In Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking movie, Jurassic Park, there’s an array of dinosaur species, but surprisingly, no aquatic creatures. This is because during the time of dinosaurs, marine animals were not considered dinosaurs but rather marine reptiles. These creatures made their appearance in the Jurassic Park timeline only in the second trilogy, and even then, their role was relatively minor compared to the numerous land-dwelling dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus Rex and various Raptors that are synonymous with the franchise. Considering how fascinating marine reptiles can be, it’s a pity that the original Jurassic Park didn’t delve deeper into this aspect.
In the fictional world of Jurassic Park, the cloning process is intricate and multifaceted, offering numerous chances for gripping narratives and diverse dinosaur representations across the series. Despite Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard’s films expanding the marine life and genetically engineered dinosaurs beyond what was shown in Jurassic World, it remains astonishing that creatures such as the Mosasaurus or Plesiosaurus were missing from the original trilogy. With Jurassic World Rebirth focusing on the marine life of these eras, this transition presents an excellent opportunity to explore why the original Jurassic Park storyline failed to include them.
Most Aquatic Species Existed During The Late Mesozoic Era
Jurassic Park’s Clones Were From An Earlier Era Than The Aquatic Reptiles
Undeniably, marine reptiles were among the most fascinating and fearsome creatures during the era of dinosaurs. Regrettably, these amazing beasts weren’t fully explored in the original Jurassic Park trilogy. However, it wasn’t until the release of Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom that these species received their grand entrance into the Jurassic Park franchise.
This is due to the fact that the dinosaurs in Spielberg’s successful film were replicated from the Mesozoic Era, a time when there were fewer marine species present. During the Triassic and Jurassic periods, many species were still learning to adapt to water, and most of the major marine species did not emerge until the late Cretaceous period.
Every Dinosaur In The Original Jurassic Park Trilogy | Which Movie Do They Appear In? |
---|---|
Velociraptor | Jurassic Park |
Brachiosaurus | Jurassic Park & Jurassic Park III |
Parasaurolophus | The Entire Trilogy |
Dilophosaurus | Jurassic Park |
Tyrannosaurus Rex | The Entire Trilogy |
Triceratops | The Entire Trilogy |
Gallimimus | Jurassic Park & The Lost World |
Compsognathus | The Lost World & Jurassic Park III |
Stegosaurus | The Lost World & Jurassic Park III |
Pachycephalosaurus | The Lost World |
Mamenchisaurus | The Lost World |
Pteranodon | The Lost World & Jurassic Park III |
Ankylosaurus | Jurassic Park III |
Ceratosaurus | Jurassic Park III |
Corythosaurus | Jurassic Park III |
Spinosaurus | Jurassic Park III |
It’s worth mentioning that the “Great Dying,” or the Permian-Triassic extinction, was a catastrophic event that severely impacted marine life. This mass extinction, which is the largest in Earth’s history, marked the end of the Paleozoic era and nearly wiped out all forms of life, thus ushering in the Mesozoic era by eliminating almost all species. Following this event, the Mesozoic period saw the emergence of new marine life, but it wasn’t until the later stages of the Cretaceous period that marine life became prevalent. Notable marine creatures like the Mosasaurus were only present at the very end of the Cretaceous period.
In movies like Jurassic Park, many of the dinosaurs depicted are from the Mesozoic era, which is split into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. During these timeframes, it was land-dwelling creatures that dominated, making them the main attraction of Jurassic Park. The filmmakers focused on recreating significant land species like the Tyrannosaurus Rex or Brachiosaurus because they provided a sense of immediate danger and awe, and it’s likely this is why aquatic dinosaurs were not featured in the original Jurassic Park movie.
Jurassic Park’s Premise Didn’t Support Cloning Aquatic Reptiles
Jurassic Park’s Premise Naturally Led To Its Emphasis On Terrestrial Species
The main concept behind Jurassic Park was focusing on land-dwelling dinosaurs since their DNA was sourced from fossilized mosquitoes found in amber. These mosquitoes carried blood from various dinosaur species prior to their extinction, and this DNA was incorporated into eggs which were then incubated until they hatched. Later on, Dr. Alan Grant discovered that these dinosaurs were reproducing, and he remembered a video from Jurassic Park showing they combined frog DNA with the dinosaur genetic code to fill in gaps and cause mutations in their genetic sequence.
In the fictional world of Jurassic Park, the key phase of cloning is identifying DNA, which can be extracted from fossilized bones but is most effectively sourced from amber because it preserves dinosaur tissue flawlessly. This method might pose challenges in cloning marine reptiles since mosquitoes, the assumed vector for DNA collection, probably didn’t feed on marine creatures. Consequently, it’s plausible that the appearance of Mosasaurus in Jurassic World was due to its prolonged development period.
In the subsequent films like Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, the cloning process faced even more complex organizational challenges. A large part of this complexity can be traced back to Maisie Lockwood, who was revealed in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom as a clone of Benjamin Lockwood’s deceased daughter. If the storyline involving her was going to be developed, then it became more plausible for the movies to focus on marine species more extensively in later installments. While the Jurassic World films have delved deeper into aquatic life than the original trilogy, the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth appears ready to delve further into what the first Jurassic Park movie could not.
Aquatic Reptiles Later Appeared In Camp Cretaceous
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous Expands The Aquatic & Semiaquatic Species
In my opinion, I can’t help but be captivated by the Netflix original animated series, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. This show expands the universe with a variety of water-dwelling and semi-aquatic creatures that are simply mesmerizing. Among these, the legendary Mosasaurus stands out, alongside other intriguing species like the Xiphactinus and Shonisaurus, which play significant roles within the series. One unforgettable moment comes when the campers navigate the treacherous waters teeming with Mosasaurs during a pivotal scene. To me, it’s fascinating to witness the recurring presence of the Mosasaurus in this animated series, as it is one of the few sea-predators in the Jurassic franchise and undeniably one of the most captivating species within the Jurassic universe. It’s hard not to be in awe of its unique characteristics and recognizable aquatic form.
As a die-hard Jurassic World fan, let me tell you about my favorite underwater beast – the fearsome Nothosaurus! This terrifying creature made its debut in season 5 of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, specifically in episode 4, “Evasive Action,” and was last spotted in episode 9, “The Core.” With its razor-sharp teeth and webbed fins, this water dweller spent most of its time submerged. However, it’s believed that the Nothosaurus would occasionally set foot on land for hunting or nesting purposes. These marine reptiles proved to be a formidable threat in the animated series, showcasing their immense power and danger even though they were absent from the original Jurassic Park movie.
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2025-05-27 23:40