.8 and 65.5 million years ago. Fossils have been discovered across the Western Interior of North America, from Saskatchewan to south Texas. Torosaurus possessed one of the largest skulls of any known land animal. The frilled skull reached 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) in length. From head to tail, Torosaurus is thought to have measured about 9 m (30 ft) long and weighed 4 to 6 tonnes (4.4 to 6.6 tons). Torosaurus is distinguished from the contemporary Triceratops by an elongate frill with large openings (fenestrae), long squamosal bones of the frill with a trough on their upper surface, and the presence of five or more pairs of hornlets (epoccipitals) on the back of the frill. Torosaurus also lacked the long nose horn seen in Triceratops prorsus, and instead resembled the earlier and more primitive Triceratops horridus in having a short nose horn. Two species have been named, Torosaurus latus and T. gladius. T. gladius is no longer considered a valid species, however.

[Godzillasaurus]

The torosaurus seems to have a "mechanical advantage" here, as its browhorns seem to be much better placed. Its horns were very similar to the elephant's tusks morphologically as well, albeit positioned much differently. I have no doubt in my mind that healthy undamaged brow horns could easily cause much trauma to the mammal's chest area or flanks, given their better position against such a tall animal. 


^Toro is on the top, obviously

And, unless the elephant can, in some way, attack the dinosaur from the side, I do not see it penetrating its frill (assuming that it actually goes in straight-on. But even then, its frill was more gracile than that of triceratops for example, and likely wasn't necessarily the strongest structure, while still being at least probably moderately strong to say the least). Torosaurus takes it

[Fragillimus335]

I give the Torosaurus an advantage as long as the weights are reasonably close. In my opinions the horns just look like more effective weapons.

[Runic]

Oct 17, 2013 6:25:55 GMT 5 Godzillasaurus said:

The torosaurus seems to have a "mechanical advantage" here, as its browhorns seem to be much better places. Its horns were much longer and sharper than the elephant's tusks too:



And, unless the elephant can, in some way, attack the dinosaur from the side, I do not see it penetrating its frill.

Those horns are likely no longer than a straightened elephant tusk. But I agree the toro should win.

[Infinity Blade]

Yeah, I'm going to go with the flow and say Torosaurus. I just think the horns are better placed, just like the horn of a similar sized rhino than the elephant's tusks.

And Godzillasaurus, I think that's Pentaceratops or Titanoceratops, not Torosaurus.

[Godzillasaurus]

And Godzillasaurus, I think that's Pentaceratops or Titanoceratops, not Torosaurus.

My bad, didn't see that pronounced notch in the frill until now. I just changed the picture

[Deleted]

Toro wins as the majority says.

[dinosauria101]

Yes, I favor Torosaurus for the above reasons