History Main / PrehistoricAnimalAnalogue

** Third edition's first Monster Manual featured the Destrachan and Yrthak[[note]]the Destrachan returns in 4th Edition, though the Yrthak does not[[/note]], two peculiar creatures that resembles prehistoric animals (respectively, a horse-sized theropod and a ''Pteranodon'') adapted for cave life. Both are [[SenseImpairedMonster blind]], but can echolocate and attack with [[SuperScream sound]]. While the yrthak has animal-level intelligence, the Destrachan is much more intelligent and [[AlwaysChaoticEvil evil]]. Both creatures also appear in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''.

** 3rd Edition's Monster Manual 3 introduced a whole set of new, speculative dinosaurs, including the Battletitan (a magically-created [[MixAndMatchCritters hybrid of various large theropods]], typically used as [[DomesticatedDinosaurs beasts of warfare]]), the Bloodstriker (a very strange ankylosaurid-like creature with [[BloodyMurder corrosive blood]]), the Fleshraker (a [[RaptorAttack Velociraptor-like creature]] with venomous claws), and the Spindlespitter (a smaller theropod that spits venom). Note also that most of the other Monster Manuals published stats for a lot of real dinosaurs as well, so the Fleshraker and the Velociraptor [[ExpyCoexistence could both appear in a single campaign]].

However, the presence these animals leave in media can also be seen in fictional species not intended to represent them. When designing fantastical or extraterrestrial creatures, several creators use animals as inspiration, [[MixAndMatchCritters often several aspects of different ones]], in order to make them more plausible and believable. Between these, extinct animals attract much attention for being unfamiliar and otherworldly, but still recognizable to the audience. In this way, when making the monsters and kaijus of a setting vaguely dinosaur-like, for example, the audience can still accept them as functioning beings despite their unconventional and almost alien appearance, as they have been based on beings that once existed and are somewhat recognizable to the public. In short, because dinosaurs and other creatures are seen as mysterious, given the limited information on them, there are less barriers of reality to follow in fiction without damaging the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, and the fact that prehistoric animals are portrayed as [[PrehistoricMonster stronger, scarier and more ferocious]] gives more inspiration for fictional designs. Many times, the real ancient animals are already so alien-looking that creators might not even have to change much beyond their name, which is also one of the reasons for the popularity of the InsectoidAliens and OctopoidAliens tropes.

** Godzilla himself was originally visually inspired by [[MixAndMatchCritters several different dinosaurs depictions]] of the time and had origins as a surviving fictional species mutated by atomic radiation, possessing a bipedal position, long tail, erect tripodal posture like theropod dinosaurs [[ScienceMarchesOn were believed to have had at the time]], back plates and tail similar to the ones of stegosaurids, sharp teeth and reptilian skin. The art director of the [[Film/Godzilla1954 original movie]] Akira Watanabe combined attributes of ''Tyrannosaurus rex '', ''Iguanodon'', ''Stegosaurus'' and alligators when making the character's design.
** Godzilla's first opponent Anguirus is instead based on ''Ankylosaurus'', while his head is inspired by ceratopsids such as ''Styracosaurus'', with several horns on top of his head. He also has five brains across his body, possibly a reference to the outdated hypothesis of ''Stegosaurus'' and sauropods needing a second brain in order to coordinate their large bodies

* ''WebOriginal/HamstersParadise'': All vertebrates on the planet are descended from hamsters but some do manage to resemble various prehistoric organisms thanks to convergent evolution.

* ''WebOriginal/{{Serina}}'': A number of the evolved descendants of canaries develop into analogues of non-avian dinosaurs:

** Third edition's first Monster Manual featured the Destrachan and Yrthak[[note]]the Destrachan returns in 4th Edition, though the Yrthak does not[[/note]], two peculiar creatures that resembles prehistoric animals (respectively, a horse-sized theropod and a ''Pteranodon'') adapted for cave life. Both are [[SenseImpairedMonster blind]], but can echolocate and attack with [[MakeMeWannaShout sound]]. While the yrthak has animal-level intelligence, the Destrachan is much more intelligent and [[AlwaysChaoticEvil evil]]. Both creatures also appear in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''.

** 3rd Edition's Monster Manual 3 introduced a whole set of new, speculative dinosaurs, including the Battletitan (a magically-created [[MixAndMatchCritters hybrid of various large theropods]], typically used as [[DomesticatedDinosaurs beasts of warfare]]), the Bloodstriker (a very strange ceratopsian-like creature with [[BloodyMurder corrosive blood]]), the Fleshraker (a [[RaptorAttack Velociraptor-like creature]] with venomous claws), and the Spindlespitter (a smaller theropod that spits venom). Note also that most of the other Monster Manuals published stats for a lot of real dinosaurs as well, so the Fleshraker and the velociraptor [[ExpyCoexistence could both appear in a single campaign]].

* ''Art/RealisticPokemon'': Not only do the Fossil Pokémon make appearances (so far Tyrantrum, Tyrunt, Archen, Bastiodon, and Cranidos, plus non-dinosaur Aerodactyl) but several PokémonS that aren't (or at least not entirely) based on dinosaurs are also depicted this way.

* Kirara from ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'' is based on the Japanese yokai cat spirit called a nekomata, and she can transform into a larger form that resembles a flaming sabertooth cat with two tails. Additionally, the {{Mook}} level members of the demon bird tribe are clearly [[PteroSoarer thinly-veiled pterosaurs]] rather than any sort of bird.

** Film/{{Rodan}} is similarly based on how [[PteroSoarer pterosaurs were portrayed at the time]], as a giant beaked reptilian flyer with leathery wings and, in many appearances, a crest that resembles the one of the pterosaur ''Pteranodon''. In fact, his original Japanese name "Radon" is derived from ''Pte'''ra'''no'''don'''''.

** The [[https://whendinosaursruledthemind.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/dactillion.png?w=698&h=297 Dactillon]] is a flying monster based on [[PteroSoarer common portrayals of pterosaurs]]. The Ruping from WesternAnimation/TheCloneWars also are reminiscent of them, even walking quadrupedally like the animals are believed to have done.

* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'': The Lizardman army includes a number of pseudo-dinosaurian monsters to occupy the niche of other factions' fantasy beasts. These include the TRexpy Carnosaurs, Cold Ones (scaly, spiky dromeosaur lookalikes), Bastiladons (based on ankylosaurs with greatly exaggerated armor), Stegadons (pseudo-ceratopsians with armored skin, spiked mace tails, and omnivorous diets), Tetradons and Ripperdactyls (two variants of PteroSoarer), and Troglodons (albino, cave-dwelling, eyeless poison-spitting predators visually based on spinosaurs).

** The game has a LostWorld named Un'Goro Crater, where almost every monster is based on a real-life prehistoric animal. The Stegodon is a ''Stegosaurus'' with a larger head and rhino horns, the Diemetradon is a ''Dimetrodon'' [[VertebrateWithExtraLimbs with six legs]], the Pterrordax is an [[PteroSoarer old-fashioned, inaccurate pterosaur]], and the Devilsaur is a TRexpy with giant spikes on its back.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'' introduces Lileep, Cradilly (both crinoids), Anorith, and Armaldo (both ''Anomalocaris'').

** Third edition's first Monster Manual featured the Destrachan and Yrthak[[note]]The Destrachan returns in 4th Edition, though the Yrthak does not[[/note]], two peculiar creatures that resembles prehistoric animals (respectively, a horse-sized therodod and a ''Pteranodon'') adapted for cave life. Both are [[SenseImpairedMonster blind]], but can echolocate and attack with [[MakeMeWannaShout sound]]. While the yrthak has animal-level intelligence, the Destrachan is much more intelligent and [[AlwaysChaoticEvil evil]]. Both creatures also appear in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''.
** The first Monster Manual of 3rd Edition also featured the Digester, a small theropod-like creature that could squirt stomach acid at its enemies.

** Third edition's first Monster Manual featured the Destrachan and Yrthak[[note]]The Destrachan returns in 4th Edition, though the Yrthak does not[[/note]], two peculiar creatures that resembles prehistoric animals (respectively, a horse-sized therodod and a ''Pteranodon'') adapted for cave life. Both are [[SenseImpairedMonster blind]], but can echolocate and attack with [[YouMakeMeWannaShout sound]]. While the yrthak has animal-level intelligence, the Destrachan is much more intelligent and [[AlwaysChaoticEvil evil]]. Both creatures also appear in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''.

However, the presence these animals leave in media can also be seen in fictional species not intended to represent them. When designing fantastical or extraterrestrial creatures, several creators use animals as inspiration, [[MixAndMatchCritters often several aspects of different ones]], in order to make them more plausible and believable. Between these, extinct animals attract much attention for being unfamiliar and otherworldy, but still recognizable to the audience. In this way, when making the monsters and kaijus of a setting vaguely dinosaur-like, for example, the audience can still accept them as functioning beings despite their unconventional and almost alien appearance, as they have been based on beings that once existed and are somewhat recognizable to the public. In short, because dinosaurs and other creatures are seen as mysterious, given the limited information on them, there are less barriers of reality to follow in fiction without damaging the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, and the fact that prehistoric animals are portrayed as [[PrehistoricMonster stronger, scarier and more ferocious]] gives more inspiration for fictional designs. Many times, the real ancient animals are already so alien-looking that creators might not even have to change much beyond their name, which is also one of the reasons for the popularity of the InsectoidAliens and OctopoidAliens tropes.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheCroods'' and its sequel ''WesternAnimation/TheCroodsANewAge'' take place in [[OneMillionBC a fantasy setting inspired by prehistory]], and several of the animals in the setting have a tendency to resemble [[MixAndMatchCritters hybrids of (often prehistoric) animals]]. A prominent example is Chunky, the titular Croods' pet, who resembles a ''Smilodon'' (saber-toothed cat) with the coloration of a macaw.

However, the presence these animals leave in media can also be seen in fictional species not intended to represent them. When designing fantastical or extraterrestrial creatures, several creators use animals as inspiration, [[MixAndMatchCritters often several aspects of different ones]], in order to make them more plausible and believable. Between these, extinct animals attract much attention for being unfamiliar and otherworldy, but still recognizable to the audience. In this way, when making the monsters and kaijus of a setting vaguely dinosaur-like, for example, the audience can still accept them as functioning beings despite their unconventional and almost alien appearance, as they have been based on beings that once existed and are somewhat recognizable to the public. In short, because dinosaurs and other creatures are seen as mysterious, given the limited information on them, there are less barriers of reality to follow in fiction without damaging the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, and the fact that prehistoric animals are portrayed as [[PrehistoricMonster stronger, scarier and more ferocious]] gives more inspiration for fictional designs. Many times, the real animals are already so alien-looking that creators might not even have to change much beyond their name, which is also one of the reason for the popularity of the InsectoidAliens and OctopoidAliens tropes.

However, the presence these animals leave in media can also be seen in fictional species not intended to represent them. When designing fantastical or extraterrestrial creatures, several creators use animals as inspiration, [[MixAndMatchCritters often several aspects of different ones]], in order to make them more plausible and believable. Between these, extinct animals attract much attention for being unfamiliar and otherworldy, but still recognizable to the audience. In this way, when making the monsters and kaijus of a setting vaguely dinosaur-like, for example, the audience can still accept them as functioning beings despite their unconventional and almost alien appearance, as they have been based on beings that once existed and are somewhat recognizable to the public. In short, because dinosaurs and other creatures are seen as mysterious, given the limited information on them, there are less barriers of reality to follow in fiction without damaging the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, and the fact that prehistoric animals are portrayed as [[PrehistoricMonster stronger, scarier and more ferocious]] gives more inspiration for fictional designs.