Age no handicap: 13 dinosaurs Jurassic World borrows from other periods

Jurassic World, the fourth chapter in the Jurassic Park movie franchise, opened to audiences in mainland China, France and seven other territories on Thursday, earning US$24.5 million in its first day. 

The film centres around a genetically engineered, fictional species called Indominus Rex, but also brings into play many species that existed at other times in the prehistoric era.

FILM REVIEW: Jurassic World - dinosaurs return, bigger than ever

The Jurassic period, when huge plant-eating dinosaurs roamed the earth, dates back from about 201.3 million to 145 million years ago. It was sandwiched between the Triassic and Cretaceous periods. 

But while the film’s official website showcases 18 different species of dinosaur, less than half are from the Jurassic period. 

There are other areas in which the filmmakers played with the facts, especially in their representation of the now hugely famous Velociraptor (see below). 

Moreover, scientists now suspect many of the dinosaurs from the period may have been at least partially feathered. 

 

'Fake' Jurassics:

Thirteen dinosaurs which feature prominently in the movie actually existed during the Cretaceous period, which stretched from 145 million to 66 million years ago.

 

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Age: Late Cretaceous

Habitat: Western North America

One of the largest and most fearsome dinosaurs on record, it is believed to have possessed the deadliest bite of any land animal, with a force commensurate to over 5,800 kilograms.

 

Ankylosaurus

Age: Late Cretaceous

Habitat: Western North America

Palaeontologists often refer to it as a “living tank” due to its spiky armour covered with a layer of keratin, the same material your fingernails are made out of.

 

Baryonyx

Age: Early Cretaceous

Habitat: River deltas of Europe

One of the largest fish-eating dinosaurs, its crocodile-like head and dangerous claws make it a master hunter in rivers and lakes.

 

Edmontosaurus

Age: Cretaceous

Habitat: North America

This ranks as one of few dinosaurs that could masticate rather than having to just gulp down its food.

 

Gallimimus

Age: Late Cretaceous

Habitat: Mongolia

Able to run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, this ostrich-like creature lacked teeth but could still be a lethal foe.

 

Microceratus

Age: Cretaceous

Habitat: North America, Asia

This may have been the smallest dinosaur of its age. It was formerly known as Microceratops.

 

Mosasaurus

Age: Late Cretaceous

Habitat: Seas of Europe and North America

This beast once ruled the seas with its hydrofoil-like flippers. Komodo dragons and monitor lizards are among its closest living relatives.

 

Pachycephalosaurus

Age: Cretaceous

Habitat: North America

Recognised for its thick skull with a bone density of up to 25 centimetres, it survived on a diet of fruit and seeds. In contrast, men have an average skull thickness of 6.5 millimetres and women 7.1 mm.

 

Parasaurolophus

Age: Cretaceous

Habitat: North America

Another herbivore with a strangely shaped head, it lived in herds and was recognisable by the elongated tube-shaped crest it used to emit cries.

 

Pteranodon

Age: Late Cretaceous

Habitat: North America, Europe

Known for its aggressive character, this flying dinosaur fed mostly on fish and had a wingspan of up to 6 metres.

 

Suchomimus

Age: Cretaceous

Habitat: Africa

Known for the sail on its lower back and the long claws on each thumb that enabled it to catch fish, it also had a low snout and narrow jaws.

 

Triceratops

Age: Late Cretaceous

Habitat: Western North America

The largest of the horned dinosaurs, it could weigh up to 10,000 kg. The long horns over its eyes look dangerous, but it dined mostly on shoots and leaves.

 

Velociraptor

Age: Cretaceous

Habitat: Mongolia

Palaeontologists had much to say about the way in which this dinosaur was represented in the previous three Jurassic movies, which reportedly took the much larger but harder to pronounce Deinonychus raptor as their base model. Velociraptors were, however, vicious hunters with curved, razor-sharp claws measuring 15cm. This is another dinosaur that may have sported feathers, but most scientists agree it didn’t have a lizard-like skin. It measured about 90cm standing.

 

Real Jurassics:

The latest instalment of the Jurassic Park series does include some dinosaurs from the period from which it takes its name. 

 

Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus)

Habitat: Western North America

One of the largest animals to ever walk the earth, an average adult specimen was longer than two school buses placed end to end (over 20m). Its two names mean, respectively, “deceptive lizard” and “thunder lizard”. Fans of the Transformers toy line may recognise it as the Autobot Sludge.

 

Dimorphodon

Habitat: Britain and Mexico

Named after its teeth but known for its short wings, its large eyes, quick jaws and sharp talons made it a significant threat when in aerial attack mode.

 

Metriacanthosaurus

Habitat: Britain, mainland Europe

Those with eagle-eye vision may have spotted this dinosaur’s name (which means “moderately-spined lizard”) on one of vials in an earlier movie in the series. A carnivore that weighed about a tonne, it once fed on other dinosaurs in the ancient Jurassic plains.

 

Stegosaurus

Habitat: North America

Decked with broad bony plates from neck to back, the Stegosaurus would turn its head to look over its shoulder when threatened so it could better aim the swing of its dangerous tail.