Sorry, I know it's late, but it's here. I forgot that it was late since it's only like 1:00pm in Maui and I was hoping to post it at 10:00am Maui time... Okay *ahem* let's get professional and put this season on wheels. Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to my daily DinoFight. I always appreciate my loyal readers, but for those of you who are new, every day I pit two of the most formidable dinosaurs to ever exist against one another in a fight to the death (most of the time). Medium division, semifinals, fights 29 and 30: Ceratosaurus vs Yangchuanosaurus and Daspletosaurus vs Styracosaurus InGen File: Ceratosaurus [img]http://elperdido1965.deviantart.com/art/Ceratosaurus-vs-Apatosaurus-168460499[/img] Code Name: Cerato Danger Level: Extremely dangerous Height: 12 feet Length: 30 feet Weight: 3 tons Speed: 20 mph Diet: Carnivore, occasional omnivore Description: Ceratosaurus lives on Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna where it competes with both Allosaurus and Torvosaurus most of its life. Despite being smaller than them Ceratosaurus makes up for it with ruthless aggression and a very flexible diet. The Ceratosaurus males are tan or grey with black or dark brown stripes down their body and a red head and neck. Females have a similar pattern but are black instead of light brown, have white stripes and have a grey or white face with black markings around their eyes and nose. They also have smaller eye and nose crests and brighter yellow irises. Although preferably predators of various stegosaurs and other similar sized prey, Ceratosaurus are very opportunistic predators that will eat humans, small rats or monkeys, carrion, small sauropods or other carnivores and in some cases have been observed eating berries when desperate. Being highly aggressive due to their large medulla oblongata, they are a match for almost any predator of the same size. Their teeth are very long and blade-like and have crowns up to 6 inches long. They are curved and serrated, something that makes them deadly weapons. Ceratosaurus hunt by ambushing prey with a bite to the neck and holding on with the aid of their four fingered arms until the prey suffocates. The build of Ceratosaurus is rather powerful and stocky but they still can move fairly fast, nearing the typical Allosaurus' speed, though they aren't as agile or flexible due to their compact skeleton. Ceratosaurus have escaped only twice and ate the watch dogs but ignored the rangers, only becoming violent when tranquilized. Each time it was a mated pair that broke free. Ceratosaurus may form impromptu packs to hunt animals in the size range of Dacentrurus but normally they hunt animals like Kentrosaurus and do it solitary. They hunt in the afternoon when most other predators and herbivores are getting tired. However they frequently have their territories stolen by larger predators like Torvosaurus and Sauropod, both of which they would normally fight but due to their somewhat small and naturally slow breeding population they very seldom take the risk of fighting a larger predator, though occasionally their extreme temper bests them. Due to their unique look and being a classic dinosaur, Ceratosaurus will be part of the primary theropod display in the new park where it will have a large open enclosure and a fertile male and female will be displayed and will have enough room to raise offspring. InGen File: Yangchuanosaurus [img]http://www.wikidino.com/?page_id=1430[/img] Code Name: Yangchu or Yang Also Known As: Metriacanthosaurus magnus Danger Level: Very dangerous Height: 15 feet Length: 36 feet Weight: 5 tons Speed: 29 mph Diet: Carnivore Weapons: Bite, hatchet jaw function, size, claws Description: Yangchuanosaurus is one of InGen's first dinosaurs created. It was for many years known as Metriacanthosaurus due to a labeling error but the mistake was corrected in 2001. Yangchuanosaurus lives on both Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna where it competes with Allosaurus, its close cousin, for food. It is heavier and stronger than Allosaurus and has a more powerful bite force. It cannot, however, jump as high or run as fast as Allosaurus. Due to its more ground based life its enclosure will not have a roof like those of most other allosaurs. They hunt in small packs of up to eight members when handling large prey but they can and occasionally do hunt in solitude. Yangchuanosaurus is identifiable by its distinct coloring which is normally a series of vertical bright yellow stripes that begin on its tail and fade to orange near the middle if its back before turning an orangish red up its neck and ending on its eye crests in a bright crimson color. Aside from the stripes Yangchuanosaurus is a light olive tone with a whitish underbelly and alpha females have large scarlet circles with black stripes in them around their eyes. Females are usually slightly larger than males and lead packs. The largest ever recorded was a female about 36.5 feet long and 6.25 tons, though larger specimens are reported on rare occasions. Like other allosaurs Yangchuanosaurus can use its jaw two ways: in a typical biting fashion that tears off flesh or in a strange maneuver that is done by in hinging the lower jaw and using its powerful neck muscles to bring its upper jaw down with a force of 4.5 tons per square inch. Subadults use the latter tactic to break the vertebrae of very large prey like Diplodocus when they jump on it, while the former is used by larger pack members to tear large chunks off of their prey's underside or legs. Yangchuanosaurus are deadly predators with high aggression levels that make them very deadly predators. However, due to their uniqueness, Mr. Hammond had an enclosure built for two females and a male, and he has stated that he finds them interesting. FIGHT! [img]http://eradedinossauros.blogspot.com/2010/11/alossauro-vs-ceratossauro.html[/img] An old Ceratosaurus, battle hardened, has easily defended his territory against a Balaur pack. The leopard-like raptors return to the trees and the Ceratosaurus decides his home is safe for now. The jurassic predator heads farther north, seeking a little relaxation at the beach as dawn slowly comes. Though he's older than most of his kind, he's as deadly as ever and doesn't show any signs of aging other than his large size. He's lucky to survive in the Allosaurus dominated north, with the vicious pack hunters having nearly killed him numerous times. Now, being as big as all but the mighty Saurophaganax and occasional Torvosaurus up in the far north, he's nearly without threat. He needs not worry about the coastal fisher kings, as they usually don't worry about him when he visits the water. After passing some Allosaurus sleeping in and around their caves, the Ceratosaurus makes it to the beach. The bottom of the sun has just broken the horizon, and the fishers are already on the hunt. Suchomimus, Kaprosuchus, Pterodaustro, Stomatosuchus and even an Austroraptor pack fish in the water, many catching the seasonal shrimp that are visiting the island for its summer months. The curious Ceratosaurus peers into the water and sees a small mosasaur species harassing an Onchopristis at the mouth of a river near him. He looks to the side and sees a couple boars drinking from the river, although the water has to be a little salty. He dashes forwards and catches one in his jaws. It's a decent sized boar, being bigger than his skull. Suddenly, all but the biggest Suchomimus are retreating to an offshore island, putting a couple hundred feet between them and an unseen threat. The Ceratosaurus turns around and stares at the forest, catching a glimpse of the dinosaur heading towards him. It's about the size of some of the biggest Allosaurus bulls here, but it's a different color and seems a little bulkier. It isn't one of the valleys' giants, but almost seems so. The allosaur is brightly colored and seems angry. He immediately heads for the Ceratosaurus and bites the wild pig, pulling on it. The smaller Ceratosaurus pulls back but is quickly overpowered, the animal being yanked from his mouth. The Yangchuanosaurus eats the pig quickly and starts to walk away. The Ceratosaurus won't have it though. Silently, it comes from behind the Yangchuanosaurus and bites the bigger theropod on the sensitive base of the tail. Though unhappy with the attack, the Yangchuanosaurus' anger pales in comparison to the easily set off Ceratosaurus' seething rage. The angry horned lizard launches a honey badger-like attack on the Ceratosaurus to get his meal back... Even if he has to tear it out. The Ceratosaurus' long teeth shred the ribs of the Yangchuanosaurus. The bigger dinosaur tries to shake the smaller Ceratosaurus off and fails. Accidentally, the stiff tail of the Yangchuanosaurus knocks the Ceratosaurus over. Used to being knocked over, the Ceratosaurus is quickly up and going on the attack again. Like a rabid wild animal, the horned theropod snarls and tries to leap on the Yangchuanosaurus. Seeing the inadvertent attack was effective a moment ago, the Yangchuanosaurus rotates and swings his tail again. This time he catches the attacking Ceratosaurus in the back of the head. While he is down, the Yangchuanosaurus uses his primary weapons to attack. The Ceratosaurus tries to stand but the Yangchuanosaurus chops down on the hips of the Ceratosaurus with his hatchet jaws. The Ceratosaurus roars and falls as several Suchomimus gather to watch the fight near the water's edge. Using his immense power, the Yangchuanosaurus kicks the Ceratosaurus in the ribs. The angry old dinosaur drools and snarls. When the Yangchuanosaurus goes for a stomp, the Ceratosaurus kicks his other leg from beneath him. The immense theropod falls on the rage filled Ceratosaurus and both cough from the force of impact. The Ceratosaurus is fairly inflexible due to his closely fused bones but the Yangchuanosaurus simply twists to the side and bites down on the Ceratosaurus' head. The vicious stegosaur hunter roars in pain and barely manages to get away before his death, his skull cracked, resulting in a screaming headache. He cracks the Yangchuanosaurus in the chin with his own head, resulting in extreme pain but buying him time. Rolling over, he uses his powerful arms to grip the Yangchuanosaurus. With unmatched ferocity, the Ceratosaurus fights away. He bites the Yangchuanosaurus in the chest and kicks at its underbelly, splitting it open. Now realizing the Ceratosaurus poses a potentially fatal threat, the Yangchuanosaurus attacks back. He rolls off and stands, watching the Ceratosaurus struggle to get to its feet. He sees blood pooling in the sand below him and gets a little shaken by the sight. The Ceratosaurus runs at the Yangchuanosaurus but the bigger allosaur is ready. Collides with the Ceratosaurus and sends the long toothed terror to the sandy ground. He capitalizes when he can and steps on the Ceratosaurus' neck. Slowly applying pressure, the Yangchuanosaurus chokes the life out of the Ceratosaurus. With a snap, the battle is over and the Ceratosaurus' neck is broken. WINNER: YANGCHUANOSAURUS [img]http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-111333452/stock-photo-yangchuanosaurus-computer-generated-d-illustration.html[/img] Bigger, stronger, more weaponized, carrying more devastating weapons and being overall deadlier, the Yangchuanosaurus' win was foreseeable. I tried to keep the fight even, but in the process, I may have cut the Yangchuanosaurus' action time by a bit. Alright, now for part 2... InGen File: Daspletosaurus [img]http://t-rex.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daspletosaurus_vs._Pentaceratops.jpg[/img] Code Name: Steel jaw Also Known As: Chomper Danger Level: Very dangerous Height: 12 feet Length: 30 feet Weight: 3 tons Speed: 28 mph Diet: Carnivore Weapons: Bite Defeated: Tarascosaurus, Kelmayisaurus & Megaraptor, Therizinosaurus Description: Daspletosaurus is a tyrannosaur that inhabits Isla Sorna and formerly Isla Nublar. They hunts in packs of up to 10 members as subadults but adults are either solitary or hunt in mated pairs, sometimes taking their young along with them to teach them how to hunt. Like its descendant, Tyrannosaurus, males are dark brown to light green with black stripes and brown eyes while females are a solid brown to green, slightly larger and have yellow eyes. They actually closely resemble Tyrannosaurus rex down to the last detail but are slightly less robust, have longer legs, lighter bones and more prominent eye crests. Large females have been reported to grow up to 36 feet long in the wild. Interestingly, though they don't directly compete with any dinosaur full time, they loathe most other species, especially Allosaurus, and will fight them to the death. They occasionally form packs and interbreed with other tyrannosaurs but the packs are short lived being that they all share different habitats naturally and enjoy different prey. Daspletosaurus, for example, enjoys ceratopsians, Gorgosaurus specializes in hadrosaur hunting, Albertosaurus mostly takes speedy small prey and Teratophoneus is primarily a scavenger. They can and in one case did successfully breed with a Tyrannosaurus and the offspring were fertile. The hybrids closely resembled Tarbosaurus in shape and size but shared a color pattern with Tyrannosaurus and Daspletosaurus. Though they have never escaped, Daspletosaurus have badly injured two trainers by giving them affectionate bites. In spite of this every employee has stated that they enjoyed working with them due to their friendliness and easy trainability. They got their code name, "steel jaw", from one incident when a frightened Gigantoraptor kicked a Daspletosaurus in the jaw and left nothing more than a scratch while it would have shattered the jaw of most other dinosaurs. Despite the fact that it was found to be that the Gigantoraptor had only clipped it instead of actually kicked it full on the Daspletosaurus has been rumored to have survived adult bull Ankylosaurus tail blows to the face on the Internet, something that is impossible but still heavily rumored. Several Daspletosaurus will be featured in the 2015 park as possibly another performing animal but if they can't perform without attacking they will instead be normal attractions. InGen File: Styracosaurus [img]https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&docid=C-L6gX2Uc7H-RM&tbnid=Pgyq1x0qrBgk6M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthemorlock.deviantart.com%2Fart%2FStyracosaurus-albertensis-308200808&ei=soRYUuyJKIqIiAKRg4HABw&psig=AFQjCNGCfJekXjYRBZ4fSKeF_d8izh3WqA&ust=1381619233682576[/img] Code Name: Rhino Danger Level: Harmless unless provoked Height: 9 feet Length: 20 feet Weight: 2 tons Speed: Charges at 28 mph Diet: Herbivore Weapons: Horns Defeated: Irritator, Neovenator, Veterupristisaurus Description: Styracosaurus is one of InGen's most popular dinosaurs. In the original park merchandise sold well and in the new park it will likely sell even better. Styracosaurus inhabits both Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna and females are the most common gender on Site A while males are on Site B, something that has led to a difference in numbers as well as other various things. The males are more easily preyed upon, being solitary, and thus have a smaller population. Females travel in herds with only one adult male and are harder to prey upon due to the herd's human-like care for one another. Styracosaurus are greenish brown with dark green or brown vertical stripes along their backs, tails, legs and faces. They are best known for having a huge array of threatening horns, with males having six long frill horns up to three or possibly four feet long and one nose horn up to three feet. Melanistic Styracosaurus have been recorded on multiple occasions and, despite once being fairly numerous around 1998, they are now endangered due to poaching by big game hunters who can sell their horns for well over five million dollars, being sheathed in what is thought to be ivory and the melanistic skins, being regarded as beautiful. FIGHT! [img]http://www.arizonaskiesmeteorites.com/Dinosaur_Fossils_For_Sale/Daspletosaurus_Fossils/[/img] A Styracosaurus rolls in the mud by a river. A small ankylosaur watches him for a while before moving on. He stands from the mud hole and walks for a while towards the marsh in the forest to the east. When he gets there, he smells the air to make sure predators aren't around. A foul smell hits his nose and he knows it is the distinct smell of a rotting carcass, and it's close by. Looking up, the Styracosaurus sees a horrifying sight: a young ceratopsian's remains hang from a branch just a few feet above his head. He turns away in disgust only to see another skewered on a broken off tree branch. Looking at the trees around him, the Styracosaurus notices many remains of half devoured prey suspended from tree branches. Then it hits him. He has wandered into a tyrannosaur's lair. He starts to leave when a Daspletosaurus comes from out of the forest, carrying a juvenile Parasaurolophus by the neck with her jaws. The theropod drops the prey and sets her hunger filled eyes upon the fully grown ceratopsian. Her mate is still hunting, and she knows that without him, taking on a Styracosaurus is that much more dangerous. Still, she's tired of eating baby hadrosaurs. This is the first ceratopsian the Daspletosaurus has seen in months, and she refuses to let it go to waste. With a roar, she charges. The Styracosaurus bellows in defiance and charges as well. He jabs up with his nasal horn and catches the Daspletosaurus' cheek when the predator jerks to the side. The shaken tyrannosaur stops for a moment to get a better angle on her intended future meal. She swerves to fake an attack on the side of the Styracosaurus and, just as planned, he jerks to the side in defense. The experienced hunter sheers the horn of the Styracosaurus off with her powerful jaws. Wanting to get this fight over quickly, she bites the left half of the frill of the Styracosaurus and shakes her head, breaking off a good portion of the bone shield. The Styracosaurus frees himself and shoves the tyrannosaur away. He backs up a little and runs forwards, his head down. Like a living freight train, the Styracosaurus smashes into the Daspletosaurus to disastrous results, the sight being about as pretty as a train wreck. The Daspletosaurus tumbles back and smashes into the root of a tree. The Styracosaurus charges again with its spikes forwards. The Daspletosaurus has barely stood up when suddenly spikes pierce her shoulder, tearing the shoulder blade away. Blood pours from the wound and ribs stick out from the bleeding hole. The Daspletosaurus roars in pain and kicks the bull in the face, successfully knocking him back. With the aid of the gnarled tree roots she gets her feet under her and stands. The Styracosaurus charges again but the Daspletosaurus is ready and catches the ceratopsian with her foot, her powerful legs absorbing the shock and her stance stabilizing her. She is shoved back a little but, being larger, she gains some leverage. She throws the Styracosaurus' head to the side and, with a stride, she bites the frill again. She snaps the top half off and has now disarmed the Styracosaurus completely. The Daspletosaurus lifts her foot and places it on the Styracosaurus' shoulder, her talons digging deep. She shoves forwards and the Styracosaurus topples over. Using her helpful feet once again, the Daspletosaurus holds the bellowing Styracosaurus in place by the head. The bull is cut off as the Daspletosaurus clamps her deadly predatory jaws shot on his neck. After just a few seconds, a complete and deathly silence passes over the marsh. The Daspletosaurus places her foot on the kill and lifts her bloody snout, roaring victoriously. WINNER: DASPLETOSAURUS [img]http://gallantcannibal.tumblr.com/post/40151780572/daspletosaurus-and-chasmosaurus-by-alexander[/img] Predator and prey clashed here. Though the Styracosaurus was certainly a deadly foe with those brutish spikes, the Daspletosaurus had the equally lethal jaws to disarm them. Being bigger, the Daspletosaurus picked up the advantage over the spike-shielded dinosaurian rhino. So, there you have it. The semifinals have ended, setting the ceratopsian slaying Daspletosaurus and Ceratosaurus killing Yangchuanosaurus on an inevitable collision course. The finals are coming tomorrow. I hope everyone 's ready for Daspletosaurus vs Yangchuanosaurus tomorrow to see who comes out on top as the victor of the first season of DINOFIGHTS! (okay, second season. But I don't count that atrocious first season as part of the DF series.)