9 Dinosaurs We’re Surprised Haven’t Been In A Jurassic Park Movie Yet

The Jurassic Park franchise introduced audiences to all kinds of dinosaurs over the years, but some, surprisingly, have never appeared in any of the movies. Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic Jurassic Park taught a whole generation of children and adults about the prehistoric creatures that once roamed the Earth and sparked an interest in paleontology for many. The Jurassic Park films, with the latest being the upcoming Jurassic World 4, also included some fictional dinosaurs that were often a combination of ones that did exist.

The Jurassic Park movies and TV shows have included some of the most iconic and well-known dinosaurs in existence, such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Triceratops, and the Velociraptor. Many of these species appeared throughout the franchise more than once as well, although only four species of dinosaurs appear in all six Jurassic Park movies. Although several species have been discovered throughout history, it was a surprise that some of the very best dinosaurs haven’t been in a Jurassic Park film yet.

9

Diplodocus

Vampire Teeth And A Whipping Tail

The Diplodocus was a dinosaur genus that originated in what would now be referred to as North America. Best known for its extremely long neck and tail, the Diplodocus had some bizarre teeth compared to other sauropods and was similar to a vampire. Their blunt, triangle-shaped fangs allowed the Diplodocus to shred the stems of plants in one fluid motion. Researchers have suggested that the species’ stretched necks were so they could adapt and get food out of reach, and it was also a sexual display and encouraged breeding.

The Diplodocus’ recognizable look made it deserving of joining the Jurassic Park franchise. The species resembled another, the Mamenchisaurus, who was present in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The Diplodocus could easily cause just as much damage as the Mamenchisaurus, especially because of its towering size and threatening presence. Considering that the franchise focused on a park where visitors could see their favorite dinosaurs, it was odd that the Diplodocus hasn’t appeared in the films yet.

8

Doedicurus

An Evergrowing Species

The Doedicurus, whose name translates as “pestle” and “tail,” was a species of dinosaur that originated in South America and was first discovered in 1847. The Doedicurus resembled an armadillo, with its rounded, hard shell that it used as armor and a narrow tail that poked out at the end. Because of their slow metabolism, the Doedicurus were grazers and primarily ate grass, but their teeth never stopped growing from birth to death. They also had eight teeth inside their cheeks, which was an odd but interesting quality.

Because of their unique appearance, the Doedicurus deserved to join the Jurassic Park franchise a long time ago. As they resembled modern-era animals, the Doedicurus would be a great attraction in the park. In Jurassic World, there were sections where children could ride baby dinosaurs, and the Doedicurus would be an ideal candidate for this.

7

Maiasaura

The Mouth Of A Duck And Teeth From A Horror Film

The Maiasaura was a large herbivorous species with a duck-billed mouth and rows of hundreds of teeth. According to scientists, its skull had a dip that made it look like a platypus, which helped the males during mating season. Interestingly, the species were able to walk on either two legs or four and often alternated depending on their age and size. Because of this, the Maiasaura could also curl up and tuck their legs in like a cat or dog.

The Maiasaura were originally supposed to appear in the first Jurassic Park film but were cut. Unfortunately, they were not considered to return in any of the other movies either. Although they didn’t physically appear in the film, their behaviors were included in the characterization of the Parasaurolophus species instead. Hopefully, the Maiasaura could be revisited in a future Jurassic Park installment.

6

Elasmosaurus

Slithery Like A Snake

The Elasmosaurus was a genus of reptiles that resembled a snake and came from the Late Cretaceous period. The Elasmosaurus, which translates as “thin-plate reptile,” was an incredible 10.3 meters long and had a tiny head and tail but an extraordinarily extended neck, which was 7.1 meters alone. However, unlike snakes, the Elasmosaurus had paddle-like limbs and lengthy digits, which helped it swim. The species primarily lived in the ocean and ate fish and is also a distant relative of the barracuda.

The Elasmosaurus has appeared in films before. It was best known for featuring in 1933’s King Kong, where the titular character defended Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) against an Elasmosaurus, as well as a collection of other prehistoric creatures. The Jurassic Park films have lacked in including aquatic-based dinosaurs compared to those who roamed the land, but the Elasmosaurus could easily change that.

5

Coelophysis

Small But Mighty

The Coelophysis, which was only three meters long and found in northwestern New Mexico, was from the Late Triassic period. The Coelophysis’ distinguishing features included its tiny body and extreme strength, and the species was considered to be a great predator despite its size. Researchers once thought that they were cannibals, but this was disproven. It was assumed that the Coelophysis generally moved in packs, although this has never been officially confirmed.

Because of its razor-sharp teeth and clutching claws, the Coelophysis could be a great attraction. In Jurassic World, audiences loved watching Blue the Velociraptor racing around its pen and took great enjoyment in observing its behavior. The Coelophysis would also be amazing in scenes where dinosaurs fought one another, and because of their swift movements, they would be a very worthy opponent to whoever they faced. Also, as all of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park were fictional and adaptations of the actual prehistoric creatures, the franchise could delve further into the cannibal rumors.

4

Archaeopteryx

A Prehistoric Rooster

The Archaeopteryx was a dinosaur species that resembled that of a modern-day bird, similar to a chicken or grouse. Some researchers have referred to them as “Urvogel” or “Primeval Bird” as well. The Archaeopteryx came from the Late Jurassic period and in what would become South Germany. At this time, this area was significantly warmer than in the present day, which allowed them to bathe in the warm sea. The Archaeopteryx was tiny, measuring only half a meter in length, but still had broad wings and sharp claws that were useful for protecting itself.

As the Archaeopteryx looked so similar to birds in the modern era, Jurassic Park could easily include them in a future film. Including the species wouldn’t require a huge amount of special effects either, as production would be able to use an actual bird to help recreate the Archaeopteryx’s model. Although there were several dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park franchise that could fly, there was always room for more of them, and the Archaeopteryx’s unique appearance would be a great opportunity for the franchise to expand its backlog of creatures.

3

Styracosaurus

The Closest Dinosaur To A Rhino

The Styracosaurus, or “spiked lizard” in Ancient Greek, had a similar appearance to a present-day rhinoceros. The species was armed with a massive horn between the eyes and a beak-shaped mouth, which suggested to paleontologists that it sliced plants apart easily. The Styracosaurus also had a stumpy body and short legs and tail, and because of their interesting structure, it was suggested that they primarily stuck to a plant-based diet due to the position of their head.

Another important but unique part of the Styracosaurus’ appearance was the frills around its face, which made it instantly recognizable to dinosaur enthusiasts. One of the factors behind Jurassic Park’s success was how it brought the weird and wonderful prehistoric creatures to the big screen, and how they looked was an important part of this. The Styracosaurus’ features were both practical and fun to look at, two qualities that would make them an ideal new dinosaur to join the Jurassic Park franchise.

2

Deinocheirus

One Of Palentology’s Greatest Mysteries

Paleontologists didn’t find Deinocheirus fossils until 1965 when a skeleton was discovered in Mongolia, which was considerably later than for many other dinosaur species. Research on the species was minimal, and little was found about the Deinocheirus initially, but it was known that they were incredibly bulky yet had hollow bones. They had longer arms than any other bipedal dinosaur in existence, each with three blunt claws and along their backs, vertebrae that looked like a sail.

However, the Deinocheirus’ diet has remained an enigma for decades, something that the Jurassic Park films could focus on. The species’ unusually short and bent back legs gave it an odd body structure, too, which could be an interesting image for audiences to watch if it were included in the series. Because the Deinocheirus has been shrouded in mystery for so long, it could be an advantage to the Jurassic Park franchise, and it would allow the writers to create the species a fictional backstory.

1

Psittacosaurus

The Dinosaur Species Looked Part Porcupine, Part Dragon

The Psittacosaurus lived in the Early Cretaceous period in various parts of Asia, including China and Thailand. The species’ intriguing appearance included porcupine-like quills on the base of its tail and high skull, as well as a rounded face and beak-shaped mouth that could be compared to a turtle. From a certain angle, some Psittacosaurus skeletons looked like tiny dragons, which made sense, considering their scaled skins. Unlike many species, researchers believed that they had discovered as much as possible about the Psittacosaurus.

The Psittacosaurus were herbivores, too. Throughout the Jurassic Park films, there weren’t very many plant-feeding dinosaurs, which was a shame, although it made sense as the primary focus was on how the creatures broke out of captivity and caused destruction. Between their non-toxic filaments and the evidence researchers have provided on the Psittacosaurus, they have the potential to be an amazing addition to the franchise.