Majungasaurus VS Megaraptor

MAJUNGASAURUS

Length- 6-7 M

Height- 2 M at the hips

Weight- 1.1 ton

Majungasaurus was a bipedal predator with a short snout. Although the forelimbs are not completely known, they were very short, while the hind limbs were longer and very stocky. It can be distinguished from other abelisaurids by its wider skull, the very rough texture and thickened bone on the top of its snout, and the single rounded horn on the roof of its skull, which was originally mistaken for the dome of a pachycephalosaur. It also had more teeth in both upper and lower jaws than most abelisaurids. Known from several well-preserved skulls and abundant skeletal material, Majungasaurus has recently become one of the best-studied theropod dinosaurs from the Southern hemisphere. It appears to be most closely related to abelisaurids from India rather than South America or continental Africa, a fact that has important biogeographical implications. Majungasaurus was the apex predator in its ecosystem, mainly preying on sauropods like Rapetosaurus, and is also one of the few dinosaurs for which there is direct evidence of cannibalism.

MEGARAPTOR

Length- 8 M

Height- 2 M at the hips

Weight- 1 ton

Megaraptor is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived in the ages of the Late CretaceousIts fossils have been discovered in the Patagonian Portezuelo of Argentina, South America. Initially thought to have been a giant dromaeosaur-like coelurosaur, it was classified as a neovenatorid allosauroid  in previous phylogenies, but more recent phylogeny and discoveries of related megaraptoran genera has placed it as either a basal tyrannosauroid or a basal coelurosaur with some studies still considering it a neovenatorid.

FIGHT!!!

A female Megaraptor stalks through the pine trees of what is now Alaska 70 MYA. It is spring and many smells reach her sensitive nose. One of these smells is fresh blood. She starts to go into a trot, excited at the prospect of an easy meal. The scent leads her out of the forest and onto a steep hill where patches of snow have still not melted. She clambers up the hill and looks down on the plains of grass before her. Her sharp eyes immediately spot an Edmontosaurus lumbering along about half a kilometre from where she’s standing. The Megaraptor can tell that the huge Hadrosaur is limping. She scrambles silently down the hill. This side is even steeper than the first and she has to use all four of her limbs at times to stop herself from falling. At last, after what seemed like ages she reaches the bottom. Despite her slow progress she has already managed to catch up slightly to the wounded Edmontosaurus, which has not yet noticed her. She quietly breaks into a run. Her feet barely make any noise on the damp grass. The Edmontosaurus is oblivious to the approaching Megaraptor and suddenly feels something slam into his side. The Megaraptor is slightly stunned from her ramming attack. But the Edmontosaurus has been knocked over despite being more than seven times her weight. The poor Hadrosaur struggles to get back up but is unable to. The Megaraptor lunges in and sinks its teeth into the Edmontosaurus’ neck, feeling warm blood in her mouth. Her prey tries in vain to shrug her off and lets out a low cry of defeat as the Megaraptor rakes its claws across its throat…

About ten minutes later the Megaraptor is eating her meal peacefully. She still hasn’t noticed the Majungasaurus slowly creeping up to her. Suddenly a twig snaps beneath the Majungasaurus’ foot, alerting the attention of the Megaraptor. She turns quickly and spots the Majungasaurus standing about 20 feet from where she’s eating her kill. The Majungasaurus lifts himself to his full height, puts his head up and begins to vibrate his throat, which starts flashing blue. The Megaraptor is not intimidated and starts to eat her meal again. Just when she thinks the Majungasaurus is gone she looks up and sees him eating from the carcass. The Megaraptor has had enough, she lets out a loud shriek and slashes the Majungasaurus across the face. The Majungasaurus bellows in pain and shakes its head. The Megaraptor bites into the Majungasaurus’ shoulder but is shrugged off. Now the two predators begin to circle one another around the carcass. The Majungasaurus attempts to bite the Megaraptor, but is too slow, and in doing so, exposes his flank. The Megaraptor takes the opportunity and rips her teeth into the flesh of the Majungasaurus, who snaps lamely at her. Megaraptor pulls her teeth out and feels flesh come out with them. Then before the Majungasaurus can recover she quickly darts out of its reach. But the Majungasaurus wasn’t as slow as she thought. He manages to grab a hold of her tail. The Megaraptor screeches and tries to get out of the Majungasaurus’ firm grip, but instead trips on a rock, hidden by the long grass. The Majungasaurus leaps in.and bites the Megaraptor’s throat. The Megaraptor doesn’t give up that easily, she staggers to her feet and wrenches herself out of the Majungasaurus’ teeth. Then she slams her full body weight into the Majungasaurus’ chest, sending him sprawling across the ground. The Majungasaurus just manages to get back up in time, before the Megaraptor is on him once again, slashing at his face with her claws. The Majungasaurus backs away, unable to get past the flurry of claws between him and the Megaraptor. With one last longing glance at the dead Edmontosaurus, he turns and runs off, not wanting to risk his own life over a meal. The Megaraptor raises her head and gives a victory shriek.

So, 3 points go to… the Megaraptor!!!

Why? First of all I believe the Megaraptor would win 60% of the time, although it would be very close. You can’t really get a more even battle than this. The Majungasaurus may have been slightly heavier. But weight doesn’t count for anything if your opponent is faster, has a better bite force and just more weapons in general. The two deciding factors of the battle were the Megaraptors huge hand claws, which are way, way, way more effective than the Majungasaurus’ useless little arms, and its bite, which is not only stronger but also more effective because of the shape of the skull.

Why didn’t the Majungasaurus die? I want these fights to be as realistic as possible, so any time the fight is even like this one, none of the Dinos will die. If the fight is a mismatch however, than its very likely the weaker Dino will be killed off.