Most popular/common dinosaur misconceptions

[Jamie Stearns <stearns5@cox.net>]

Taking a break from cladistics for now, I would like to list some of the 
more common misconceptions about dinosaurs that I've noticed. These really 
tend to get on my nerves after I hear them enough. Anything you'd like to 
add, or any comments on what I've listed?

1. Considering pterosaurs to be dinosaurs
I often hear people saying things like "My favorite dinosaur is the 
pterodactyl," and when I attempt to point out that the creature mentioned is 
not actually a dinosaur, they often act surprised at this. It seems that 
regardless of the number of books, videos, museum displays, etc. clearly 
stating what a dinosaur actually is, most people seem to think that any 
large prehistoric animal that looks "reptilian" is a dinosaur. To my 
knowledge, pterosaurs were never placed within Dinosauria, even in the 
1800s.

2. Referring to Apatosaurus as "Brontosaurus"
It has been frequently mentioned on the list that most people are past the 
Apatosaurus/Brontosaurus confusion and know the correct name by now. 
Actually, speaking from personal experience, most people, young and old, 
that I've discussed the subject with during my high school years (2002-2006) 
still called the dinosaur Brontosaurus and had no idea that the name was 
invalid. This remains a common misconception, despite the fact that the two 
genera were synonymized way back in 1903. I really don't know why the change 
didn't get as much recognition as it should have then. If dinosaurs were so 
popular at that time that Brontosaurus was a commonly-used name, why wasn't 
the name change publicized more?

3. Velociraptor was as tall as an adult human, hunted in packs, and was as 
intelligent as modern primates.
While Achillobator and Utahraptor were taller than an adult human and there 
is some evidence for Deinonychus having been a pack-hunter, there is no 
evidence for either in Velociraptor, and certainly no indication that any 
dromaeosaur was as intelligent as modern primates. The popular image, of 
course, is a direct result of the dinosaur's depiction in Jurassic Park, a 
depiction that even National Geographic, The Discovery channel, etc. don't 
seem to want to change much, possibly due to the thought that the real thing 
may not have been as "exciting" as Hollywood would have it. However, the 
general public seems to think that Jurassic Park depicts dinosaurs with 
complete accuracy, despite the fact that Hollywood frequently fails to 
portray anything with complete accuracy.

4. Dilophosaurus was venomous and could spit poison.
Another Jurassic Park gimmick that has unfortunately come across as fact. 
Even my biology teacher was surprised when I pointed out that there was no 
evidence for Dilophosaurus being venomous. Honestly, I think the reason this 
misconception is so common is because Dilophosaurus was not well-known 
outside of the scientific community until Jurassic Park was released. 
However, I still wonder exactly why animatronic dinosaur exhibits claim to 
portray the dinosaurs accurately and yet give Dilophosaurus a pair of "venom 
glands" behind the head while having it spit water at the visitors (though 
it is the right size...).

5. Tyrannosaurus rex was an obligate scavenger.
This, of course, is Jack Horner's hypothesis. Mostly, though, this 
misconception likely became common due to the media having portrayed 
Horner's ideas as "revolutionary new theories" (my words, not theirs) and 
cast those of other scientists as "the established ideas being challenged" 
(again, my words). I agree with the sentiment that the media portrays "the 
scavenger/predator debate" as this kind of conflict to make it sound 
exciting. Unfortunately, this also seems to have caused the public to think 
that "well, maybe T. rex wasn't a predator..." Hardly surprising, 
considering that some of the "evidence" backing up Horner's position 
(tyrannosaurs having poor eyesight, pack-hunting dromaeosaurs being "the 
real hunters") listed in "Valley of the T. rex" echoes Jurassic Park pretty 
well. (Note: this is not directed solely at Horner, more at the media's 
portrayal of his ideas)

-Jamie Stearns