{"id":399993,"date":"2026-08-07T06:20:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T06:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/399993\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T06:20:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T06:20:11","slug":"i-didnt-know-that-with-dr-liam-dino-movie-myths-vs-reality-with-texas-science-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/399993\/","title":{"rendered":"I Didn’t Know That!? with Dr. Liam: Dino movie myths vs. reality with Texas Science Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dinosaurs have ruled the big screen for more than a century, but just how accurate are Hollywood’s prehistoric superstars?<\/p>\n

Dr. Liam Norris<\/a> of the Texas Science & Natural History Museum<\/a> joined We Are Austin for another edition of “I Didn’t Know That!”, breaking down some of the biggest dinosaur myths in film and explaining what paleontologists know today.<\/p>\n

\"I<\/p>\n

I Didn’t Know That!? with Dr. Liam: Dino movie myths vs. reality with Texas Science Museum<\/p>\n

Hollywood’s Biggest Dinosaur Stars<\/p>\n

When it comes to movie fame, one dinosaur stands above the rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, two big things: T. rex, always a superstar,\u201d Norris said. \u201cEven before movies, movies just propelled T. rex into the public eye.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while Godzilla may not be scientifically accurate, Norris acknowledged the iconic movie monster has played an important role in keeping dinosaurs popular with audiences for generations.<\/p>\n

Dinosaurs Have Been Movie Stars for More Than 100 Years<\/p>\n

The first dinosaur ever to appear on screen wasn’t in Jurassic Park; it was Gertie the Dinosaur, an animated character that debuted in 1914.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was mischievous, but ultimately meant well,\u201d Norris joked.<\/p>\n

\"Gertie<\/p>\n

Gertie the Dinosaur 1914.<\/p>\n

Early dinosaur films relied on hand-drawn animation before evolving into stop-motion classics like The Lost World and King Kong.<\/p>\n

By the time Jurassic Park debuted in 1993, computer-generated imagery had transformed how dinosaurs could be brought to life on screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were going to use stop motion in Jurassic Park,\u201d Norris said. \u201cThen CGI got to the level where it could really bring these animals to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jurassic<\/p>\n

Jurassic Park T rex 1993.<\/p>\n

Hollywood Got a Few Things Wrong<\/p>\n

While movies have become more scientifically accurate over the years, some famous dinosaurs still don’t quite match the fossil record.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest offenders? The Dilophosaurus from Jurassic Park.<\/p>\n

The film portrays the predator as a small dinosaur with a dramatic neck frill that spits venom.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe real animal… no frill, no problem, no spitting venom,\u201d Norris explained.<\/p>\n

Instead, Dilophosaurus was roughly the size of a polar bear and relied on its size\u2014not venom\u2014to hunt.<\/p>\n

\"Jurassic<\/p>\n

Jurassic Park Dilophosaurus 1993.<\/p>\n

Velociraptors Weren’t Movie Monsters<\/p>\n

Perhaps the biggest surprise for movie fans involves the famous Velociraptor.<\/p>\n

Rather than the scaly reptiles seen in films, today’s research suggests they were feathered.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine an eagle with the teeth of a lizard and the claws of razors,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n

He joked that while people may not find that image frightening at first, anyone who’s ever tangled with a goose knows otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine your goose has sharp teeth and claws,\u201d he said. \u201cYou won’t stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tails Tell the Story<\/p>\n

Hollywood has also changed the way dinosaurs move.<\/p>\n

Early films often showed dinosaurs dragging their tails behind them like giant lizards.<\/p>\n

Modern fossil evidence tells a different story.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found trackways,\u201d Norris said. \u201cNone of them have tail drag marks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, paleontologists now know dinosaurs carried their tails off the ground for balance while walking.<\/p>\n

\"Disney'sLearn More at the Museum<\/p>\n

Visitors can explore dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric life at the Texas Science & Natural History Museum, where exhibits continue to bring the latest scientific discoveries to life.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit ScienceMuseumTexas.org.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"I<\/p>\n

I Didn’t Know That!? with Dr. Liam: Dino movie myths vs. reality with Texas Science Museum<\/p>\n