The Real Reason The Velociraptors Are So Big In Jurassic Park

Klayton Fioriti
29 Nov 201708:32
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script discusses the portrayal of velociraptors in the Jurassic Park franchise, addressing the common critique that they are inaccurate representations of their real-life counterparts. It explains that the Jurassic Park velociraptors were actually based on the Deinonychus, a discovery that revolutionized scientific understanding of dinosaurs. Despite the film's velociraptors being larger and lacking feathers, the script argues that the franchise should be credited for introducing the public to these creatures and the concept that birds descended from them. The video also touches on the intelligence of the raptors, which is not scientifically documented, and other fictionalized aspects like the Dilophosaurus' venom and the Tyrannosaurus' eyesight. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of the franchise in popularizing paleontology and the scientific advancements it helped to disseminate.

Takeaways
  • 🦖 The Jurassic Park franchise has been criticized for inaccuracies in its portrayal of dinosaurs, particularly the velociraptors.
  • 📚 Michael Crichton, author of the Jurassic Park novel, extensively researched and collaborated with paleontologist John Ostrom to create the dinosaurs in the story.
  • 🔍 Crichton's velociraptors were based on Deinonychus, with only the name changed for dramatic effect, and Spielberg initially considered using the name Deinonychus for the film.
  • 🦋 The debate over whether the Jurassic Park velociraptors are accurate or not often overlooks the fact that the novel and film were based on Deinonychus, not the smaller Velociraptor mongoliensis.
  • 🧬 The Jurassic Park media sometimes acknowledges the scientific debate by mentioning the recent excavation of the dinosaurs and comparing them to the fossil record.
  • 🧵 The lack of feathers on the Jurassic Park velociraptors is a point of contention, but the film provides an in-universe explanation through DNA hybridization.
  • 📚 The original novel addresses the velociraptors' classification and acknowledges the discovery of a Mongolian psious, which is now considered to be a velociraptor.
  • 🎥 Spielberg's film adaptation aimed to make the velociraptors as accurate as possible, given the constraints of the story and the expectations of the audience.
  • 🧠 The intelligence of the Jurassic Park velociraptors is not supported by scientific evidence, but it is a creative choice made for the narrative.
  • 🦜 There is a comic book storyline that features fully feathered velociraptors, which aligns with current paleontological understanding.
  • 🌐 Jurassic Park is credited with popularizing the concept of dinosaurs and their descendants being birds, which has influenced public perception and scientific acceptance.
Q & A
  • What is the common criticism regarding the velociraptors in the Jurassic Park franchise?

    -The velociraptors in the Jurassic Park franchise are often criticized for being inaccurately portrayed as larger, scaly dinosaurs with sickle-shaped claws, differing from the smaller, feathered velociraptors known from the fossil record.

  • What was the inspiration for the velociraptors' portrayal in the Jurassic Park series?

    -The velociraptors in the series were inspired by Deinonychus, a creature whose study by paleontologist John Ostrom significantly influenced the scientific community's view of dinosaurs.

  • Why were the velociraptors named as such in the Jurassic Park series despite their Deinonychus-like characteristics?

    -The name Velociraptor was chosen for dramatic effect, and it was also used in Michael Crichton's original novel. The filmmakers obtained all of Ostrom's work on Deinonychus for production, ensuring the on-screen raptors closely resembled Deinonychus.

  • What is the scientific basis for considering Deinonychus as one of the velociraptors?

    -Deinonychus is considered to be one of the velociraptors because both creatures belong to the same raptor family. This classification is supported by the scientific community and is acknowledged in the dialogue of the Jurassic Park novel.

  • How does the Jurassic Park series address the issue of the velociraptors' physical inaccuracies?

    -The series acknowledges the velociraptors' inaccuracies through dialogue in the novel where characters discuss the raptors' development in comparison to the fossil record. The film also explains the lack of feathers on the dinosaurs through DNA hybridization.

  • Why are the Jurassic Park raptors depicted without feathers?

    -The raptors are depicted without feathers primarily for consistency with the public's initial perception when the movies were released. Additionally, the DNA sequence gaps in the original story serve as an in-universe explanation for their lack of plumage.

  • In which medium does the Jurassic Park franchise depict velociraptors with fully feathered bodies?

    -A comic book storyline set on Isla Nublar within the Jurassic Park franchise features velociraptors with fully feathered bodies, aligning with current paleontological findings.

  • What is the general public's perception of the velociraptors due to the Jurassic Park franchise?

    -The Jurassic Park franchise has significantly contributed to the public's awareness of raptors and has played a role in the acceptance of birds as descendants of these ancient creatures.

  • Why do some members of the scientific community criticize the Jurassic Park franchise?

    -Some members of the scientific community criticize the Jurassic Park franchise for its inaccurate portrayal of dinosaurs, particularly the velociraptors, which they argue perpetuates misconceptions about prehistoric life.

  • How does the portrayal of velociraptors in Jurassic Park compare to their real-life counterparts in terms of size and appearance?

    -The velociraptors in Jurassic Park are depicted as larger and without feathers, which differs from the smaller, feathered velociraptor fossils that have been discovered. However, the film's raptors do resemble Deinonychus in many aspects, including skull and snout shape.

  • What role did paleontologist John Ostrom play in the development of the velociraptors in Jurassic Park?

    -John Ostrom's work on Deinonychus was instrumental in shaping the scientific understanding of dinosaurs as active, warm-blooded creatures. His research directly influenced Michael Crichton's design of the velociraptors in the novel, and the filmmakers used Ostrom's work during production for accuracy.

  • What is the significance of the name 'Velociraptor' in the context of the Jurassic Park series?

    -The name 'Velociraptor' was used in the Jurassic Park series for dramatic effect and to maintain consistency with the public's perception of the dinosaurs. Despite the physical characteristics being closer to Deinonychus, the name Velociraptor is used to connect the fictional dinosaurs to the real-life fossils.

Outlines
00:00
🦖 Jurassic Park's Velociraptors: Myth vs. Reality

This paragraph discusses the common criticisms of the velociraptors' portrayal in the Jurassic Park franchise. It points out that while many discussions about the franchise's dinosaurs are repetitive and lack new insights, there are still valuable analyses. The paragraph addresses the misconception that the velociraptors in the series are entirely inaccurate, explaining that they were actually based on Deinonychus, a discovery that transformed the scientific view of dinosaurs. The author argues that the Jurassic Park velociraptors, while not entirely accurate to the fossil record, were designed with extensive paleontological research and are more closely related to Deinonychus than commonly acknowledged.

05:02
🧬 The Scientific Basis of Jurassic Park's Raptors

The second paragraph delves into the scientific community's classification of Deinonychus and Velociraptor, noting that while Deinonychus is rarely called a Velociraptor today, they are indeed closely related theropods. It highlights that both Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg aimed for accuracy in their depiction of the raptors in the Jurassic Park media. The paragraph also mentions that certain aspects of the Jurassic Park raptors, such as their intelligence and physical anomalies, are not supported by scientific evidence. However, it argues that the franchise should be credited for popularizing the understanding of dinosaurs and their descendants, the birds. The author concludes by defending the franchise against criticisms from some scientific circles and emphasizing the importance of considering the full context in which the velociraptors were created for the Jurassic Park series.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Jurassic Park franchise
The Jurassic Park franchise is a series of films, novels, comic books, and video games centered around the concept of a theme park featuring cloned dinosaurs. In the video, it is discussed how various aspects of the franchise, particularly the portrayal of dinosaurs, have been criticized and debated over time.
💡Velociraptors
Velociraptors are a type of dinosaur that have been depicted in the Jurassic Park series. The video addresses the inaccuracy of their portrayal in the media compared to their real-life counterparts. The script mentions that in the franchise, they are shown as large, scaly creatures with sickle-shaped claws, differing from the smaller, feathered velociraptors known from paleontological research.
💡Deinonychus
Deinonychus is a genus of carnivorous dinosaurs closely related to Velociraptors. The video explains that the Jurassic Park raptors were designed with extensive knowledge of Deinonychus, with the script noting that John Ostrom's work on this creature influenced the scientific community's view of dinosaurs and the design of the raptors in the novel.
💡Paleontological research
Paleontological research refers to the study of fossils and prehistoric life. The video discusses how this research has informed our understanding of dinosaurs like the velociraptor and Deinonychus, and how it contrasts with their depiction in the Jurassic Park series. The script points out that the franchise's raptors do not fully align with paleontological findings.
💡Fossil record
The fossil record is the collection of all fossil remains and traces of past life preserved within the Earth's crust. It is mentioned in the script as a source of evidence that is sometimes overlooked in discussions about the accuracy of Jurassic Park's dinosaurs. The video emphasizes the importance of considering the fossil record when evaluating the scientific accuracy of the franchise's portrayal of prehistoric creatures.
💡Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton is the author of the novel 'Jurassic Park' and a key figure in the creation of the franchise. The video highlights Crichton's research and collaboration with paleontologist John Ostrom in designing the dinosaurs for his novel. Crichton's work is noted for its attempt to blend scientific accuracy with dramatic storytelling.
💡Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is the director of the Jurassic Park film and a pivotal contributor to the franchise's success. The script mentions Spielberg's decision to use the name 'Velociraptor' for dramatic effect, despite the scientific community's classification of a similar creature as Deinonychus. His production team also made efforts to ensure the dinosaurs' accuracy in the film adaptation.
💡Hybridization of DNA
Hybridization of DNA in the context of the Jurassic Park series refers to the fictional genetic manipulation of dinosaur DNA to create the animals seen in the park. The video uses this concept to explain the absence of feathers on the dinosaurs, suggesting that the DNA used may not have included the genetic information for feathers.
💡Feathers
Feathers are a characteristic feature of some dinosaurs, as revealed by paleontological research. The video discusses the controversy over the lack of feathers on the velociraptors in the Jurassic Park series. While the script acknowledges that feathers are not entirely absent from the franchise, it notes that the decision to depict the dinosaurs as scaly was likely influenced by audience familiarity and enjoyment.
💡Scientific community
The scientific community refers to the collective body of scientists and researchers who study various fields. The video addresses the criticism from this community regarding the scientific accuracy of the Jurassic Park series, particularly concerning the portrayal of dinosaurs. It also suggests that the franchise has contributed to public understanding and acceptance of new discoveries about dinosaurs.
💡Dilophosaurus
Dilophosaurus is another dinosaur genus featured in the Jurassic Park series. The script mentions the creature's portrayal in the films, which includes fictional attributes such as venom-spitting and a frill around its neck, as examples of the creative liberties taken by the franchise for dramatic purposes.
Highlights

The Jurassic Park franchise has been criticized for inaccuracies in its portrayal of velociraptors.

The velociraptors in the series are often criticized for their size and appearance, which differs from the real-life Velociraptor mongoliensis.

In the fossil record, Velociraptor mongoliensis was a small feathered dinosaur, whereas the Jurassic Park raptors are depicted as large scaly creatures.

The Jurassic Park raptors are actually based on Deinonychus, a different but related dinosaur, with only the name changed for dramatic effect.

Paleontologist John Ostrom's work on Deinonychus influenced Michael Crichton's design of the raptors in his novel.

Steven Spielberg's film adaptation used Ostrom's research on Deinonychus to shape the on-screen raptors' proportions and skull shape.

The debate on whether the Jurassic Park raptors are scientifically accurate often overlooks the fact that they are based on Deinonychus, not Velociraptor.

Velociraptor enter opus, also known as Deinonychus santur opus, is a different animal from Velociraptor mongoliensis but is part of the same raptor family.

Michael Crichton's original novel addresses the classification of the raptors, acknowledging the recent discovery and excavation of the animals.

The Jurassic Park raptors' intelligence is a fictionalized aspect, as there is no scientific evidence supporting such cognitive abilities in real velociraptors.

The film and novel use the concept of DNA hybridization to explain the absence of feathers on the raptors, which is a common feature in theropods.

A Jurassic Park comic book storyline features fully feathered velociraptors, aligning more closely with current paleontological understanding.

The decision to keep the raptors scaly in the films was influenced by the public's familiarity with the original movie's depiction and the desire to maintain viewer enjoyment.

Jurassic Park is credited with introducing the public to raptors and the idea that birds descended from these dinosaurs.

Despite inaccuracies, the Jurassic Park franchise has been influential in popularizing paleontology and increasing public awareness of dinosaur research.

The video argues against the notion that the Jurassic Park raptors are purely fantasy, highlighting the research and intent behind their portrayal.

The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the full context of the velociraptors' portrayal in Jurassic Park, rather than focusing on inaccuracies.

Transcripts
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