History Main / HeadButtingPachy

Pachycephalosaurs in fiction, naturally, don't have these problems. They will often be shown charging at top speed into everything in sight, be it other members of their own species, bigger dinosaurs, or time machines with people inside. They're also likely to be depicted as aggressive and violent, in a departure from the usual depiction of [[HerbivoresAreFriendly plant-eating dinosaurs]] in fiction (though there's speculation that ''Pachycephalosaurus'' may have been an omnivore rather than an herbivore based on its tooth morphology, but this is almost never mentioned in fiction).

** ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'': {{Downplayed|Trope}}, but still ultimately present with the ''Stygimoloch'' who manages to [[BatteringRam ram down a brick wall and a steel cage door]]. Although it did take the dinosaur a unspecified amount of time it is the only dinosaur to have broken out despite the fact that several dinosaur powerhouses (''T. rex'', ''Triceratops'', ect.) were also kept in similar cages.

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' has the similarly-named "Hyper Hammerhead", a pachycephalosaur-like Dinosaur-type monster with a head shaped like a literal hammer.

[[caption-width-right:350:Two pachycephalosaurians of the genus ''Stegoceras'' about to headbutt each other.]]

** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'': Zigzagged, one of the Zyudenryu, Bunpachy, can headbutt enemies like a stereotypical pachycephalosaurus, but its main power is swinging its mace on its tail. Curiously, the mace is attached to its head before activation.

* ''VideoGame/ARKSurvivalEvolved'': For the most part the game seems to [[AvertedTrope avert this trope]], with any combat excused to this for easily being {{Justified|Trope}} due to the limited GameMechanics, and then you discover that ''Pachycephalosaurus'' can knock trees over by ramming them.

** One episode of the 2005 anime made in the 2010s had Nobita getting chased by a ''Pachycephalosaurus'' which tries to smash him with its head. Amusingly, this is subverted when Doraemon comes to his rescue and accidentally head-butts the ''Pachycephalosaurus'', knocking it out.

* Numerous animatronic displays used in natural history museums have featured a pair of Pachycephalosauruses butting their heads together.

[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycephalosauria Pachycephalosaurid]] dinosaurs[ (sometimes colloquially referred to as a pachys), of which the famous ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycephalosaurus Pachycephalosaurus]]'' is a member, are typically shown headbutting each other much like you would see in rams, goats and oxen. They even been shown to headbutt other things with a devastating amount of force without sustaining any major injury. This was popularized by the story

[[caption-width-right:350:Two pachycephalosaurians about to headbutt each other.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Two ''Pachycephalosaurus'' about to headbutt each other.]]

[[AC:Live Action Series]]

[[AC:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': ''Pachycephalosaurus'' is an otherwise relatively unremarkable herbivorous animal distinguished chiefly by its ability to make powerful headlong charges against its foes.

[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/ARKSurvivalEvolved'': For the most part the game seems to [[AvertedTrope avert this trope]], with any combat excused to this for easily being {{Justified|Trope}} due to the limited GameMechanics, and then you discover that ''Pachycephalosaurus'' can knock trees over by ramming them.
* ''VideoGame/{{Carnivores}}'': The game's instruction manual mentions that ''Pachycephalosaurus'' use their thick skull rimmed with knobby spikes as a battering ram against other dinosaurs for defense. Ironically this isn't seen in the game and their neck is a target for hunters.
* ''VideoGame/FossilFighters'': Several different species of Pachycephalosauria are present and all have skills that have the word "Headbutt" and/or "Ram" in them, [[ImpliedTrope implying this trope]].
* ''VideoGame/LEGOJurassicWorld'': In the story mode there is a show that has a ''Pachycephalosaurus'' ram three pillars of solid rock.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'': Cranidos and its evolution Rampardos are both based on pachycephalosaurs, and both are routinely shown performing headbutting attacks such as Heabutt, Take Down, Zen Headbutt and Skull Smash. Their Pokédex entries also focus almost entirely on their propensity for headbutting things, mentioning how their skulls were hard as iron and used for smashing inconveniently placed trees and taking down prey. Rampardos' entries claim it to have a foot-thick skull that shields it from any harm its headbutting may cause, although it also stifles the growth of its brain, and that a cloned specimen destroyed a skyscraper by headbutting it.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'': Cranidos and its evolution Rampardos are both based on pachycephalosaurs, and both are routinely shown performing headbutting attacks such as Heabutt, Take Down, Zen Headbutt and Skull Smash. Their Pokédex entries also focus almost entirely on their propensity for headbutting things, mentioning how their skulls were hard as iron and used for smashing inconveniently placed trees and taking down prey. Rampardos' entires claim it to have a foot-thick skull that shields it from any harm its headbutting may cause, although it also stifles the growth of its brain, and that a cloned specimen destroyed a skyscraper by headbutting it.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'': Cranidos and its evolution Rampardos are both based on pachycephalosaurs, and both are routinely shown performing headbutting attacks.

The ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycephalosauria Pachycephalosauria]]'' dinosaur family[[note]] Individuals are sometimes referred to as a Pachy.[[/note]]; of which the famous ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycephalosaurus Pachycephalosaurus]]'' is a member, are typically shown headbutting each other much like you would see in rams, goats and oxen. They even been shown to headbutt other things with a devastating amount of force without sustaining any major injury. This was popularized by the story '''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Gun_for_Dinosaur A Gun For A Dinosaur]]''', of the '''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Time Rivers Of Time]]''' series by Creator/LSpragueDeCamp. Unfortunately though evidence suggests that their domed heads were weapons[[note]] Numerous fossilized domes from the ''Pachycephalosauria'' skulls have been found with dents and other injuries; with many that have healed, which has been taken as evidence of combat use.[[/note]], their ability and use with them has been greatly exaggerated.

Evidence for this can of course be found in the skulls of numerous members of the ''Pachycephalosauria'' family. A good example of this is how two ''Pachycephalosaurus''[[note]] A half-ton dinosaur.[[/note]] were to ram each other head on at top speed they would have knocked each other out. This of course would have been a evolutionary drawback leaving them incredibly vulnerable for a extended period of time. The same problem would also of course exist if they rammed various objects like large trees, boulders and metal. The dinosaur's neck and back; though strong, are believed to be unsuited for head on head blows. Instead many scientists believe that the dinosaurs either pressed their heads together and pushed each other, or they did flank butting.

Pachycephalosaurs in fiction, naturally, don't have these problems. They will often be shown charging at top speed into everything in sight, be it other members of their own species, bigger dinosaurs, or time machines with people inside. They're also likely to be depicted as aggressive and violent, in a departure from the usual depiction of [[HerbivoresAreFriendly plant-eating dinosaurs]] in fiction (though there's speculation that Pachycephalosaurus may have been an omnivore rather than an herbivore based on its tooth morphology, but this is almost never mentioned in fiction).

Naturally this is a subtrope of ArtisticLicensePaleontology; due to it being about the unrealistic portrayal of a prehistoric animal, and UseYourHead. It's also a subtrope of AnimalStereotypes, in a rare case where the stereotype belongs to a long-extinct species. It also doubles as a form of BeastlyBloodsports when they're ramming each other for territory or for a mate.

* ''Anime/DaikyouryuNoJidai'': A pair of of ''pachycephalosaurus'' are shown to be headbutting each other so hard that it not only gets the attention of other dinosaurs, but scares them too. [[spoiler:Not the ''TyrannosaurusRex'' though, he came for dinner.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'': In the first film a group of ''pachycephalosaurus'' are seen ramming their heads together and into the ground; all in an attempt to attack Cera, without any injury.
* ''Animation/SpecklesTheTarbosaurus'': Ironically shown with a bit of TruthInTelevision the losing ''pachycephalosaurus'' ending up [[TapOnTheHead knocked out]], which as stated above in the description could easily end up being a death sentence for a animal.

* ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'': The scene with the ''pachycephalosaurus'' getting captured shows it ramming into the side of a jeep. This not only caused the jeeps door to torn in half, but also sent the man inside flying out at the other side of the jeep. This shouldn't be possible since (hopefully) like most of the other vehicles used by ''Ludlow's Team'' they were intentionally modified to help them against the dinosaurs. Possibly [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] because the dinosaurs in that universe are bred/created to have audience-pleasing traits.
* ''Film/JurassicWorld'': Not seen, but it is discussed that when ''pachycephalosaurus'' butt heads they temporarily disable their implants [[note]]This implies that the implant is in or around the Pachy's head.[[/note]] without harming themselves. Possibly [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] for the same reason listed in ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''.
* ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'': [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]], but still ultimately present with the ''Stygimoloch'' who manages to [[BatteringRam ram]] down a brick wall and a steel cage door[[note]] Though after being motivated by Owen.[[/note]], though it did take the dinosaur a unspecified amount of time it is the only dinosaur to have broken out despite the fact that several dinosaur powerhouses (T-rex, Triceratops, ect.) were also kept in similar cages. Possibly [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] for the same reason listed in ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''.

* ''Literature/TheMagicSchoolBus'': In the book ''In The Time Of The Dinosaurs'' of the series it mentions that they, "may have butted heads like rams," which normally [[AvertedTrope wouldn't be a problem]] since it's stated as a theory instead of fact, then proceeds to illustrate two ramming each other head on in the background.
* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Time Rivers Of Time]]'': As stated above the story of this series ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Gun_for_Dinosaur A Gun For A Dinosaur]]'' is the story that popularized the idea of ''pachycephalosaurus'' violently ramming things with their domes. Pretty much makes it the TropeCodifier.

* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'': [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] due to being a {{Mecha}} the Pachy Zord naturally [[UseYourHead headbutts]] enemies.
* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'': [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] the pachycephalosaurus are {{Mecha}}:
** ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'': Has Bachycelo, a Bakuryu those thick skull can then be weaponized as a PowerFist for the giant mechas.

* ''Series/PrimevalNewWorld'': A ''Pachycephalosaurus'' went on a rampage through the city of Vancouver, smashing storefronts with its head after mistaking its reflection for a rival.

* ''TabletopGame/WeirdNWildCreatures'': The fact card for the ''Pachycephalosaurus'' mentions that they use their heads as battering rams for head-on collisions. Interestingly earlier it mentions that they could have used their heads to slam into the side of their rival which would be a [[AvertedTrope aversion]] of this trope since they'd be targeting a far softer area.

* ''WebAnimation/PinkFong'': The Dinosaur series of the WebAnimation has a pachycephalosaurus that precisely [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofcz0Zd8OlA sings about being the "king of head-butting"]] and using it against predators like Tyrannosaurus rex by charging, which would have in most cases have actually caused them more harm than good.

* ''WesternAnimation/DinoRiders'': The Valorians/Dino-Riders use pachycephalosaurus too smash large rocks with their domed heads. They're also mentioned to be used for clearing rubble, presumably the same way. Both actions would have likely have caused the dinosaurs harm.

* ''VideoGame/ARKSurvivalEvolved'': For the most part seems to [[AvertedTrope avert this trope]]; with any combat excused to this for easily being [[JustifiedTrope justified]] due to the limited [[GameMechanics gaming mechanics]], and then you discover that ''pachycephalosaurus'' can knock trees over by ramming them.
* ''VideoGame/{{Carnivores}}'': The game's instruction manual mentions that Pachycephalosaurus use their thick skull rimmed with knobby spikes as a battering ram against other dinosaurs for defense. Ironically this isn't seen in the game and their neck is a target for hunters.
* ''VideoGame/FossilFighters'': Several different species of ''Pachycephalosauria'' are present and all of them have skills that have the word "Headbutt" and/or "Ram" in them [[ImpliedTrope implying this trope]].
* ''VideoGame/LEGOJurassicWorld'': In the story mode there is a show that has a ''pachycephalosaurus'' ram three pillars of solid rock.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'': Cranidos and its evolution Rampardos are both based on pachycephalosaurs, and both are routinely shown performing head-butting attacks.

* Numerous animatronic displays used in natural history museums have featured a pair of Pachycephalosauruses butting their heads together.

Pachycephalosaurs in fiction, naturally, don't have these problems. They will often be shown charging at top speed into everything in sight, be it other members of their own species, bigger dinosaurs, or time machines with people inside. They're also likely to be depicted as aggressive and violent, in a departure from the usual depiction of [[HerbivoresAreFriendly plant-eating dinosaurs]] in fiction (though there's speculation that Pachycephalosaurus may have been an omnivore rather than an herbivore based on its tooth morphology).

Pachycephalosaurs in fiction, naturally, don't have these problems. They will often be shown charging at top speed into everything in sight, be it other members of their own species, bigger dinosaurs, or time machines with people inside. They're also likely to be depicted as aggressive and violent, in a departure from the usual depiction of [[HerbivoresAreFriendly plant-eating dinosaurs]] in fiction.

* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drayton_Manor_Theme_Park Drayton Manor Theme Park's]] ''Dino Trail'' attraction features two ''[[https://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Drayton_Manor/Theme_Park_Reviews_2010_UK_Trip/draytonmanor_099.jpg Pachycephalosaurus]]'' about to headbutt each other.