One of the most memorable scenes of the 1993 version of Jurassic Park comes when bumbling scientist Wayne Nedry encounters a rogue Dilophosaurus while trying to escape the park.
Nedry is trying to free his car from some mud when he happens upon the Dilophosaurus. Initially, Nedry isn’t phased by the dinosaur, which looks too tiny to be a threat. Just when he thinks he’s safe, however, the Dilophosaurus spits poison in his face — ultimately leading to Nedry’s demise.
The scene from Jurassic Park is entertaining, sure, but factually accurate? Not so much. In this article, we break the truth about the Dilophosaurus: what it was, how it lived and how it’s portrayed in pop culture.
What Is a Dilophosaurus? The Basics About the Spitting Dinosaur
First discovered in 1942, the Dilophosaurus got its name from the distinctive crests that adorn its head. While scientists aren’t 100% sure what the crests were used for, it’s hypothesized they were used to signal other animals. Similarly, not all Dilophosaurus had the crest, so scientists think that the feature may have only been found in males.
Living during the early Jurassic period, the Dilophosaurus was lightweight, slender, and fast — though not as small and cute as Jurassic Park makes it look. In the movie, the dinosaur looks roughly the size of a golden retriever. In real life, the Dilophosaurus likely measured over 20 feet from head to tail.
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Kingdom: |
Animalia |
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Phylum: |
Chordata |
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Class: |
Sauropsida |
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Superorder: |
Dinosauria |
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Order: |
Saurischia |
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Suborder: |
Theropoda |
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Family: |
Coelophysidae |
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Genus: |
Dilophosaurus |
Spitting Dinosaur: What’s the Truth?
The cute Dilophosaurus’ ability to spit poison makes for one of the most memorable scenes in Jurassic Park — as well as one of the most inaccurate.
The Dilophosaurus never spit poison. In fact, the Dilophosaurus didn’t have poison at its disposal at all.
More than that, there’s actually no evidence that any dinosaur ever used poison. So what made for a compelling scene was just movie magic, not grounded in science at all.
Dilophosaurus Facts
Now that we know that the Dilophosaurus didn’t really spit poison, here are some real Dilophosaurus facts you can share at your next dinosaur party.
#1: The Neck Frill Was Fake, Too
In Jurassic Park, the Dilophosaurus also has an expandable neck frill that pops out when it’s on the attack. In reality, there’s no evidence the Dilophosaurus had this feature.
#2: The Dilophosaurus Was Likely a Scavenger
While the Dilophosaurus was much bigger than it was portrayed in Jurassic Park (remember, in reality, the dinosaur was probably around 20 ft long), it still wasn’t large enough to be a big predator. Scientists think that the Dilophosaurus was probably a scavenger. If it did hunt, it was likely only small creatures.
#3: The Dilophosaurus May Have Been Warm-Blooded
Scientists think that the Dilophosaurus might have been warm-blooded. Traditionally, dinosaurs have been presumed cold-blooded, meaning that their bodies take on the temperature of their surroundings. There’s evidence, however, that creatures like the dilophosaurus (i.e., quick, predatory theropods) were warm-blooded, meaning they keep their body temperature constant (like humans).
Scientists aren’t sure on this fact, but they think it’s likely.
#4: The Dilophosaurus Likely Hunted in Packs
Another thing Jurassic Park got wrong about the Dilophosaurus: it wouldn’t have been alone. Scientists believe that the Dilophosaurus lived and hunted in packs, likely to make up for the fact that it was one of the smaller predatory dinosaurs.
#5: Scientists Don’t Quite Know to How to Classify the Dilophosaurus
There were tons of small-to-medium size dinosaurs like the Dilophosaurus roaming around the world during the early Jurassic period. Because of this, there isn’t a 100% consensus on the Dilophosaurus’ family origins: some scientists say it’s related to the Coelophysis; others, the Antarctic Crolophosaurus.
Dilophosaurus in Pop Culture
Dilophosaurus facts pop up in a number of pop culture places, the most famous of which is Jurassic Park. As we’ve already indicated, almost everything shown about the Dilophosaurus in Jurassic Park is wrong: it doesn’t spit poison, it’s bigger than a dog, and it hunts in packs.
Unfortunately, the inaccurate portrayal of the Dilophosaurus carries over to the popular video game Ark, which takes on many of the features attributed to the dilophosaurus Jurassic Park portrayal. In the video game, the spitting dinosaur also uses venom to paralyze its victims and has the distinctive decorative neck ridge.
The dilophosaurus Ark and Jurassic Park versions sound like cool dinosaurs, to be sure, but they're nothing like the real version of the dilophosaurus!
What's Next?
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