This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Nezumi: Once again inflicting my habit of making worthwhile information that doesn't really belong in the main entry available in the discussion on you:
- The attribution of poison-spitting to the dilophosaurus in the novel and film Jurassic Park is a likely-unintentional variation. It was supposed to make the point that as much as we know about dinosaurs from fossils, there's even more we don't know because we've never seen them in action. However, as venomous abilities were also frequently attributed to dragons, most famously the wyvern...
Owlor: Hmm, I remember a Jack Chick tract that was meant to imply that dinosaurs WHERE dragons, and that's the whole reason we have dragon lore. I suspect that'd be too off-topic to add, but I can't help thinknig about that bleief...
Nornagest: I don't have a reference, but I seem to recall that some of the earliest dinosaur finds were indeed attributed to mythological creatures (giant humanoids in the example I read, but dragons sound like a reasonable extension).
Reworded the FFXII example: the game's almost Our Dragons Are Different thing gives it more rationality than was suggested. The appearance point seemed quite weak, too, considering the general diversity of dinosaurs, and something of a missing link being present in another game within the same continuity.
Vampire Buddha: removed this:
- Salamander.
- Ummm... no. That is a myth.
- Oddly enough, there is some real-life evidence that salamanders (of the normal, lives-around-ponds variety) may be able to secrete a fire-retardant chemical from their skin - the original conflation of salamanders with fire comes from their habit of hunting around and under fallen wood. When said wood is gathered and used as firewood, and salamanders are seen in and around the flames, the myth of them controlling or living in fire grows naturally.
- Salamander.
TTD: Cutting this Edit War in the Making (though I totally agree, it's a stupid theory):
- Though the argument that the Gryphon was inspired by a fossil cracks this troper up. "No, it isn't a symbolic combination of the two coolest animals known to the western world. What kind of crazy theory is that?" The fact that the supposedly inspiring fossil wasn't a Dromeosaur (which actually would make sense) but a Protoceratops doesn't help.
- The theory, though, is based on the idea of finding a damaged or otherwise incomplete protoceratops skeleton. Specifically, with the head plate broken, the bare skull would look very eagle-like. As opposed to Dromeosaurs, which have good wings, but whose heads look nothing like modern eagles.
- In the original stories, gryphons didn't have wings.
- The theory, though, is based on the idea of finding a damaged or otherwise incomplete protoceratops skeleton. Specifically, with the head plate broken, the bare skull would look very eagle-like. As opposed to Dromeosaurs, which have good wings, but whose heads look nothing like modern eagles.
Tanto: This article was a fair bit funnier before the dinosaur dorks got at it. I think it's safe to say that Miyamoto didn't have a specific dinosaur species in mind when he was scribbling down designs for the Dino-Rhino and Dino-Torch. It's a fucking cartoon; there's no need to get anal about the names not meeting the latest scientific designations.
Dude, that's what we do here.
TTD: OK, that book cover. It is way too compelling, for so many reasons. More information/context please? (Edit: Never mind, it's been removed.)
TTD: I hate to be one of Those but does anyone else think there is enough of a difference between Dinosaurs Are Dragons and Dragons Are Dinosaurs to warrant a split?
- Shyria Dracnoir: I think so. Just make sure the differences between the tropes are clear and there are enough examples to justify splitting the page.
Trouser Wearing Barbarian: I altered the entry about Dracorex howartsia when I added the other dragon-based dinosaur names. The diet of pachycephalosaurs is disputable, so "the herbivorous dinosaur Dracorex hogwartsia" might not be the best description.
Shyria Dracnoir: Removed the Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real example from Film. We already have a more comprehensive entry on that example in the Live Action TV section. No need to be superflous.
