Nathan Smith, an associate curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, discusses various dinosaurs featured in the Jurassic Park films. He explains the characteristics and behaviors of species like Brachiosaurus, Velociraptor, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and others, noting differences between their real-life counterparts and movie portrayals. Smith also touches on the fictional dinosaurs created for the films, such as Indominus Rex and Indoraptor, and acknowledges the franchise's efforts to accurately depict dinosaur anatomy despite some artistic liberties.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Nathan Smith is an associate curator in the Dinosaur Institute at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
2. Brachiosaurus was a member of the sauropod group, a type of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur.
3. Brachiosaurus had longer four limbs and a vertically held neck, likely used for high browsing.
4. Parasaurolophus was a type of crested, duck-billed dinosaur with a long gait crest on its head.
5. Parasaurolophus had a battery of teeth that helped it grind up plant material.
6. Velociraptor was a small, carnivorous dinosaur, about the size of a large turkey.
7. Velociraptor was a close relative of birds and likely had feathers.
8. Tyrannosaurus Rex was a large, carnivorous dinosaur with a reputation for being the "top dinosaur".
9. Tyrannosaurus Rex may not have had the best eyesight, but its other senses may have been more developed.
10. Triceratops was a large, herbivorous dinosaur with three horns and a frill on its head.
11. Dilophosaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur with a distinctive frill, but it likely did not spit poison.
12. Stegosaurus was an armored dinosaur with a series of spikes on its tail, used for defense.
13. Compsognathus was a small, carnivorous dinosaur that played a significant role in the Jurassic Park book series.
14. Corythosaurus was a type of duck-billed dinosaur with a high, domed crest on its head.
15. Ankylosaurus was a heavily armored dinosaur with a club-like tail used for defense.
16. Spinosaurus was a semi-aquatic dinosaur with a distinctive sail on its back.
17. Pteranodon was a flying reptile, not a dinosaur, but related to them.
18. Mosasaurus was a marine reptile, not a dinosaur, but related to lizards.
19. Baryonyx was a carnivorous dinosaur with a distinctive claw on its hands.
20. Carnotaurus was a large, carnivorous dinosaur with low, bony horns above its eyes.
21. Allosaurus was a large, carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period.
22. Apatosaurus was a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur that likely browsed at different heights than Brachiosaurus.
23. Brontosaurus may be the adult version of Apatosaurus, but new studies suggest it may be a distinct genus.
24. Indominus Rex was a genetically engineered dinosaur in the Jurassic World movie, created by combining DNA from different species.
25. Indoraptor was a genetically engineered dinosaur in the Jurassic World franchise, created by combining Indominus Rex DNA with more Velociraptor DNA.