Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calorogus shark media. The rain pours down in sheets across
Isisler Nubla. You're huddled in a tour vehicle. It's engine dead,
silent lightning flashes illuminating the surrounding paddock, empty just moments before,
(00:26):
but now containing something massive. The ground trembles with each
approaching footstep, Boom, boom, boom, a rhythm that sends primal
fear coursing through your veins. Your breath fogs the window
as you press against it, straining to see into the darkness.
(00:47):
Another flash of lightning, and there she is, Tyrannosaurus Rex,
forty feet of prehistoric apex predator, her leathery skin glistening
in the rain. The sight freezes you in place as
your mind struggles to process the impossible. A creature extinct
(01:08):
for sixty five million years, standing just yards away. The
t Rex tilts her massive head, that famous eye, focusing
directly on you. They told you her vision was based
on movement, but as she tracks your every trembling breath,
you realize with dawning horror that this was a lie.
(01:30):
She sees you perfectly. Suddenly she charges nine tons of
muscle and bone accelerate with shocking speed. Her jaws, armed
with teeth the size of bananas, crash through the vehicle's
roof with terrible ease. The sound is deafening, tearing metal,
(01:52):
shattering glass, and that bone chilling roar that resonates in
your chest cavity. You feel her hot, fettered brick wash
over you as those massive jaws close around your torso.
The pain is beyond comprehension as teeth designed to puncture
and crush dinosaur hide tear through your comparatively fragile human flesh.
(02:18):
Each tooth exerts over twelve thousand pounds of pressure, pulverizing
bone and rupturing organs in an instant. In your final moments,
as the t Rex lifts you from the vehicle and
tosses you into the air before catching you again the
way a cat plays with a mouse, your fading consciousness
(02:40):
registers a terrible truth. You're not being hunted for food.
After sixty five million years, Tyrannosaurus Rex has returned to
reclaim her throne, and you're nothing more than a reminder
of who truly rules this island. Welcome to Monsters, Sharks
(03:02):
and Dinosaurs, the podcast that explores the deadliest creatures to
ever capture our imaginations. Today, we're examining the undisputed star
of the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchise, Tyrannosaurus Rex,
the tyrant lizard King. When Jurassic Park first roared into
(03:25):
theaters in nineteen ninety three, it forever changed how the
world saw dinosaurs. No longer were they lumbering, cold blooded
reptiles dragging their tails through swamps. Thanks to director Steven Spielberg,
paleontologist consultant Jack Horner, and groundbreaking special effects, t Rex
(03:47):
became a dynamic, terrifying, yet somehow majestic creature that captured
the public imagination. The t Rex of the Jurassic franchise
has had perhaps the most interesting character arc of any
movie monster. In the original film, she was introduced as
the ultimate predator, a force of nature that attacked anything
(04:10):
that moved. The iconic scene where she breaks free from
her paddock and attacks the tour vehicles remains one of
cinema's most perfect thriller sequences. By the end of the
first film, however, our perspective on the t Rex shifts
when she unexpectedly saves the human protagonists from the velociraptors,
(04:32):
leading to the famous line, I think we just got
saved by the t Rex. This moment hinted at something
more complex than a simple movie monster. In the Lost
World Jurassic Park, we meet a mated pair of t
rexes and their infant, showing their protective parental instincts. By
(04:54):
Jurassic World, the original t rex, now nicknamed REXI by fans,
return learns as something of an anti hero, once again
saving humans from a bigger, badder threat, this time the
genetically modified Indo minus Rex. Jurassic World, Fallen Kingdom, and
(05:14):
Jurassic World Dominion continue this evolution, with the t rex
becoming almost a protagonist in her own right, a living
embodiment of nature's raw power in a world where humans
have upset the natural order. This transformation from villain to
hero represents one of the most interesting aspects of the
(05:38):
franchise's storytelling. But how accurate is the Jurassic franchise's portrayal
of Tyrannosaurus rex. Let's examine what science tells us about
this iconic dinosaur. The real t rex lived during the
Late Cretaceous period, about sixty eight to sixty six million
(05:59):
years ago. Right up until the mass extinction event that
wiped out the non avian dinosaurs. Fossil evidence suggests they
lived in what is now western North America, which was
then part of the island continent Laramidia. Size Wise, the
franchise gets it mostly right. Adult t rexes typically grew
(06:22):
to around forty feet long and stood twelve to thirteen
feet tall at the hip, weighing between eight and ten tons.
The largest known specimen, nicknamed Sioux, might have weighed as
much as fourteen tons. The famous tiny arms of t rex,
often the subject of jokes, were actually quite powerful, capable
(06:44):
of lifting up to four hundred pounds. However, they were
indeed proportionally small, likely the result of evolutionary trade offs
that prioritized a massive head and powerful legs. Speaking of
that massive head, the t rex had the strongest bite
(07:05):
force of any land animal that ever lived, estimated at
around twelve thousand, eight hundred pounds per square inch. For comparison,
a lion's byte force is about one thousand psi, and
the strongest modern animal bite belongs to the saltwater crocodile
at about three thousand, seven hundred psi. One area where
(07:28):
the franchise took significant creative license was with t rex vision.
The famous line don't move their vision is based on
movement has no scientific basis. In reality, t rex had
excellent vision, among the best of any dinosaur and possibly
comparable to that of a modern hawk or eagle. They
(07:51):
had forward facing eyes, providing binocular vision with a wide
field of view an excellent depth perception adaptations for a predator.
T Rex also likely had an exceptional sense of smell,
with some of the largest olfactory bulbs relative to brain
size of any dinosaur. Their hearing was probably quite good,
(08:15):
as well, tuned to low frequency sounds like those made
by other large dinosaurs. As for their speed, the franchise
slightly exaggerates their capabilities. While the movies show t rex
keeping pace with speeding jeeps. Paleontologists estimate their top speed
was likely between twelve and twenty five miles per hour,
(08:39):
impressive for an animal of that size, but not quite
the road runner they're sometimes portrayed as. So. Could the
t rex really kill you the way we described at
the beginning of our episode, Absolutely, and it might be
even worse. A t rex's bite would be immediately fatal.
(09:01):
Those banana sized teeth weren't just for show. They were
perfectly evolved to puncture and crush even the toughest dinosaur hide.
Several fossils of other dinosaurs have been found bearing the
unmistakable marks of t rex bites, and in some cases
evidence that the t rex's teeth punched straight through bone.
(09:25):
The pressure exerted by a t rex bite would instantly
crush vital organs, severe limbs, or snap your spine. Their
teeth were designed to handle struggling prey, with serrated edges
perfect for tearing flesh, and a robust build that could
withstand tremendous forces without breaking. But here's a terrible thought.
(09:50):
You might not die immediately. T Rex, like many predators,
might not have been particularly concerned with killing prey quickly.
Modern predators often begin eating before their prey has died.
Given the t rex's huge size difference compared to a human,
(10:10):
it might swallow you whole or in large chunks, meaning
you could theoretically remain conscious as you entered its digestive tract.
A truly nightmarish end, and one the PG thirteen rating
of the films mercifully spares us from contemplating too deeply
(10:32):
more in a moment. Would a t rex actually hunt humans?
(10:53):
Though probably, but not for the reasons you might think.
At our size, we wouldn't constitute much of a meal
for a creature that needed to consume hundreds of pounds
of meat to sustain itself. However, t Rex, like many predators,
would likely have attacked anything unfamiliar that moved within its territory,
(11:15):
especially something as erratic and noisy as a panicking human.
Modern predators often attack novel creatures out of territorial instinct
or simple curiosity, and there's no reason to think t
rex would be different. So while you might not be
a satisfying meal, you'd still end up just as dead.
(11:38):
One of the most fascinating aspects of the t rex
is how much our understanding of this animal has evolved
over time, mirroring the character's evolution in the films. When
the first complete t rex skeleton was discovered in nineteen
oh five, it was mounted in an upright tail dragging
(11:58):
posture that persisted in the public imagination for decades. By
the time Jurassic Park was made, scientific consensus had shifted
to a more horizontal posture, with the tail extended for
balance the version we see in the films. In recent years,
some paleontologists have suggested that t Rex might have had
(12:23):
feathers at least as juveniles, based on evidence from related tyrannosaurs. However,
skin impressions from t Rex specimens show primarily scaly skin,
suggesting that even if they had feathers, they weren't extensively
covered like some of their earlier relatives. The debate about
(12:43):
whether t Rex was primarily a predator or scavenger has
largely been settled in favor of the former, though like
most predators, they probably scavenged when the opportunity presented itself.
The idea that such a perfectly evolved killing machine would
pass up hunting opportunities doesn't make evolutionary sense. Recent studies
(13:07):
have also revealed that t Rex likely had a remarkably
slow growth rate until about age fourteen, when it entered
a four year growth spurt that transformed it from a
relatively slender juvenile into the massive adult form we're familiar with.
During this period, they may have gained up to five
(13:28):
pounds per day. The fact that our understanding of t
Rex continues to evolve with new Discoveries is a testament
to the enduring scientific interest in this magnificent animal, an
interest that the Jurassic franchise has certainly helped to foster.
From a marketing perspective, the t Rex has been the
(13:50):
crown jewel of the Jurassic franchise. The iconic t Rex roar,
a sound designer's masterpiece combining alligator, tiger, baby, elephant, and
whale sounds, has become one of cinema's most recognizable audio cues.
The silhouette of the t Rex, often positioned against the
(14:12):
Jurassic Park slash World logo, is instantly recognizable Worldwide. Merchandise
featuring the t Rex has generated billions in revenue, from
action figures to video games, clothing to theme park attractions.
Universal Studios Is theme parks feature the t Rex prominently,
(14:34):
with the Jurassic Park River Adventure and Jurassic World velocy
coaster rides, allowing visitors to come face to face with
the prehistoric predator. The marketing brilliance lies in how the
t Rex balances terror with awe frightening enough to thrill,
but majestic enough to admire. The t Rex has transcended
(14:58):
its role as a film care character to become a
cultural icon that represents both the frightening power of nature
and humanity's fascination with the prehistoric world. It serves as
a perfect ambassador for paleontology, inspiring countless children to develop
an interest in science through their fascination with dinosaurs. In
(15:24):
a way, the t Rex of the Jurassic franchise has
achieved immortality, introducing generation after generation to the wonders of
the prehistoric world and the thrill of scientific discovery. Not
bad for a creature that's been extinct for sixty five
million years. As we conclude our exploration of the t rex,
(15:47):
it's worth reflecting on why this particular dinosaur has such
a hold on our collective imagination. Beyond its impressive size
and fearsome appearance, the t rex represents something primal in
our psychology, an apex predator from which our mammalian ancestors
(16:08):
would have had to hide and flee. There's something both
terrifying and oddly comforting about the existence of t rex.
Terrifying because it represents a world where humans would not
be at the top of the food chain, a stark
reminder of our relative insignificance in the grand timeline of
(16:31):
Earth's history, but comforting in the knowledge that we live
in a time where we can study these magnificent creatures
without fear of becoming their prey. The t Rex of
the Jurassic franchise embodies this duality perfectly. It inspires fear, yes,
but also wonder and ultimately respect. Through its evolution from
(16:56):
simple movie monster to complex character, it mirrors our own
changing relationship with the natural world, from one of conquest
to one of stewardship. Perhaps that's the true legacy of
Jurassic Park's t Rex, not just as an icon of
cinema or a marvel of special effects, but as a
(17:16):
symbol of nature's power and majesty, demanding our respect even
as it terrifies us. In a world where humans often
see themselves as separate from and superior to, nature, the
t Rex reminds us that we are but one small
chapter in Earth's long story. So the next time you
(17:39):
watch a Jurassic film and feel that primal thrill as
the t Rex roars her dominance to the world, remember
that you're connecting with something deeper than entertainment. You're experiencing
the echo of an ancient relationship between predator and prey,
a reminder of our place in the natural order, and
(18:03):
a glimpse into a world that existed long before us
and may well continue long after we're gone. Thank you
for joining us on this journey through time and imagination.
Until next time, keep exploring the fascinating world of monsters,
(18:23):
sharks and dinosaurs that continue to capture our hearts and minds. Monsters,
Sharks and Dinosaurs is a production of Calarogu Shark Media
Executive producers Mark Francis and John McDermott. Portions of this
(18:46):
podcast may have been created with the assistance of AI