Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park Analysis (Essay Example)

Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park depicts a variety of dinosaurs and their behaviors. While many of these behaviors are plausible given evidence within the fossil record, other behaviors are contrary to what would be consistent with the fossil record. It is also important to note that Crichton’s premise for how dinosaur cloning was accomplished in Jurassic Park includes the insertion of amphibian DNA and other genetic modifications which account for further behavioral inaccuracies in the depiction of dinosaurs.

While the parental care behaviors of Maiasaura are depicted, the behaviors of young hatchling-to-nestling-aged Maiasaurs are questionable. When fleeing a Tyrannosaurus rex, Dr.Grant, Tim, and Lex encounter a herd of Maiasaura, including both infant and adult Maiasaurs (Crichton, 1990). However, as nestling remains have not been discovered among the remains of adult Maiasaura herds, it is unlikely that infant Maiasaurs would have traveled alongside their parents as they do in Crichton’s novel. Furthermore, there is ample evidence suggesting that Maiasaurs would have remained in their nests during young growth stages, including remains of trampled eggshells which were likely crushed underfoot of resident nestlings and remains of Maiasaura infants within nests that had soft-ended limb bones that would not have been able to support their weight enough to leave the nest until they were more developed. Instead of Maiasaurs bringing their young to feed alongside them, it is more likely that parent Maiasaurs would have returned to their nest to feed their young.

Tyrannosaurus rex behaviors range throughout Crichton’s novel as both a predator and scavenger, depicted as pursuing live prey, both animals and humans, and as scavenging off of another T. rex’s kill. Both behaviors are hypothesized according to current fossil evidence: Instances of T. rex scavenging behavior have been indicated in cases where T. rex tooth markings have been found on specimens where the cause of death was caused by something other than the T. rex. Predation has been indicated in other instances, such as a T. rex tooth that broke off in a duck-billed dinosaur’s tail vertebrate after biting down. T. rex’s size and imposing physical stature and force are well-characterized, as T. rex muscle attachment surfaces are large relative to its size, allowing for the immense biting force and limb strength exhibited. However, despite its force being well-characterized, its lack of sensory perception is incongruent with the record of fossilized T. rex remains.  Dr. Grant, after having a close call with a T. rex, notices that it does not pay attention to still objects or people (Crichton, 1990). This lack of visual acuity is unprecedented in the fossil record, as T. rex skulls exhibit orbitals that are characteristic of forward-facing eyes. With forward-facing eyes, T. rex would have had binocular vision, indicating depth perception that would have allowed T. rex to pursue prey, whether they were running away or standing still.

Velociraptors are very inaccurately depicted in terms of both physicality and behavior. In Jurassic Park, Velociraptors are described as being six feet tall, whereas Velociraptor specimens are only about three feet tall and six feet long from snout to tail. Velociraptors are also characterized as behaving much more intelligently than they would have in reality, capable of opening doors and exhibiting strategy and cleverness in their pursuit of many characters throughout the novel, whereas their brain to body-size ratio would only equate to the intelligence level of modern ostriches and emus. Nevertheless, the novel does describe them as being carnivorous, which is accurate to the recurve-shaped teeth described in the book, suited for holding onto prey and tearing through flesh. Such dietary behaviors are consistent with the function and shape of theropod teeth, adapted for predation.

Procompsognathus and Dilophosaurus are two dinosaur species both inaccurately depicted as being venomous. A Dilophosaurus kills Nedry after spitting venom into the man’s eyes, blinding him (Crichton, 1990). In another instance, Hammond is swarmed by Procomsognathuses, imbued with a narcotic-like venom when they bite him (Crichton, 1990). While modern reptiles may utilize venom, one might assume that dinosaurs may have as well. However, acknowledging that dinosaur clades are distanced from those of reptiles, paired with the lack of fossil evidence depicting venom-spitting or venom-injections from dinosaurs, fossil evidence does not support venomous traits in either Procompsognathus or Dilophosaurus. Instead, evidence suggests similar dietary and predation behaviors of other theropods, including sharp teeth and flexible, strong jaws.

Stegosaurs are depicted accurately according to fossil evidence, described to have two alternating sets of spinal plates and a spiked tail, covered with osteoderms. When a sick Stegosaur appears on the initial park tour, its dietary habits as an herbivore are discussed and its gastroliths are found (Crichton, 1990). Gastroliths, stones consumed by herbivores in order to process vegetation, have been found among the digestive contents of many dinosaur specimens. When Tim encounters a Stegosaur after being stuck in a tree, Crichton (1990) describes the Stegosaur as slow and turtle-like in nature, accounting for fossil samples depicting short, quadrupedal leg posture and its array of osteoderm defensive coverings. Later in the novel, a Stegosaur is depicted warily circling an infant T. rex defensively, its maced tail swinging back and forth (Crichton, 1990). Such defensive use of its spiked tail has been exhibited in fossil evidence, such as a case where a Stegosaur’s tail spike had been embedded in the pelvis of an Allosaurus specimen.

Apatosaurs are also depicted accurately, Crichton (1990) discounted the idea that sauropods were semi-aquatic, emphasizing how sauropods reside on dry land. There is no evidence of aquatic adaptations in sauropod fossils, instead being equipped with strong limb and spinal support consistent with horizontal, quadrupedal posturing. As such, the novel inaccurately suggests giraffe-like neck posturing. However, sauropod herbivore behaviors are demonstrated, as sauropod teeth are thin and flat, consistent with vegetation stripping.

While largely inspired by fossil evidence, Crichton did depict inaccurate and fictionalized dinosaur behaviors.