Spinosaurus, why is it walking on 4 legs?

[Konachibi]

Kind of surprised this kind of thread hasn't happened yet, but yeah, watched a video of the Spinosaurus in-game (since I haven't seen one yet thankfully!), and immediately noticed it's walking on four legs.

This is kind of weird, as nearly all the dinosaurs in the game so far have been shown in ways that have been almost universally accepted by archeologists, scientists and all those other people that end in 'ist', yet the Spinosaurus has never been shown to walk on 4 legs. Both from fossil findings, artist renditions, books, movies, cartoons, other video games and museums it is always displayed as a 2-legged carnivore with two arms, just like a T-rex and other carnivores of it's type, simply because it's arms simply aren't large enough to support it's weight.

So why was this design decision made when it goes against pretty much everything we know of the species?

[IAMHERE]

WTF would you change it's greatness?!? Two legs killer claws nuff said!

[mKitDizzle]

Początkowo opublikowane przez PCAwesomeness:

@Voicey

Too weak?

But the hips and legs described by Ibrahim and coauthors look quite small and relatively weak. The femur – or upper leg bone – is short, yet has a robust flange of bone for a major leg-tail muscle retractor. And the foot bones of Spinosaurus are flat, with broad toe claws. This was not a dinosaur suited to running down prey

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/11/the-new-spinosaurus/

[PCAwesomeness]

@Voicey

TBH, Ibrahim is a bit of a quack to me. Apparently, short legs = quadruped, because logic.

However, I do agree that Spinosaurus was not a brontophagist (land predator). Instead, I think it hunted in the water.

[mKitDizzle]

Początkowo opublikowane przez PCAwesomeness:

@Voicey

TBH, Ibrahim is a bit of a quack to me. Apparently, short legs = quadruped, because logic.

However, I do agree that Spinosaurus was not a brontophagist (land predator). Instead, I think it hunted in the water.

I'm not saying to everyone that I am right as such, I will listen to other peoples opinions. But I am led to believe that the Spinosaurus is nothing like the Hollywood version in the slightest.

And I do believe that the devs have gotten it right in going with what the main media are saying at the moment on the subject.

[The Ste]

Początkowo opublikowane przez PCAwesomeness:

@Voicey

TBH, Ibrahim is a bit of a quack to me. Apparently, short legs = quadruped, because logic.

However, I do agree that Spinosaurus was not a brontophagist (land predator). Instead, I think it hunted in the water.

You'd be correct although to be fair most creatures that operate in water but can walk around on land are typically quadropeds, crocodiles, frogs, hippos?, etc. Also the Spinosaurus went extinct due to rising water levels and being pushed into Carcharodontosaurus territory, but getting back on topic we usually judge how dinosaurs stood based leg bone size like how T-rex has broad leg bones, Of course everything we judge about dinosaurs is purely theoretical at best.

[Strategos]

The very interesting and enlightened palaeontological debate aside, I must say I like the spinosaurus we have in game a lot. If only for the sake of diversity, it's nice having the option of an apex predator on four legs rather than the more classic two-legged hunter... Plus, I think a bipedal spino would look a bit silly just standing in the middle of our rivers, while the wild quadrupedal ones we have actually look like they belong here.

Oh, and that's probably just me, but I also think the quadrupedal charge is more intimidating than the bipedal one we got with tyranossaurus and co: feels like there is more weight in the way the spino moves. Maybe my mind has an easier time associating it with big predators (bear!), while all it can really link a t-rex running with is some kind of oversized chicken or something.

So, yeah, if you really don't like the way it looks, er, just leave my spino alone and ride a t-rex? Pretty please?

[The Ste]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Strategos:

The very interesting and enlightened palaeontological debate aside, I must say I like the spinosaurus we have in game a lot. If only for the sake of diversity, it's nice having the option of an apex predator on four legs rather than the more classic two-legged hunter... Plus, I think a bipedal spino would look a bit silly just standing in the middle of our rivers, while the wild quadrupedal ones we have actually look like they belong here.

Oh, and that's probably just me, but I also think the quadrupedal charge is more intimidating than the bipedal one we got with tyranossaurus and co: feels like there is more weight in the way the spino moves. Maybe my mind has an easier time associating it with big predators (bear!), while all it can really link a t-rex running to is some kind of oversized chicken or something.

So, yeah, if you really don't like the way it looks, er, just leave my spino alone and ride a t-rex? Pretty please?

Why isn't it possible to like comments on steam?

[Ashelia]

all dinosaurs were oversized chickens actually o.o...

[Misplaced Sock Puppet]

Ark is fictional. So far the story "seems" to be that creatures may be added to this world where they are similar to but slightly different from their earth counterparts. This is why:

* The specific names are different from real world counterparts

* The Parasaurs are entirely bipedal (instead of Quadrupedal and Bipedal)

* The Parasaurs have "horns" growing out of their shoulders

* The Dilophosaurs aren't 10' long

* The Dilophosaurs have frills

* The Trike's front feet are incorrectly shaped

* The Bronto's neck is held vertically instead of horizontally

* The Pteradons can take flight from flat ground instead of throwing themselves off a cliff

Etc...

For "easy" research in how all of the Ark's denizens are incorrect (Not just the Spinosaur) maybe check out "Your Dinosaurs are Wrong" on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaCDmykyjVw_B983AQ2iGuZOA3ZLJ8Sry

It's a good starting point

[Misplaced Sock Puppet]

Also the Stegosaur has a giant friggin head and holds its neck funny and it's the piscivore, quadrupedal Spinosaur that upsets you?

[JimMicBob]

It should be able to do both! When it is just walking around it can go on two legs but when chasing you it should drop to all fours!

[Misplaced Sock Puppet]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Gizzmicbob:

It should be able to do both! When it is just walking around it can go on two legs but when chasing you it should drop to all fours!

Same can be said of the Parasaur but its stubby front legs make it not possible in Ark

[JimMicBob]

Początkowo opublikowane przez DJ_Persnikity:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Gizzmicbob:

It should be able to do both! When it is just walking around it can go on two legs but when chasing you it should drop to all fours!

Same can be said of the Parasaur but its stubby front legs make it not possible in Ark

Just because it's cool! Not because it's realistic.

[sf]

I hope that it will actually change it's posture dynamically in the future. e.g. walking on two when it is chasing prey on land, on fours when resting or in water etc.

Parasaurs as well. It should have some time where it walks or rests on all fours.

[JimMicBob]

Well... either way it would be cool if they could switch!