Animation Source Forums

What do you think? do you think t-rex is a predator or a scavenger?

I believe they were both...I'm not sure though. Generally I think every predator can be a scavenger.

I think both. I think they might have been just like lions (just as an example!), when lions see a smaller animal such as a cheetah, hyena or even wild dog bring down something they'll go over there scare them away and take it, but when a lion is hungry enough it will go and hunt it self. I believe that is like a T-rex, it was an opportunist, if it saw a chance to steal / scavenge it would but if it got hungry enough it would go hunt itself.

you should add a "both" column. T-rex's were mainly hunters but scavanged on dead animals when given the oportunity.

Both.

I just finished adding a both cloumn.

The idea of the T-Rex being a scavenger is based on three proponents:

1.) A means to see prey
2.) A means to hold prey
3.) A means to run away like heck with prey

Most Tyrannosauri have been known to have small eyes, obviously meaning they wouldn't be able to see very far. This may cause us to believe that the T-Rex fed off of mainly large bodies, quite possibly dismissing the often smaller species that could've easier-ly been left to pick off of. And to think, the almighty T-Rex would need a lot of small bodies to sustain the need of that growing dinosaur body. ;D

Most of you also know that a T-Rex's forelimbs are simply too short and too weak for holding up the large bodies it would supposedly pick off from. Since a T-Rex would mos likely carry its prizes [whether it being a whole, small animal, or a part of a large one] between its teeth, I find this argument to be inadequate.

Tyrannosauri have large limbs, which act as a pro and con; a pro giving the dinosaur an intimidating appearance as well as heft body mass [reducing the need to run away], but a con being that it couldn't be able to run very fast [Do any of you recall that scene from the first JURASSIC PARK when the T-Rex was chasing after the jeep? XP Hurrrg!!]. Predators would have a greater need for speed than scavengers would.

Needn't I also point out the fact that most scavengers travel in groups while Tyrannosauri were pretty much loners? Oo

In conclusion, I sincerely doubt that a Tyrannosaurus Rex would be able to sustain itself just by picking after what others left behind. Nonetheless, that doesn't necessarily mean it would really stop itself from bending down to rip off a stray chunk or two... or three... or ten. I believe its role would suit better MORE as a predator than scavenger.

Take it from the doctor. ^^

i think it was an opportunist which would've allowed it to feed on whatever prey it it found as an apex predator.