Dinosaur Planet (television series)
Encyclopedia
Dinosaur Planet is a four-part American
nature
documentary
first aired on Discovery Channel
in 2003. It was hosted by Scott Sampson and narrated by Christian Slater
.
Dinosaur Planet depicts dinosaur
s living in various parts of the world (Asia
, North America
, South America
and Europe
) during the Late Cretaceous
, using CGI
(just like Discovery Channel's earlier When Dinosaurs Roamed America
and BBC
's Walking with Dinosaurs
). In actuality, a good part of the dinosaurs were designed by Mark Dubeau, who was the art director and primary creature designer on the aforementioned "When Dinosaurs Roamed America".
A female Velociraptor called White Tip is walking on her own in the dessert, after her family has been killed by another pack, and she must find a new one. She tries to hunt Prenocephale
, but fails, as she cannot efficiently hunt without a pack. She then turns to hunt smaller prey like lizard
s.
During one of her hunts, White Tip stumbles into a Protoceratops
nest, but is chased away by an old male. Luckily, he chases her into the territory of another male Protoceratops
and the intruder is killed in a head-butting match. White Tip eats part of the carcass, but the smell of blood attracts a small pack of other Velociraptors. White Tip realizes the pack is strong, and tries to joins them. The pack leader is an alpha male named Broken Hand, and he shows aggression towards her. But the other male in the pack, Blue Brow, intervenes and fights Broken Hand off. He then lets White Tip join the pack.
A few months later, White Tip lays her eggs. Since there are predators everywhere, she must stay with her eggs, while the rest of the pack go hunting. The others chase a Shuvuuia
, but an Oviraptor catches it first. Because the pack did not catch anything, White Tip goes hungry. She tries to stalk a Deltatheridium
, but is interrupted by Broken Hand, eating two of her five eggs. She manages to chase him away.
Soon, White Tip's youngs hatch, and she can go hunting with the others. This time, they make a successful attack on a Oviraptor nest. That night, a heavy rain starts. After the rain, the pack goes to hunt Protoceratops. White Tip pounces on one, but gets knocked to the ground. Bluebrow fights back by thrusting his claw into the Protoceratops side, while the Protoceratops bites his arm. After Bluebrow struggles and frees himself, a landslide
buries him and the Protoceratops
, to both White Tip's and the female Protocertops shock. White Tip returns to her offspring, and raises her young as new additions to the pack. Later on, Blue Brow and the Protoceratops he died with will become the famous Velociraptor vs. Protoceratops fossil.
Animals featured in the episode
Prenocephale
Oviraptor
Protoceratops
Shuvuuia
Deltatheridium
Unidentified Lizard
The episode starts with a lush Romania
n forest, with several animals living their peaceful lives in harmony.
One of them is Pod, a male Pyroraptor
, and his sisters. The narrator explains that their species relies on their brain power to survive.
As Pod's group heads in the dense forest, away from a noisy herd of Ampelosaurus
Pod finds a carcass of a small Rhabdodon
. As he eats, a pair of carnivorous Tarascosaurus
are approaching, attracted by the scent of blood. Pod and his sisters close in to defend their meal, until an earth quake cause them to flee from the forest out to the shoreline. At shore, the earth quake creates a tsunami
that sweeps Pod and the other dinosaurs away. Pod and one of his sisters survives, clinging to life on a log. The next day, however, Pod's sister is eaten by a Elasmosaurus
.
On his third day on the log, Pod is swept onto Hateg Island
and collapses from exhaustion. As Pod is lying on the beach, a pack of dwarf dromaeosaurids squabble with Allodaposuchus
over what they believe to be the carcass of Pod. Pod is awakened by the noise and scares the Allodaposuchus
away. Because they look like him, Pod attempts to join the dwarf raptor pack, but they run away, terrified. After trying to hunt an Ichthyornis
, Pod follows the dwarf dromaeosaurs, believing they can lead him to his own kind. Instead, Pod is about to see that all of the island's species are dwarfs of animals back in his homeland. Having lived in a world where size determined a dinosaurs survival, Pod is baffled by the small creatures, although he knows the water tastes just fine, so he takes a moment to refresh himself. He embarks on a quest to find members of his kind, exploring the island all the way.
After that, he hears a sound of two fighting dwarf Rhabdodon
. The male that approaches the herd issues a duel. The herd leader accepts the challenge, and a violent fight breaks out. The leader drives his dagger like thumb spike through the intruder's jugular, but the intruder refuses to back off. Agitated, the leader defeats the intruder by knocking him to the ground. The wounded male is then killed by a pack of Allodaposuchus. Attracted by the scent of the kill, Pod walks over, scares the land crocodiles off and begins to eat. While Pod is resting after his meal, the Allodaposuchus attempt to snag the leftovers, only to squabble over it with a flock of noisy Elopteryx
. Pod wakes up, devours his last piece of meat and heads off to resume his mission.
Later, in an attempt to find members of his own kind, Pod climbs to the top of a cliff and shrieks, trying to get a response. He then hear his own echo, and believes it is another Pyroraptor. A pack of Elopteryx hear the cries, and respond. Pod approaches the group and displays his killing claw. To his shock, they show signs of submission. He walks away, and the curious troodontids follow. They later join him as a pack.
As Pod walks through the forest with the Elopteryx following him, he finds a trio of Dwarf Tarascosaurus
- 2 females and a male - feeding on a Magyarosaurus
. Pod realize that the only thing that kept him on the bottom back at his home island was his relative size, so he confronts the male Tarascosaur. Pod makes a leap, kills the male Tarascosaurus
with his sickle claw and he and his troodontid companions scare the females away, and realize that they have become the apex predators on the island. He returns to the beach and finds the log that saved him, scaring some birds off as well. He stays on the island for good, claiming it as his empire.
Animals featured in the episode
Rhabdodon
(mainland and dwarf insular forms). Tarascosaurus
(mainland and dwarf insular forms) Ichthyornis
Allodaposuchus
Magyarosaurus
, a small sauropod dinosaur.Unidentified Titanosaurs, possibly Ampelosaurus
Unidentified dromaeosaurid
, possibly a dwarf insular form of Pyroraptor
Unidentified troodontid
(Possibly Elopteryx
), in the program simply referred to as "Dwarf Troodon"Unidentified Plesiosaur
(Possibly Elasmosaurus
)
The story starts in Late Cretaceous Montana
, filled with active volcanoes. The narrator states that the Rocky Mountains
are being formed with volcanic erruptions.
Elsewhere in the highlands, a herd of Orodromeus
is grazing on the wheaty grasses. As they graze, a trio of Troodon
sneak up from the shadows and ready themselves to pounce. But before they can do so, the lookout spots them and sounds the alarm. The Troodon chase after them. However, they slow down on a rocky hill because they can't afford to break their claws in such a reckless race. Suddenly, the ground quakes. As they ponder the situation, one of the trio members is blasted sky-high by a geyser impact, then crashes down, dead. Their hunt ends with disastrous results, and the remaining Troodon turn tail and make a break for it.
Meanwhile in the lowlands
, a herd of Maiasaura
is walking in the fields. Two younger animals, Buck and Blaze, decide to wander away from their herd to have some fun. Suddenly, they are confronted by Little Das, a young Daspletosaurus
, who begins to chase them further away from the herd, who are worried for their safety. Das's older sisters then chase Buck and Blaze towards their mother, which appears from the shadows and bites Buck on his back leg. Because of his boundless excitement, Little Das accidentally rams his head into his mother's leg, causing her to let go of Buck, and the Maiasaura manage to return to their herd. Das gets to his feet, and his mother scolds him for his idiocy. His sisters do the same.
The next day, worrying that Das will ruin the hunt, Das' mother and sisters leave him in a grove. When Das can't find them he goes searching and finds a herd of Einiosaurus
. Thinking he is a scout for an older Daspletosaurus, the Einiosaurs stampede, alerting the Maiasaura to the danger, and Little Das yet again ruins the hunt, much to his mother's dismay. Meanwhile, the highland animals – Orodromeus
, Troodon
and Quetzalcoatlus
– are beginning to see signs of the inevitable volcanic explosion. The water the Orodromeus herd drink is boiling, and the Quetzalcoatlus nesting grounds is demolished by geysers. The pterosaurs make a break for their lives as quickly as they can to move to a safer spot.
Meanwhile, Little Das and his family are once again on the hunt, targeting on the injured Buck. The Einiosaurus herd form a barricade to defend themselves from the Daspletosaurus, shielding Buck as well in the process. Buck makes a break for it when the Einiosaurus distract Little Das' family. When the Daspletosaurus spot him, they go around the Einiosaurs and continue to go after him. The family is startled by a corpse of a Quetzalcoatlus. Little Das takes a whiff of the corpse, but he sneezes violently. Agitated, Little Das stomps on the corpse and storms off after Buck's trail, with his family following. But when they approach, the volcano
erupts violently, and small pieces of glass and soot begin to fall from the sky. During the eruption, a pyroclastic flow
reaches the lowlands, completely enveloping and nearly suffocating the dinosaurs. But it is revealed that Das, Buck, Blaze, and other dinosaurs will recover.
The program then makes a shift 7 million years forward in time. Maiasaura has evolved into Edmontosaurus
, and Daspletosaurus has evolved into Tyrannosaurus rex. The story then ends as a young Tyrannosaurus and its mother looking on a herd of Edmontosaurus, including an immature one but the conflict between them continues the stories of their ancestors: Buck and Das.
Animals featured in the episode
The episode starts with a herd of Saltasaurus
, all of them females, heading for their nesting grounds. Alpha, a young heifer, is making the trip for the first time since she was born. The narrator explains that their only protection is their numbers and size. Saltasaurus herd aren't the only dinosaurs in the area. Aucasaurus
lurk in the forests as well. Dragonfly, a teenager, and his mate have been drawn by a corpse of a dead saltasaur. Knowing that no one's around, they walk over and eat. However, a pair of Giganotosaurus
appear from the shadows and ruin their lunch, much to Dragonfly's dismay.
The nesting ground is a large flat river plain, larger even than 3 football fields. Although Alpha needs to find a spot to lay her eggs in, she's not the first to arrive, since the older cows are veterans of building nests. Alpha builds a nest and lays her first set of eggs for the first time. Then she and the herd head back to the forest to collect bushy leaves to incubate their eggs.
The program then goes 15 years back in time to the same ground, showing how Alpha's own story began.
Approaching the hatching period, the nesting ground is still guarded by a couple of female Saltasaurus, keeping some potential plunderers off the nests. One of them, an Alvarezsaurus
, pecks at an egg while pushing Alpha's away. However, a crocodile, Notosuchus
, scares the plunderer off, and pokes a hole in Alpha's egg, only to be fended off by an adult Saltasaurus. Alpha is the first of her nest to hatch.
Meanwhile in the forest, a young Aucasaurus
, Dragonfly, is also born. His mother hears some rustling from the bushes, and a male Aucasaurus appears. She bares her teeth and hisses at him. The male is her mate, and he soothes her by inflating his throat pouch. While the parents takes a nap, her babies have some fun. Dragonfly, the oldest, is goofing off with a dragonfly
. He tries to grab it, but misses. Dragonfly will become a main enemy to Alpha.
At night, all the baby Saltasaurus has hatched, and they rush for the forest
, dodging Alvarezsaurus and Notosuchus. Dozens of Saltasaurus calves are slain and devoured while they make a run for their lives. That morning, Alpha comes face to face with a hungry Notosuchus, but just in time, an adult Saltasaurus scares it away. Alpha and her fellow youngsters travel along with the adult Saltasaurus herd.
Moments later, the herd stops to browse on the treetops. At one point, they are interrupted by the same family of Aucasaurus
. The male and his mate are teaching Dragonfly and his sisters how to hunt. They confront the adult Saltasaurs, but Dragonfly alerts his mother to the saltasaur calves. She turns her head, spots them and directs their assault on the calves, devouring three of them. As the adult Aucasaurs and the young females pass by, Alpha comes face to face with Dragonfly. Luckily, a dragonfly
flies by and Dragonfly starts to chase it, and Alpha survives.
As Alpha enters adolescence, she meets Dragonfly again, this time in the wildlands. While Alpha and her herd head for a forest to eat, Dragonfly and his family are right behind them. Dragonfly eagerly darts towards Alpha. She startles him with a bellowing growl, and he jumps away. The Aucasaur pack trots ahead. As Alpha browses from a tree, another female Saltasaurus comes forward and angrily shoves her aside to eat the leaves, but stumbles on a log, and tumbles down a hill, breaking bones. Alerted by the cow's screams of pain and torment, the Aucasaurus pack heads over to her and kills the wounded animal, with one Aucasaur piercing the Saltasaur's jugular. As they eat, Dragonfly slams his thigh
into one of his sisters, but his father scolds him for this action and his rude behavior. The pack continues to eat. A while later, Dragonfly wakes up from a good nap, gets to his feet and heads off to look for a mate to start a pack with, since he knows that as long as he stays, he'll end up being scolded by his father.
Some time later, the mating season ensues, and Alpha is in heat. One young bull attempts to try his luck, but the older bull, who is the leader of the herd, challenges him to a duel
: this involves shouting, followed by necking and headbutting. The younger bull wins the duel and mates with Alpha. After the mating season ends, the herd moves into the grasslands. Watching them from the shadows are a pair of Giganotosaurus
. In spite of her sprained wrist, Alpha manages to outpace an sick, older cow, who is mauled and devoured by the carcharodontosaurine allosaurs. Dragonfly finds a female Aucasaur around his age and attempts to seduce her by inflating his throat pouch, but she at first refuses. However, his persistence and inflatings of his throat pouch finally win her heart, and they become mates.
Soon, the herd reaches the nesting ground where the story began, and lay their eggs. But, after their nests are complete, a thunderstorm brews over the plain, and the nesting ground is in ruins, and the unborn saltasaur babies have been shattered by drowning.
As Alpha looks for a spot to eat, she senses Dragonfly and his mate in her presence and readies herself for a duel with them. Dragonfly bares his teeth and goes for an attack. Alpha headbutts him, whips the female Aucasaurus
with her tail, and then rams Dragonfly, disorienting him for a shot time. He wakes up from his disorientation and clamps his jaws on Alpha's left shoulder, but he loses his grip and slams his head on the ground. Alpha falls and crushes Dragonfly's skull under her weight. Alpha then rises to her feet, stares at Dragonfly's lifeless corpse and walks away, having won the duel. The Aucasaur female rises to her feet, having just witnessed the whole thing, and tries to wake Dragonfly up. To her horror, her attempts to awaken Dragonfly fail miserably, and this causes her to throw her head backwards and let loose a loud, mournful howl.
Alpha returns to her herd, and makes a full recovery despite her injury. The program ends on a happy note for Alpha, claiming that she will have hundreds of offspring during her hundred-year lifetime.
Animals featured in the episode
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
first aired on Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
in 2003. It was hosted by Scott Sampson and narrated by Christian Slater
Christian Slater
Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean...
.
Dinosaur Planet depicts dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s living in various parts of the world (Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
) during the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
, using CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
(just like Discovery Channel's earlier When Dinosaurs Roamed America
When Dinosaurs Roamed America
When Dinosaurs Roamed America is a two-hour American television program that first aired on Discovery Channel in 2001. It was directed by Pierre de Lespinois and narrated by actor John Goodman...
and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Walking with Dinosaurs
Walking with Dinosaurs
Walking with Dinosaurs is a six-part documentary television miniseries that was produced by BBC, narrated by Kenneth Branagh, and first aired in the United Kingdom, in 1999. The series was subsequently aired in North America on the Discovery Channel in 2000, with Branagh's voice replaced with that...
). In actuality, a good part of the dinosaurs were designed by Mark Dubeau, who was the art director and primary creature designer on the aforementioned "When Dinosaurs Roamed America".
White Tip's Journey
- Setting: Deserts of MongoliaMongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, 80 MYA. - Focus of the episode: "White Tip", a female VelociraptorVelociraptorVelociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
A female Velociraptor called White Tip is walking on her own in the dessert, after her family has been killed by another pack, and she must find a new one. She tries to hunt Prenocephale
Prenocephale
Prenocephale was a small pachycephalosaurid dinosaur genus from the Late Cretaceous and was similar in many ways to its close relative, Homalocephale, which may simply represent Prenocephale juveniles. Adult Prenocephale probably weighed around and measured around long...
, but fails, as she cannot efficiently hunt without a pack. She then turns to hunt smaller prey like lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s.
During one of her hunts, White Tip stumbles into a Protoceratops
Protoceratops
Protoceratops is a genus of sheep-sized herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur, from the Upper Cretaceous Period of what is now Mongolia. It was a member of the Protoceratopsidae, a group of early horned dinosaurs...
nest, but is chased away by an old male. Luckily, he chases her into the territory of another male Protoceratops
Protoceratops
Protoceratops is a genus of sheep-sized herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur, from the Upper Cretaceous Period of what is now Mongolia. It was a member of the Protoceratopsidae, a group of early horned dinosaurs...
and the intruder is killed in a head-butting match. White Tip eats part of the carcass, but the smell of blood attracts a small pack of other Velociraptors. White Tip realizes the pack is strong, and tries to joins them. The pack leader is an alpha male named Broken Hand, and he shows aggression towards her. But the other male in the pack, Blue Brow, intervenes and fights Broken Hand off. He then lets White Tip join the pack.
A few months later, White Tip lays her eggs. Since there are predators everywhere, she must stay with her eggs, while the rest of the pack go hunting. The others chase a Shuvuuia
Shuvuuia
Shuvuuia is a genus of bird-like theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period of Mongolia. It is a member of the family Alvarezsauridae, small coelurosaurian dinosaurs which are characterized by short but powerful forelimbs specialized for digging. The type species is Shuvuuia deserti, or...
, but an Oviraptor catches it first. Because the pack did not catch anything, White Tip goes hungry. She tries to stalk a Deltatheridium
Deltatheridium
Deltatheridium is an extinct species of metatherian. It lived in what is now Mongolia during the Upper Cretaceous. It was a basal metatherian, which places it near start of the linage that led to the marsupials, such the kangaroo, koala, and opossum.It had a length of...
, but is interrupted by Broken Hand, eating two of her five eggs. She manages to chase him away.
Soon, White Tip's youngs hatch, and she can go hunting with the others. This time, they make a successful attack on a Oviraptor nest. That night, a heavy rain starts. After the rain, the pack goes to hunt Protoceratops. White Tip pounces on one, but gets knocked to the ground. Bluebrow fights back by thrusting his claw into the Protoceratops side, while the Protoceratops bites his arm. After Bluebrow struggles and frees himself, a landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
buries him and the Protoceratops
Protoceratops
Protoceratops is a genus of sheep-sized herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur, from the Upper Cretaceous Period of what is now Mongolia. It was a member of the Protoceratopsidae, a group of early horned dinosaurs...
, to both White Tip's and the female Protocertops shock. White Tip returns to her offspring, and raises her young as new additions to the pack. Later on, Blue Brow and the Protoceratops he died with will become the famous Velociraptor vs. Protoceratops fossil.
Animals featured in the episode
Velociraptor
Velociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
Prenocephale
Prenocephale
Prenocephale was a small pachycephalosaurid dinosaur genus from the Late Cretaceous and was similar in many ways to its close relative, Homalocephale, which may simply represent Prenocephale juveniles. Adult Prenocephale probably weighed around and measured around long...
Oviraptor
Oviraptor
Oviraptor is a genus of small Mongolian theropod dinosaur, first discovered by the paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews, and first described by Henry Fairfield Osborn, in 1924...
Protoceratops
Protoceratops
Protoceratops is a genus of sheep-sized herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur, from the Upper Cretaceous Period of what is now Mongolia. It was a member of the Protoceratopsidae, a group of early horned dinosaurs...
Shuvuuia
Shuvuuia
Shuvuuia is a genus of bird-like theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period of Mongolia. It is a member of the family Alvarezsauridae, small coelurosaurian dinosaurs which are characterized by short but powerful forelimbs specialized for digging. The type species is Shuvuuia deserti, or...
Deltatheridium
Deltatheridium
Deltatheridium is an extinct species of metatherian. It lived in what is now Mongolia during the Upper Cretaceous. It was a basal metatherian, which places it near start of the linage that led to the marsupials, such the kangaroo, koala, and opossum.It had a length of...
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
Pod's Travels
- Setting: Islands in the Tethys OceanTethys OceanThe Tethys Ocean was an ocean that existed between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia during the Mesozoic era before the opening of the Indian Ocean.-Modern theory:...
, in place of modern southern EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
- RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Hateg IslandHateg IslandHațeg Island was a large offshore island in the Tethys Sea during the Cretaceous period. It was situated in an area corresponding to the region around modern-day Hațeg, Romania...
, 80 MYA. - Focus of the episode: Pod, a male
Pyroraptor
Pyroraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of France. It is known from a single specimen. It was found in 1992 in the south of France, in Provence, and is known only from a few bones. It was named Pyroraptor olympius by Allain and Taquet in 2000. The name means...
The episode starts with a lush Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n forest, with several animals living their peaceful lives in harmony.
One of them is Pod, a male Pyroraptor
Pyroraptor
Pyroraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of France. It is known from a single specimen. It was found in 1992 in the south of France, in Provence, and is known only from a few bones. It was named Pyroraptor olympius by Allain and Taquet in 2000. The name means...
, and his sisters. The narrator explains that their species relies on their brain power to survive.
As Pod's group heads in the dense forest, away from a noisy herd of Ampelosaurus
Ampelosaurus
Ampelosaurus is a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur hailing from the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now Europe. Like most sauropods, it would have had a long neck and tail but it also carried armor in the form of osteoderms on its back. This dinosaur would have stretched about 15 meters from...
Pod finds a carcass of a small Rhabdodon
Rhabdodon
Rhabdodon is a genus of dinosaur that lived in Europe approximately 70 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous. It is unclear whether it was an iguanodont or a hypsilophodont, and may be a "missing link" between the two. Current evidence indicates it is an iguanodont similar to Tenontosaurus...
. As he eats, a pair of carnivorous Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus is a genus of, perhaps abelisaurid, theropod dinosaur from Late Cretaceous of France.After having in 1988 identified an upper jaw bone found near Pourcieux as belonging to a member of the Abelisauridae, French paleontologist Eric Buffetaut reviewed the known remains of larger...
are approaching, attracted by the scent of blood. Pod and his sisters close in to defend their meal, until an earth quake cause them to flee from the forest out to the shoreline. At shore, the earth quake creates a tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
that sweeps Pod and the other dinosaurs away. Pod and one of his sisters survives, clinging to life on a log. The next day, however, Pod's sister is eaten by a Elasmosaurus
Elasmosaurus
Elasmosaurus + σαυρος sauros 'lizard') is a genus of plesiosaur with an extremely long neck that lived in the Late Cretaceous period , 80.5 million years ago.-Description:...
.
On his third day on the log, Pod is swept onto Hateg Island
Hateg Island
Hațeg Island was a large offshore island in the Tethys Sea during the Cretaceous period. It was situated in an area corresponding to the region around modern-day Hațeg, Romania...
and collapses from exhaustion. As Pod is lying on the beach, a pack of dwarf dromaeosaurids squabble with Allodaposuchus
Allodaposuchus
Allodaposuchus is an extinct genus of eusuchian crocodylomorph and an early relative of crocodilians. It lived during the Upper Cretaceous in Southern Europe ....
over what they believe to be the carcass of Pod. Pod is awakened by the noise and scares the Allodaposuchus
Allodaposuchus
Allodaposuchus is an extinct genus of eusuchian crocodylomorph and an early relative of crocodilians. It lived during the Upper Cretaceous in Southern Europe ....
away. Because they look like him, Pod attempts to join the dwarf raptor pack, but they run away, terrified. After trying to hunt an Ichthyornis
Ichthyornis
Ichthyornis is a genus of toothed seabirds from the Late Cretaceous of North America. Its fossil remains are known from the chalks of Alberta, Alabama, Kansas, New Mexico, Saskatchewan, and Texas, in strata that were laid down in the Western Interior Seaway during the Turonian-Campanian ages,...
, Pod follows the dwarf dromaeosaurs, believing they can lead him to his own kind. Instead, Pod is about to see that all of the island's species are dwarfs of animals back in his homeland. Having lived in a world where size determined a dinosaurs survival, Pod is baffled by the small creatures, although he knows the water tastes just fine, so he takes a moment to refresh himself. He embarks on a quest to find members of his kind, exploring the island all the way.
After that, he hears a sound of two fighting dwarf Rhabdodon
Rhabdodon
Rhabdodon is a genus of dinosaur that lived in Europe approximately 70 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous. It is unclear whether it was an iguanodont or a hypsilophodont, and may be a "missing link" between the two. Current evidence indicates it is an iguanodont similar to Tenontosaurus...
. The male that approaches the herd issues a duel. The herd leader accepts the challenge, and a violent fight breaks out. The leader drives his dagger like thumb spike through the intruder's jugular, but the intruder refuses to back off. Agitated, the leader defeats the intruder by knocking him to the ground. The wounded male is then killed by a pack of Allodaposuchus. Attracted by the scent of the kill, Pod walks over, scares the land crocodiles off and begins to eat. While Pod is resting after his meal, the Allodaposuchus attempt to snag the leftovers, only to squabble over it with a flock of noisy Elopteryx
Elopteryx
Elopteryx is a genus of troodontid maniraptoran theropod dinosaur based on fragmentary fossils found in late Cretaceous Period rocks of Romania. These fossils date from the early-mid Maastrichtian faunal stage, c.71-68 million years ago...
. Pod wakes up, devours his last piece of meat and heads off to resume his mission.
Later, in an attempt to find members of his own kind, Pod climbs to the top of a cliff and shrieks, trying to get a response. He then hear his own echo, and believes it is another Pyroraptor. A pack of Elopteryx hear the cries, and respond. Pod approaches the group and displays his killing claw. To his shock, they show signs of submission. He walks away, and the curious troodontids follow. They later join him as a pack.
As Pod walks through the forest with the Elopteryx following him, he finds a trio of Dwarf Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus is a genus of, perhaps abelisaurid, theropod dinosaur from Late Cretaceous of France.After having in 1988 identified an upper jaw bone found near Pourcieux as belonging to a member of the Abelisauridae, French paleontologist Eric Buffetaut reviewed the known remains of larger...
- 2 females and a male - feeding on a Magyarosaurus
Magyarosaurus
Magyarosaurus is a genus of dwarf sauropod dinosaur from late Cretaceous Period in what is now Romania. It is one of the smallest-known adult sauropods, measuring only six meters in length. The type species is Magyarosaurus dacus...
. Pod realize that the only thing that kept him on the bottom back at his home island was his relative size, so he confronts the male Tarascosaur. Pod makes a leap, kills the male Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus is a genus of, perhaps abelisaurid, theropod dinosaur from Late Cretaceous of France.After having in 1988 identified an upper jaw bone found near Pourcieux as belonging to a member of the Abelisauridae, French paleontologist Eric Buffetaut reviewed the known remains of larger...
with his sickle claw and he and his troodontid companions scare the females away, and realize that they have become the apex predators on the island. He returns to the beach and finds the log that saved him, scaring some birds off as well. He stays on the island for good, claiming it as his empire.
Animals featured in the episode
Pyroraptor
Pyroraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of France. It is known from a single specimen. It was found in 1992 in the south of France, in Provence, and is known only from a few bones. It was named Pyroraptor olympius by Allain and Taquet in 2000. The name means...
Rhabdodon
Rhabdodon
Rhabdodon is a genus of dinosaur that lived in Europe approximately 70 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous. It is unclear whether it was an iguanodont or a hypsilophodont, and may be a "missing link" between the two. Current evidence indicates it is an iguanodont similar to Tenontosaurus...
(mainland and dwarf insular forms). Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus is a genus of, perhaps abelisaurid, theropod dinosaur from Late Cretaceous of France.After having in 1988 identified an upper jaw bone found near Pourcieux as belonging to a member of the Abelisauridae, French paleontologist Eric Buffetaut reviewed the known remains of larger...
(mainland and dwarf insular forms) Ichthyornis
Ichthyornis
Ichthyornis is a genus of toothed seabirds from the Late Cretaceous of North America. Its fossil remains are known from the chalks of Alberta, Alabama, Kansas, New Mexico, Saskatchewan, and Texas, in strata that were laid down in the Western Interior Seaway during the Turonian-Campanian ages,...
Allodaposuchus
Allodaposuchus
Allodaposuchus is an extinct genus of eusuchian crocodylomorph and an early relative of crocodilians. It lived during the Upper Cretaceous in Southern Europe ....
Magyarosaurus
Magyarosaurus
Magyarosaurus is a genus of dwarf sauropod dinosaur from late Cretaceous Period in what is now Romania. It is one of the smallest-known adult sauropods, measuring only six meters in length. The type species is Magyarosaurus dacus...
, a small sauropod dinosaur.
Ampelosaurus
Ampelosaurus is a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur hailing from the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now Europe. Like most sauropods, it would have had a long neck and tail but it also carried armor in the form of osteoderms on its back. This dinosaur would have stretched about 15 meters from...
Dromaeosauridae
Dromaeosauridae is a family of bird-like theropod dinosaurs. They were small- to medium-sized feathered carnivores that flourished in the Cretaceous Period. The name Dromaeosauridae means 'running lizards', from Greek dromeus meaning 'runner' and sauros meaning 'lizard'...
, possibly a dwarf insular form of
Troodontidae
Troodontidae is a family of bird-like theropod dinosaurs. During most of the 20th century, troodontid fossils were few and scrappy and they have therefore been allied, at various times, with many dinosaurian lineages...
(Possibly
Elopteryx
Elopteryx is a genus of troodontid maniraptoran theropod dinosaur based on fragmentary fossils found in late Cretaceous Period rocks of Romania. These fossils date from the early-mid Maastrichtian faunal stage, c.71-68 million years ago...
), in the program simply referred to as "Dwarf Troodon"
Elasmosauridae
Elasmosauridae was the family of plesiosaurs. They had the longest necks of the plesiosaurs and survived from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous. They had a diet of fish and shelless cephalopods.-Size:...
(Possibly Elasmosaurus
Elasmosaurus
Elasmosaurus + σαυρος sauros 'lizard') is a genus of plesiosaur with an extremely long neck that lived in the Late Cretaceous period , 80.5 million years ago.-Description:...
)
Little Das' Hunt
- Setting: the future American state of MontanaMontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, 75–68 MYA. - Focus of the episode: Little Das, a young Male DaspletosaurusDaspletosaurusDaspletosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America between 77 and 74 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous Period. Fossils of the only named species were found in Alberta, although other possible species from Alberta and Montana await...
, Buck, a young male MaiasauraMaiasauraMaiasaura is a large duck-billed dinosaur genus that lived in the area currently covered by the state of Montana in the Upper Cretaceous Period , about 74 million years ago....
, and Blaze, a young female MaiasauraMaiasauraMaiasaura is a large duck-billed dinosaur genus that lived in the area currently covered by the state of Montana in the Upper Cretaceous Period , about 74 million years ago....
The story starts in Late Cretaceous Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, filled with active volcanoes. The narrator states that the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
are being formed with volcanic erruptions.
Elsewhere in the highlands, a herd of Orodromeus
Orodromeus
Orodromeus is a genus of herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America.-Discovery and naming:...
is grazing on the wheaty grasses. As they graze, a trio of Troodon
Troodon
Troodon is a genus of relatively small, bird-like dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period . Discovered in 1855, it was among the first dinosaurs found in North America...
sneak up from the shadows and ready themselves to pounce. But before they can do so, the lookout spots them and sounds the alarm. The Troodon chase after them. However, they slow down on a rocky hill because they can't afford to break their claws in such a reckless race. Suddenly, the ground quakes. As they ponder the situation, one of the trio members is blasted sky-high by a geyser impact, then crashes down, dead. Their hunt ends with disastrous results, and the remaining Troodon turn tail and make a break for it.
Meanwhile in the lowlands
Lowlands
- Geographic regions :* Scottish Lowlands, all of mainland Scotland that isn't the Highlands** see also Central Lowlands* Northern European Lowlands, a region of Europe between the Central Highlands and the North Sea...
, a herd of Maiasaura
Maiasaura
Maiasaura is a large duck-billed dinosaur genus that lived in the area currently covered by the state of Montana in the Upper Cretaceous Period , about 74 million years ago....
is walking in the fields. Two younger animals, Buck and Blaze, decide to wander away from their herd to have some fun. Suddenly, they are confronted by Little Das, a young Daspletosaurus
Daspletosaurus
Daspletosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America between 77 and 74 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous Period. Fossils of the only named species were found in Alberta, although other possible species from Alberta and Montana await...
, who begins to chase them further away from the herd, who are worried for their safety. Das's older sisters then chase Buck and Blaze towards their mother, which appears from the shadows and bites Buck on his back leg. Because of his boundless excitement, Little Das accidentally rams his head into his mother's leg, causing her to let go of Buck, and the Maiasaura manage to return to their herd. Das gets to his feet, and his mother scolds him for his idiocy. His sisters do the same.
The next day, worrying that Das will ruin the hunt, Das' mother and sisters leave him in a grove. When Das can't find them he goes searching and finds a herd of Einiosaurus
Einiosaurus
Einiosaurus is a medium-sized centrosaurine ceratopsian from the Upper Cretaceous of northwestern Montana. The name means 'buffalo lizard', in a combination of Blackfeet Indian and Latinized Ancient Greek; the specific name Einiosaurus is a medium-sized centrosaurine (“short-frilled”)...
. Thinking he is a scout for an older Daspletosaurus, the Einiosaurs stampede, alerting the Maiasaura to the danger, and Little Das yet again ruins the hunt, much to his mother's dismay. Meanwhile, the highland animals – Orodromeus
Orodromeus
Orodromeus is a genus of herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America.-Discovery and naming:...
, Troodon
Troodon
Troodon is a genus of relatively small, bird-like dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period . Discovered in 1855, it was among the first dinosaurs found in North America...
and Quetzalcoatlus
Quetzalcoatlus
Quetzalcoatlus was a pterodactyloid pterosaur known from the Late Cretaceous of North America , and one of the largest known flying animals of all time. It was a member of the Azhdarchidae, a family of advanced toothless pterosaurs with unusually long, stiffened necks...
– are beginning to see signs of the inevitable volcanic explosion. The water the Orodromeus herd drink is boiling, and the Quetzalcoatlus nesting grounds is demolished by geysers. The pterosaurs make a break for their lives as quickly as they can to move to a safer spot.
Meanwhile, Little Das and his family are once again on the hunt, targeting on the injured Buck. The Einiosaurus herd form a barricade to defend themselves from the Daspletosaurus, shielding Buck as well in the process. Buck makes a break for it when the Einiosaurus distract Little Das' family. When the Daspletosaurus spot him, they go around the Einiosaurs and continue to go after him. The family is startled by a corpse of a Quetzalcoatlus. Little Das takes a whiff of the corpse, but he sneezes violently. Agitated, Little Das stomps on the corpse and storms off after Buck's trail, with his family following. But when they approach, the volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
erupts violently, and small pieces of glass and soot begin to fall from the sky. During the eruption, a pyroclastic flow
Pyroclastic flow
A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving current of superheated gas and rock , which reaches speeds moving away from a volcano of up to 700 km/h . The flows normally hug the ground and travel downhill, or spread laterally under gravity...
reaches the lowlands, completely enveloping and nearly suffocating the dinosaurs. But it is revealed that Das, Buck, Blaze, and other dinosaurs will recover.
The program then makes a shift 7 million years forward in time. Maiasaura has evolved into Edmontosaurus
Edmontosaurus
Edmontosaurus is a genus of crestless hadrosaurid dinosaur. It contains two species: Edmontosaurus regalis and Edmontosaurus annectens. Fossils of E. regalis have been found in rocks of western North America that date from the late Campanian stage of the Cretaceous Period 73 million years ago,...
, and Daspletosaurus has evolved into Tyrannosaurus rex. The story then ends as a young Tyrannosaurus and its mother looking on a herd of Edmontosaurus, including an immature one but the conflict between them continues the stories of their ancestors: Buck and Das.
Animals featured in the episode
- DaspletosaurusDaspletosaurusDaspletosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America between 77 and 74 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous Period. Fossils of the only named species were found in Alberta, although other possible species from Alberta and Montana await...
- MaiasauraMaiasauraMaiasaura is a large duck-billed dinosaur genus that lived in the area currently covered by the state of Montana in the Upper Cretaceous Period , about 74 million years ago....
- OrodromeusOrodromeusOrodromeus is a genus of herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America.-Discovery and naming:...
- TroodonTroodonTroodon is a genus of relatively small, bird-like dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period . Discovered in 1855, it was among the first dinosaurs found in North America...
- QuetzalcoatlusQuetzalcoatlusQuetzalcoatlus was a pterodactyloid pterosaur known from the Late Cretaceous of North America , and one of the largest known flying animals of all time. It was a member of the Azhdarchidae, a family of advanced toothless pterosaurs with unusually long, stiffened necks...
- EiniosaurusEiniosaurusEiniosaurus is a medium-sized centrosaurine ceratopsian from the Upper Cretaceous of northwestern Montana. The name means 'buffalo lizard', in a combination of Blackfeet Indian and Latinized Ancient Greek; the specific name Einiosaurus is a medium-sized centrosaurine (“short-frilled”)...
- EdmontosaurusEdmontosaurusEdmontosaurus is a genus of crestless hadrosaurid dinosaur. It contains two species: Edmontosaurus regalis and Edmontosaurus annectens. Fossils of E. regalis have been found in rocks of western North America that date from the late Campanian stage of the Cretaceous Period 73 million years ago,...
- TyrannosaurusTyrannosaurusTyrannosaurus meaning "tyrant," and sauros meaning "lizard") is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex , commonly abbreviated to T. rex, is a fixture in popular culture. It lived throughout what is now western North America, with a much wider range than other...
Alpha's Egg
- Setting: the forests of PatagoniaPatagoniaPatagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
in South AmericaSouth AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, 80 MYA. - Focus of the episode: Alpha, a female SaltasaurusSaltasaurusSaltasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period. Relatively small among sauropods, though still massive by the standards of modern creatures, Saltasaurus was characterized by a diplodocid-like head...
and Dragonfly, a male AucasaurusAucasaurusAucasaurus was a genus of medium-sized theropod dinosaur from Argentina that lived during the Santonian stage . It was smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although more derived in some ways, such as its extremely reduced arms and almost total lack of fingers.The type skeleton is complete to the...
.
The episode starts with a herd of Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period. Relatively small among sauropods, though still massive by the standards of modern creatures, Saltasaurus was characterized by a diplodocid-like head...
, all of them females, heading for their nesting grounds. Alpha, a young heifer, is making the trip for the first time since she was born. The narrator explains that their only protection is their numbers and size. Saltasaurus herd aren't the only dinosaurs in the area. Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus was a genus of medium-sized theropod dinosaur from Argentina that lived during the Santonian stage . It was smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although more derived in some ways, such as its extremely reduced arms and almost total lack of fingers.The type skeleton is complete to the...
lurk in the forests as well. Dragonfly, a teenager, and his mate have been drawn by a corpse of a dead saltasaur. Knowing that no one's around, they walk over and eat. However, a pair of Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus is a genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur that lived around 97 million years ago during the early Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period. It included some of the largest known terrestrial carnivores, slightly larger than the largest Tyrannosaurus, but smaller than the...
appear from the shadows and ruin their lunch, much to Dragonfly's dismay.
The nesting ground is a large flat river plain, larger even than 3 football fields. Although Alpha needs to find a spot to lay her eggs in, she's not the first to arrive, since the older cows are veterans of building nests. Alpha builds a nest and lays her first set of eggs for the first time. Then she and the herd head back to the forest to collect bushy leaves to incubate their eggs.
The program then goes 15 years back in time to the same ground, showing how Alpha's own story began.
Approaching the hatching period, the nesting ground is still guarded by a couple of female Saltasaurus, keeping some potential plunderers off the nests. One of them, an Alvarezsaurus
Alvarezsaurus
Alvarezsaurus is a genus of small alvarezsaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of Argentina, approximately 86 - 83 million years ago. Estimates suggest that it measured about 2 meters in length and weighed approximately 20 kg...
, pecks at an egg while pushing Alpha's away. However, a crocodile, Notosuchus
Notosuchus
Notosuchus is an extinct genus of South American notosuchian crocodylomorph. It was terrestrial, living approximately 85 million years ago in the Coniacian or Santonian stages of the Late Cretaceous. Remains have been found in the Bajo de la Carpa Formation in Patagonia, Argentina. First named in...
, scares the plunderer off, and pokes a hole in Alpha's egg, only to be fended off by an adult Saltasaurus. Alpha is the first of her nest to hatch.
Meanwhile in the forest, a young Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus was a genus of medium-sized theropod dinosaur from Argentina that lived during the Santonian stage . It was smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although more derived in some ways, such as its extremely reduced arms and almost total lack of fingers.The type skeleton is complete to the...
, Dragonfly, is also born. His mother hears some rustling from the bushes, and a male Aucasaurus appears. She bares her teeth and hisses at him. The male is her mate, and he soothes her by inflating his throat pouch. While the parents takes a nap, her babies have some fun. Dragonfly, the oldest, is goofing off with a dragonfly
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
. He tries to grab it, but misses. Dragonfly will become a main enemy to Alpha.
At night, all the baby Saltasaurus has hatched, and they rush for the forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, dodging Alvarezsaurus and Notosuchus. Dozens of Saltasaurus calves are slain and devoured while they make a run for their lives. That morning, Alpha comes face to face with a hungry Notosuchus, but just in time, an adult Saltasaurus scares it away. Alpha and her fellow youngsters travel along with the adult Saltasaurus herd.
Moments later, the herd stops to browse on the treetops. At one point, they are interrupted by the same family of Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus was a genus of medium-sized theropod dinosaur from Argentina that lived during the Santonian stage . It was smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although more derived in some ways, such as its extremely reduced arms and almost total lack of fingers.The type skeleton is complete to the...
. The male and his mate are teaching Dragonfly and his sisters how to hunt. They confront the adult Saltasaurs, but Dragonfly alerts his mother to the saltasaur calves. She turns her head, spots them and directs their assault on the calves, devouring three of them. As the adult Aucasaurs and the young females pass by, Alpha comes face to face with Dragonfly. Luckily, a dragonfly
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
flies by and Dragonfly starts to chase it, and Alpha survives.
As Alpha enters adolescence, she meets Dragonfly again, this time in the wildlands. While Alpha and her herd head for a forest to eat, Dragonfly and his family are right behind them. Dragonfly eagerly darts towards Alpha. She startles him with a bellowing growl, and he jumps away. The Aucasaur pack trots ahead. As Alpha browses from a tree, another female Saltasaurus comes forward and angrily shoves her aside to eat the leaves, but stumbles on a log, and tumbles down a hill, breaking bones. Alerted by the cow's screams of pain and torment, the Aucasaurus pack heads over to her and kills the wounded animal, with one Aucasaur piercing the Saltasaur's jugular. As they eat, Dragonfly slams his thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
into one of his sisters, but his father scolds him for this action and his rude behavior. The pack continues to eat. A while later, Dragonfly wakes up from a good nap, gets to his feet and heads off to look for a mate to start a pack with, since he knows that as long as he stays, he'll end up being scolded by his father.
Some time later, the mating season ensues, and Alpha is in heat. One young bull attempts to try his luck, but the older bull, who is the leader of the herd, challenges him to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
: this involves shouting, followed by necking and headbutting. The younger bull wins the duel and mates with Alpha. After the mating season ends, the herd moves into the grasslands. Watching them from the shadows are a pair of Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus is a genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur that lived around 97 million years ago during the early Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period. It included some of the largest known terrestrial carnivores, slightly larger than the largest Tyrannosaurus, but smaller than the...
. In spite of her sprained wrist, Alpha manages to outpace an sick, older cow, who is mauled and devoured by the carcharodontosaurine allosaurs. Dragonfly finds a female Aucasaur around his age and attempts to seduce her by inflating his throat pouch, but she at first refuses. However, his persistence and inflatings of his throat pouch finally win her heart, and they become mates.
Soon, the herd reaches the nesting ground where the story began, and lay their eggs. But, after their nests are complete, a thunderstorm brews over the plain, and the nesting ground is in ruins, and the unborn saltasaur babies have been shattered by drowning.
As Alpha looks for a spot to eat, she senses Dragonfly and his mate in her presence and readies herself for a duel with them. Dragonfly bares his teeth and goes for an attack. Alpha headbutts him, whips the female Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus
Aucasaurus was a genus of medium-sized theropod dinosaur from Argentina that lived during the Santonian stage . It was smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although more derived in some ways, such as its extremely reduced arms and almost total lack of fingers.The type skeleton is complete to the...
with her tail, and then rams Dragonfly, disorienting him for a shot time. He wakes up from his disorientation and clamps his jaws on Alpha's left shoulder, but he loses his grip and slams his head on the ground. Alpha falls and crushes Dragonfly's skull under her weight. Alpha then rises to her feet, stares at Dragonfly's lifeless corpse and walks away, having won the duel. The Aucasaur female rises to her feet, having just witnessed the whole thing, and tries to wake Dragonfly up. To her horror, her attempts to awaken Dragonfly fail miserably, and this causes her to throw her head backwards and let loose a loud, mournful howl.
Alpha returns to her herd, and makes a full recovery despite her injury. The program ends on a happy note for Alpha, claiming that she will have hundreds of offspring during her hundred-year lifetime.
Animals featured in the episode
- SaltasaurusSaltasaurusSaltasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period. Relatively small among sauropods, though still massive by the standards of modern creatures, Saltasaurus was characterized by a diplodocid-like head...
- AucasaurusAucasaurusAucasaurus was a genus of medium-sized theropod dinosaur from Argentina that lived during the Santonian stage . It was smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although more derived in some ways, such as its extremely reduced arms and almost total lack of fingers.The type skeleton is complete to the...
- AlvarezsaurusAlvarezsaurusAlvarezsaurus is a genus of small alvarezsaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of Argentina, approximately 86 - 83 million years ago. Estimates suggest that it measured about 2 meters in length and weighed approximately 20 kg...
- Unidentified DragonflyDragonflyA dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
- NotosuchusNotosuchusNotosuchus is an extinct genus of South American notosuchian crocodylomorph. It was terrestrial, living approximately 85 million years ago in the Coniacian or Santonian stages of the Late Cretaceous. Remains have been found in the Bajo de la Carpa Formation in Patagonia, Argentina. First named in...
- Unidentified large carcharodontosauridsCarcharodontosauridaeCarcharodontosaurids were a group of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. In 1931 Ernst Stromer named Carcharodontosauridae as a family, in modern paleontology this name indicates a clade within Carnosauria...
(possibly AerosteonAerosteonAerosteon is a genus of allosauroid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of Argentina. Its remains were discovered in 1996 in the Anacleto Formation, dating to the Santonian stage . The type and only known species is A. riocoloradensis...
or GiganotosaurusGiganotosaurusGiganotosaurus is a genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur that lived around 97 million years ago during the early Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period. It included some of the largest known terrestrial carnivores, slightly larger than the largest Tyrannosaurus, but smaller than the...
, identified as CarcharodontosaurusCarcharodontosaurusCarcharodontosaurus was a gigantic carnivorous carcharodontosaurid dinosaur that lived around 100 to 93 million years ago, during the late Albian to early Cenomanian stages of the mid-Cretaceous Period...
at the website)
External links
- Official Site
- Dinosaur Interactive Viewer
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389605/