History Main / ToxicDinosaur

* Website/SpecWorld has several species of poisonous dinosaurs, though in keeping with the site's attention to accuracy none of them are truly venomous. They include the Pyoro (an ankylosaur that traded heavy armor for toxic flesh as a way protecting itself from predators), the Tweety-birds (primitive birds with poisonous feathers), and the Nerd-Of-Paradise (a tree-dwelling theropod that eats poisonous fruit defends itself by vomiting on its enemies).

** One of the reasons why E750, the ''Scorpius Rex'' was kept in cryogenic suspension was because of how unstable and unpredictable it was. Its status as TheDreaded is shown when, in addition to killing anything it sees like the other hybrid dinosaurs, it possesses venomous quills that it inflicts by injecting its prey with, thanks to possessing the DNA genome of the scorpionfish. The venom is said to be potent enough to kill a ''Brachiosaurus'' in a short amount of time.

This is a major case of ArtisticLicenseBiology, since venomous snakes (especially spitting cobras) have syringe-like fangs specifically designed for ejecting venom with maximum efficiency, while predatory dinosaurs had simpler, blade-like teeth used for tearing through flesh (blunter, bone-crushing ones in the case of tyrannosaurids), and frilled lizards support their extendable neck frill with rod-like hyoid bones, and such features have never been found in association with theropod dinosaurs (''Dilophosaurus'' itself already had a clear display feature in the form of its iconic double head crest).

This is a major cause of ArtisticLicenseBiology, since venomous snakes (especially spitting cobras) have syringe-like fangs specifically designed for ejecting venom with maximum efficiency, while predatory dinosaurs had simpler, blade-like teeth used for tearing through flesh (blunter, bone-crushing ones in the case of tyrannosaurids), and frilled lizards support their extendable neck frill with rod-like hyoid bones, and such features have never been found in association with theropod dinosaurs (''Dilophosaurus'' itself already had a clear display feature in the form of its iconic double head crest).

As far as we know, this is a case of ArtisticLicensePaleontology. The reason ''Dilophosaurus'' was given this trait in the ''Jurassic Park'' book was because it was thought at the time to have a slender physique and a jaw that was too weak to kill with its teeth alone, so author Creator/MichaelCrichton gave it a venomous bite to compensate. Not only are there no known dinosaurs with clear adaptations for producing venom, but [[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-dilophosaurus-would-have-eaten-the-jurassic-park-version-for-breakfast/ fossil discoveries in the early 2020s]] suggest that ''Dilophosaurus'' were more robust and strong-jawed than previously thought, rendering the need for any exotic killing techniques moot. Weirder still, this trope was thought at one point to be TruthInTelevision for ''another'' theropod, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinornithosaurus Sinornithosaurus]]'', whose discovery and fossil analysis suggested that the dinosaur possessed venom, as its teeth were unusually grooved, which is common in venomous animals. Further analysis of the teeth, however, has shown that they were probably not venomous after all. For that matter, there is no conclusive evidence of any archosaur[[note]]dinosaur, bird, crocodilian, or pterosaur[[/note]] at all possessing the adaptations for venom production, with the ''possible'' exception of the late Triassic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uatchitodon Uatchitodon]].

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As far as we know, this is a case of ArtisticLicensePaleontology. The reason ''Dilophosaurus'' was given this trait in the ''Jurassic Park'' book was because it was thought at the time to have a slender physique and a jaw that was too weak to kill with its teeth alone, so author Creator/MichaelCrichton gave it a venomous bite to compensate. Not only are there no known dinosaurs with clear adaptations for producing venom, but [[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-dilophosaurus-would-have-eaten-the-jurassic-park-version-for-breakfast/ fossil discoveries in the early New Twenties]] suggest that ''Dilophosaurus'' were more robust and strong-jawed than previously thought, rendering the need for any exotic killing techniques moot. Weirder still, this trope was thought at one point to be TruthInTelevision for ''another'' theropod, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinornithosaurus Sinornithosaurus]]'', whose discovery and fossil analysis suggested that the dinosaur possessed venom, as its teeth were unusually grooved, which is common in venomous animals. Further analysis of the teeth, however, has shown that they were probably not venomous after all. For that matter, there is no conclusive evidence of any archosaur[[note]]dinosaur, bird, crocodilian, or pterosaur[[/note]] at all possessing the adaptations for venom production, with the ''possible'' exception of the late Triassic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uatchitodon Uatchitodon]].

Long before it was understood that dinosaurs were most closely related to birds (or, more accurately, that birds ''are'' dinosaurs), many writers gave their depictions of dinosaurs attributes of modern-day reptiles. Even after our knowledge of dinosaurs improved, portrayals of dinosaurs in fiction still tended to give them outwardly "reptilian" features that they probably did not possess in life, either to make them [[PrehistoricMonster more]] [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent frightening]] or simply because [[RuleOfCool it's cool]]. One of those features that has popped up in recent fiction is poison/venom; the TropeCodifier for which is the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilophosaurus Dilophosaurus]]'', whose famous appearance in both the [[Literature/JurassicPark book]] and [[Film/JurassicPark1993 film]] versions of the first installment of the ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' franchise showcased the dinosaur being able to spray venom from its mouth that allows the species to blind and paralyze its prey. Ever since then, it has become rather well-known to the general public, and its venomous spit has remained a consistently unique trait to it ever since.

* ''Literature/JurassicPark'': The TropeMaker, with two species of dinosaur -- ''Dilophosaurus'' and ''Procompsognathus'' -- shown as being venomous. Both are responsible for the death of a major antagonist. The ''Dilophosaurus'' kills Dennis Nedry, while a swarm of "compies" kills John Hammond.
* ''Raptor'': The book features a ''Utahraptor'' pack who can inject poison with their claws. This occurs when the raptor leader, [[BigBad Blackback]], pricks the chin of the protagonist, Zack, causing him to lose consciousness so that the raptors can cover Zack in a white substance that they regurgitate to keep him fresh and alive, yet trapped, in case the raptors want to come back and devour him.

Compare DinosaursAreDragons, for another embellishment commonly given to dinosaurs, and UndeadFossils, an ''undead'' dinosaur. Often overlaps with DinkyDilophosaur.

* ''VideoGame/Turok2008'': Surprisingly, the requisite poison-spitting dinosaur is ''not'' the ''Dilophosaurus'', but a variety of the ''Utahraptor'' enemy. Which is probably for the best, since the ''Dilophosaurus'' is already extremely tough even without any special poison, [[ShownTheirWork being more accurately portrayed as being huge]], instead of being [[DinkyDilophosaur the pint-sized hunter]] popularized by ''Jurassic Park''.

* ''Literature/TalesOfKaimere'': Two groups of closely-related theropods from the Polar Continent of Kaishel, the colorful Firebirds and the semi-aquatic Penguin Raptors, both evolve venom to quietly and quickly kill their prey. The Penguin Raptors need to kill their prey fast before other predators in the coast could arrive, while the Firebirds have to be quiet and not draw out the Silent Ones.

* In the sequel, ''Film/JurassicParkTheLostWorld'' The ''Compsognathus'' may be venomous like the ''Procompsognathus'' are in the novel, given they are able to cause a healthy grown man to become delirious and weak before they move in for the kill.

Compare DinosaursAreDragons, for another embellishment commonly given to dinosaurs, and UndeadFossils, an ''undead'' dinosaur.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': The ''Troglodon'' is a ''Spinosaurus''-like creature that dwells in the grottos and swamps of Lustria and is one of its most dangerous predators. It gets its infamy thanks to its hunting strategy, where it uses its bite to inject a lethal poison into its prey and could even use its venom as a spitting projectile that acts like acid to corrode its victims upon impact.

* ''VideoGame/Turok2008'': Surprisingly, the requisite poison-spitting dinosaur is ''not'' the ''Dilophosaurus'', but a variety of the ''Utahraptor'' enemy. Which is probably for the best, since the ''Dilophosaurus'' is already extremely tough even without any special poison, [[ShownTheirWork being more accurately portrayed as being huge]], instead of being a pint-sized hunter popularized by ''Jurassic Park''.

* In the sequel, ''Film/JurassicParkTheLostWorld'' The Prompsognathus may be venomous like they are in the novel.

** The ''Compsognathus'' is revealed to have a venomous bite according to the series protagonist and dinosaur nerd, Darius Bowman. It casts a darker light on how easily Deiter Stark was killed by a pack of them in ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''.

* ''Film/JurassicPark'': Much like the book, ''Dilophosaurus'' is portrayed with the ability to spit venom; unlike in the book, though, it also has a frill. It's also much smaller than it was in real life, although the animal we see onscreen is likely intended to be a juvenile; an adult appears as a hologram in ''Film/JurassicWorld'' as big as a raptor. This portrayal has continuously been used throughout the [[Franchise/JurassicPark franchise]]. This is also the TropeCodifier.

* ''Franchise/TheTransformers'': Dilophocon is a Decepticon that transforms into a licensed version of the ''Dilophosaurus'' from ''Film/JurassicPark''. She comes with a translucent green piece of plastic that fits inside her dinosaur-mode mouth to simulate the venom-spitting effect.

%%* ''VideoGame/ARKSurvivalEvolved'': Very much a ShoutOut to ''Film/JurassicPark'', the ''Dilophosaurus'' in the game have even been known to drop [[https://ark.gamepedia.com/Nerdry_Glasses_Skin Nedry's glasses]] as a skin.%%ZCE. Does not describe this trope.

* While not technically dinosaurs, some [[https://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2009/04/13/tongues-venom-goronyosaurus scientists think Mosasaurs]], a group of marine reptiles related to snakes and monitor lizards (which have venomous members), could have been venomous.

[[caption-width-right:265:That is one, toxic dino.]]

Long before it was understood that dinosaurs were most closely related to birds (or, more accurately, that birds ''are'' dinosaurs) many writers gave their depictions of dinosaurs attributes of modern-day reptiles. Even after our knowledge of dinosaurs improved, portrayals of dinosaurs in fiction still tend to give them outwardly "reptilian" features that they probably did not possess in life, either to make them [[PrehistoricMonster more]] [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent frightening]] or simply because [[RuleOfCool it's cool]]. One of those features that has popped up in recent fiction is poison/venom; the TropeCodifier for this is ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilophosaurus Dilophosaurus]]'', whose famous appearance in both the [[Literature/JurassicPark book]] and [[Film/JurassicPark1993 film]] versions of the first installment of the ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' franchise showcased the dinosaur being able to spray venom from its mouth that allows the species to blind and paralyze its prey. Ever since then, it has become rather well-known to the general public, and its venomous spit has remained a consistently unique trait to it ever since.

As far as we know, this is a case of ArtisticLicensePaleontology. The reason ''Dilophosaurus'' was given this trait in the ''Jurassic Park'' book was because it was thought at the time to have a slender physique and jaw that were too weak to kill with its teeth alone, so author Creator/MichaelCrichton gave it a venomous bite to compensate. Not only are their no known dinosaurs with clear adaptations for producing venom, but [[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-dilophosaurus-would-have-eaten-the-jurassic-park-version-for-breakfast/ fossil discoveries in the early New Twenties]] suggest that ''Dilophosaurus'' was more robust and strong-jawed than previously thought, rendering the need for any exotic killing techniques moot. Weirder still, this trope was thought at one point to be TruthInTelevision for ''another'' theropod, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinornithosaurus Sinornithosaurus]]'', whose discovery and fossil analysis suggested that the dinosaur possessed venom, as its teeth were unusually grooved, which is common in venomous animals. Further analysis of the teeth, however, has shown that they probably were not venomous after all. For that matter, there is no conclusive evidence of any archosaur[[note]]dinosaur, bird, crocodilian, or pterosaur[[/note]] at all possessing the adaptations for venom production, with the ''possible'' exception of the late Triassic [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uatchitodon Uatchitodon]].

* At least two documentaries have proposed that ''UsefulNotes/TyrannosaurusRex'' had a septic bite, where having a bacteria-filled mouth thanks to the serrations in them meant that a bite transmitted said bacteria into its prey, which slowly weakened and killing them. [[DownplayedTrope While not exactly venomous]], the spirit of the trope is still in play. This was an actual theory proposed by paleontologist William Abler, based on the Komodo dragon allegedly having a similar thing -- except they don't have a septic bite either, but outright venom, and there's no evidence T. rex ever had such a bite.

** One of the reasons why E750, the ''Scorpius Rex'' was kept in cryogenic suspension was because of how unstable and unpredictable it was. Its status as TheDreaded is shown when, in addition to killing anything it sees like the other hybrid dinosaurs, it possesses venomous quills that it inflicts by injecting its prey with, thanks to possessing the DNA genome of the pufferfish (despite the fact that they don't deliver their toxins via venomous quills). The venom is said to be potent enough to kill a ''Brachiosaurus'' in a short amount of time.

* ''Literature/{{Raptor}}'': The book features a ''Utahraptor'' pack who can inject poison with their claws. This occurs when the raptor leader, [[BigBad Blackback]], pricks the chin of the protagonist, Zack, causing him to lose consciousness so that the raptors can cover Zack in a white substance that they regurgitate to keep him fresh and alive, yet trapped, in case the raptors want to come back and devour him.

Compare DinosaursAreDragons, for another embellishment commonly given to dinosaurs.

[[quoteright:265:[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tyrranax_rex.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:265:That is one, toxic dino.]]]]