Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What is the perfect predator? Nature was filled with seemingly unstoppable killing machines like Tyrannosaurus, Otodus megalodon, and Deinosuchus, but do their physical size and strength make them better predators that animals like ferrets, fleas, or eels? This video analyzes the cultural idea of what makes a "predator" interesting to humans and explains the ecological concept of relative perfection, using prehistoric and modern animals as examples. Paleoecology is a complex scientific field, studying the relationships of organisms like dinosaurs in a past far removed from our present. Our limited understanding of ecological science can lead us to make mistakes about the importance that certain species can have, including our favorite charismatic carnivores.
00:00: Creating The Perfect Predator
00:26: The Relative Perfection Equation
01:14: What Makes A Good Predator?
01:59: Overpowered VS Perfect
02:42: Natural History's Greatest Hits
03:23: Specialization vs Generalization
04:08: Awesomebro Content Done Right
Thumbnail art by evoincarnate, Arturo Garcia, and Connor Ashbridge. Music courtesy of Paleowolf.
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What is the perfect predator? Nature was filled with seemingly unstoppable killing machines like Tyrannosaurus, Otodus megalodon, and Deinosuchus, but do their physical size and strength make them better predators that animals like ferrets, fleas, or eels? This video analyzes the cultural idea of what makes a "predator" interesting to humans and explains the ecological concept of relative perfection, using prehistoric and modern animals as examples. Paleoecology is a complex scientific field, studying the relationships of organisms like dinosaurs in a past far removed from our present. Our limited understanding of ecological science can lead us to make mistakes about the importance that certain species can have, including our favorite charismatic carnivores.
00:00: Creating The Perfect Predator
00:26: The Relative Perfection Equation
01:14: What Makes A Good Predator?
01:59: Overpowered VS Perfect
02:42: Natural History's Greatest Hits
03:23: Specialization vs Generalization
04:08: Awesomebro Content Done Right
Thumbnail art by evoincarnate, Arturo Garcia, and Connor Ashbridge. Music courtesy of Paleowolf.
Join the Vividen Discord Server here: discord.gg/YTGy9YZpH9
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCmkkmzfWWf4HzrO8SGO3gjw/join








![Acrocanthosaurus Appreciation Day
Acrocanthosaurus atokensis is a gigantic carcharodontosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous of North America. It was nearly as big as famous giants like Mapusaurus and Giganotosaurus, but is underrated in paleontology culture. Lets explore what makes Acrocanthosaurus such an awesome dinosaur.
Fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws support the implementation of copyrighted material with educational, parodic, or transformative intent. The usage of any copyrighted material in this video is for noncommercial educational purposes, and is asserted permissible under the aforementioned copyright rulings.
Acrocanthosaurus art sources
https://www.deviantart.com/franoys/art/Giant-predatory-dinosaurs-comparison-616409616
https://www.deviantart.com/highdarktemplar/art/Acrocanthosaurus-atokensis-513380108
https://www.deviantart.com/paleocolour/art/Acrocanthosaurus-atokensis-582244717
https://www.deviantart.com/paleoguy/art/Acrocanthosaurus-with-Tenontosaurus-594282699
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/acrocanthosaurus-julius-csotonyi.html?product=art-print
https://www.deviantart.com/manuelsaurus/art/Acrocanthosaurus-626426008
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Latest-Dinosaurs-Acrocanthosaurus-Tenontosaurus-carcass-model-12-Free-Shipping-/263469895675
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/737464507704070456/?lp=true
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant
http://planetdi.startlogic.com/club/large_carnivores/acrocanthosaurus.htm
http://www.bhigr.com/store/product.php?productid=64
https://www.deviantart.com/highdarktemplar/art/Acrocanthosaurus-atokensis-513380108
Senter, Phil; Robins, James H. (2005). Range of motion in the forelimb of the theropod dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus atokensis, and implications for predatory behaviour. Journal of Zoology. 266 (3): 307–318. doi:10.1017/S0952836905006989.
DEmic, Michael D.; Melstrom, Keegan M.; Eddy, Drew R. (2012). Paleobiology and geographic range of the large-bodied Cretaceous theropod dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus atokensis. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 333–334: 13–23. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.03.003.
Franzosa, Jonathan; Rowe, Timothy. (2005). Cranial endocast of the Cretaceous theropod dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus atokensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (4): 859–864. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0859:CEOTCT]2.0.CO;2.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Digital-endocranial-endocast-of-the-braincase-of_fig32_50892373 Acrocanthosaurus Appreciation Day](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NMFn-vL03vg/mqdefault.jpg)

