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Post by Runic on Aug 15, 2013 10:53:54 GMT 5
Not really. All the eagle has to do is latch right behind its head and the dragons defenseless  |
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Post by coherentsheaf on Aug 15, 2013 11:09:59 GMT 5
Not really. All the eagle has to do is latch right behind its head and the dragons defenseless killing it would be borderline impossible. Pessure exhibited by accipitrids is relatively low and the beak could not do substantial damage to bone as well. this is a fight a bird simply cant win. It would be like fighting a flexible crocodile with great acceleration and stamina. If we take V.priscus there are not even extinct birds that stand a chance. |
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Post by 221extra on Aug 15, 2013 11:20:21 GMT 5
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Derdadort
Junior Member
Excavating rocks and watching birds
Posts: 267 
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Post by Derdadort on Aug 15, 2013 16:10:30 GMT 5
Obviously Dilophosaurus. But also other theropods like Acrocanthosaurus or some birds. However I think my favorites are changing from time to time.
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Post by theropod on Aug 15, 2013 16:34:10 GMT 5
Extant: Harpy eagle and komodo dragon. The two greatest (imo) terrestrial predatory reptiles of our time
Extinct: Phorusrhacids (dinosaurs that remained apex predators until the pleistocene!), Allosaurs (very diverse, successful clade of large-bodied theropods that roamed the earth during a big part of the mesozoic), Tyrannosaurids (highly specialized latest-Cretaceous, giant coelurosaurs with an amazing success-story in Laurasia), their more basal relatives and Dromeosaurs (small, agile predators with amazing weaponery and athleticism)
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Derdadort
Junior Member
Excavating rocks and watching birds
Posts: 267
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Post by Derdadort on Aug 15, 2013 17:22:05 GMT 5
Extant: Harpy eagle and komodo dragon. The two greatest (imo) terrestrial predatory reptiles of our time
Sauropsid should be a better term  Sauropsids include by definition birds and "reptiles". |
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Post by theropod on Aug 15, 2013 18:07:27 GMT 5
Reptilia also has a monophyletic definition synonymous with Sauropsida (but I think the latter sounds better when used together with Synapsida ). Anyway, "reptile" in the non-obsolete sense remains the common name for this clade, while "traditional reptilia" excludes birds (and should by its trait-based definition, "scaly skin, cold-bloodedness, amniotic eggs etc." also exclude all other Dinosaurs, Pterosaurs, leatherback Turtles, Sauropterygians, Ichthyopterygians and Mosasaurs which were/are all viviparous and/or endotherms). See here: www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/G104/lectures/104clad.htmlThe wikipage for example refers to "traditional reptilia", the paraphylethic grade, but reptiles can mean both (either way it is usually clear what one means. I always speak of monophyletic clades for example). |
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Post by creature386 on Aug 15, 2013 20:12:51 GMT 5
Not really. All the eagle has to do is latch right behind its head and the dragons defenseless killing it would be borderline impossible. Pessure exhibited by accipitrids is relatively low and the beak could not do substantial damage to bone as well. this is a fight a bird simply cant win. It would be like fighting a flexible crocodile with great acceleration and stamina. If we take V.priscus there are not even extinct birds that stand a chance. Maybe when taking a small (23 kg) komodo dragon, the bird would have a chance. Anyway, for their size, birds of prey are still quite impressive. |
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Post by coherentsheaf on Aug 15, 2013 20:25:01 GMT 5
killing it would be borderline impossible. Pessure exhibited by accipitrids is relatively low and the beak could not do substantial damage to bone as well. this is a fight a bird simply cant win. It would be like fighting a flexible crocodile with great acceleration and stamina. If we take V.priscus there are not even extinct birds that stand a chance. Maybe when taking a small (23 kg) komodo dragon, the bird would have a chance. Anyway, for their size, birds of prey are still quite impressive. Yes they are. |
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Post by Venomous Dragon on Aug 15, 2013 21:45:40 GMT 5
My favorite modern predator is either the Orca or the Saltwater crocodile, both due to their surprising intelligence, size, and power. On the extinct side probably Giganotosaurus or Acrocanthosaurus.   Varanids are smarter than members of Crocodylinae.  |
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Post by creature386 on Aug 15, 2013 21:47:06 GMT 5
He didn't say both are equally intelligent, just that they are quite intelligent, when compared to other reptiles (what would still fit to crocodiles).
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Post by Venomous Dragon on Aug 15, 2013 21:59:21 GMT 5
He didn't say both are equally intelligent, just that they are quite intelligent, when compared to other reptiles (what would still fit to crocodiles). I know, I was just picking a fight do we have a reptilian intelligence thread? |
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Post by Grey on Aug 15, 2013 22:32:32 GMT 5
Otodus megalodon, Livyatan melvillei, the largest pliosaurs and mosasaurs species. Today, orcas, salties and great whites. The largest carnosaurs and tyrannosaurs. The bigger the better, but sometimes I developp an even superior interest in some unique hunters like the komodo dragon, African Wild Dog, Mantis...
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Fragillimus335
Member
Sauropod fanatic, and dinosaur specialist
Posts: 573
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Post by Fragillimus335 on Aug 15, 2013 23:50:27 GMT 5
My favorite modern predator is either the Orca or the Saltwater crocodile, both due to their surprising intelligence, size, and power. On the extinct side probably Giganotosaurus or Acrocanthosaurus. Varanids are smarter than members of Crocodylinae. Yes, and they would also fit quite well in a crocodile's lower intestinal tract... ;D |
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