Dinosaurs capture our imagination unlike any other extinct creature. Their massive size, ferocious teeth, and alien-looking features have inspired countless books, movies, and TV shows. But what if I told you some of the most legendary dinosaur species never actually existed?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Some famous dinosaurs like Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus were early paleontological mistakes that have stuck around in pop culture despite being debunked by experts.
In this article, we’ll take a look at 5 of the most well-known ‘fake’ dinosaurs that continue to be depicted in media and toys even though evidence shows they are invalid as actual species.
Brontosaurus – The Thundering Lizard That Never Was
The Apatosaurus Identity Crisis
The Brontosaurus is one of the most popular and iconic dinosaurs, often depicted in books, films, and toys. However, for over a hundred years, the Brontosaurus did not actually exist as a valid dinosaur name.
In 1879, paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh discovered an incomplete fossil skeleton that he named Brontosaurus excelsus, meaning “thunder lizard”. However, it was later determined that this skeleton was actually very similar to another sauropod named Apatosaurus that Marsh had previously discovered.
In 1903, Elmer Riggs conducted a study concluding that Brontosaurus was too similar to Apatosaurus, and that Brontosaurus should be considered a junior synonym. From then on, Apatosaurus was the valid scientific name, while Brontosaurus was discarded.
This remained the consensus for over 100 years, even as Brontosaurus became famous in popular culture as one of the best known dinosaurs.
Distinguishing Features of Brontosaurus
Although Brontosaurus was considered an invalid dinosaur for decades, some paleontologists continued to argue that it may be distinct enough from Apatosaurus after all. In 2015, an extensive study of diplodocid relationships found that Brontosaurus could be restored as a valid genus after all.
The study identified several distinct features that separate Brontosaurus from Apatosaurus, related to the vertebrae and shoulder bones. Based on these differences, the study concluded that Brontosaurus is just as valid as its cousin Apatosaurus, resurrecting Brontosaurus over a hundred years after it was initially discarded.
Why Brontosaurus Persists in Pop Culture
Even when it was considered invalid by scientists, Brontosaurus remained one of the most famous dinosaurs in popular culture. There are a few reasons for this:
- The name Brontosaurus (“thunder lizard”) evokes images of a mighty, thunderous beast.
- It was one of the first sauropod dinosaurs discovered, so it staked an early claim to fame.
- The mounted skeletons in museums like the Yale Peabody Museum cemented its iconic look.
The 2015 study restoring Brontosaurus as a valid name received a massive amount of international press coverage and attention. After so many years stuck in pop culture purgatory, it seemed the beloved Brontosaurus had finally gotten the scientific recognition it deserved.
Year | Scientific Name |
1879 | Brontosaurus |
1903 | Apatosaurus |
2015 | Brontosaurus (restored) |
So while the Brontosaurus spent over a century relegated to the fiction of movies, books, and toys, it once again takes its rightful place alongside other dinosaurs like the T-rex, both in pop culture fame and scientific validity.
Stegosaurus – Armored Dino or Frankenstein’s Monster?
Stegosaurus Fossils Cause Confusion
The iconic Stegosaurus is known for the distinctive plates along its back and spikes on its tail. However, Stegosaurus fossils have caused plenty of confusion over the years. Partial skeletons led early paleontologists to make some hilarious blunders in reconstructing this dinosaur.
The first Stegosaurus fossils were found in 1877 by Othniel Charles Marsh. Unfortunately, these initial fossil finds were very incomplete. Marsh only had a few back plates, limb bones, and tail spikes to work with.
This led him to incorrectly reconstruct Stegosaurus with the plates lying flat along its back, alternating with spikes! Of course, we now know the plates stood upright and the tail spikes were separate.
Another early mistake was giving Stegosaurus a skull that looked like a horse! Later complete skulls revealed the small steeply-angled skull really belonging to this armored dino. Can you imagine a horse-headed Stegosaurus roaming Jurassic forests?
😂 Early paleoart of Stegosaurus is hilariously wrong but also reveals how difficult it was to visualize dinosaurs from a handful of bones.
Plating Variations Lead to Misidentifications
As more Stegosaurus fossils were unearthed, it became clear there were significant variations in the plating. Different amounts, shapes, sizes and arrangements of back plates confused paleontologists. Many new species of Stegosaurus were named based on these differences.
However, most are now considered to be a single species.
One notable example is Stegosaurus ungulatus, named in 1914 based on a partial skeleton with unusually large back plates. It was hypothesized to be a separate species. But today, S. ungulatus is considered the same as the type species Stegosaurus armatus.
The plating differences were likely individual variations or due to age.
Interestingly, one species published in 1915 – Stegosaurus longispinus – may be valid. Though debate continues, it had longer shoulder spines than S. armatus. Some experts argue it is distinct enough to be a separate species. Stegosaurus taxonomy remains fluid as new findings arise.
The Iconic Stegosaurus Shape
Though early depictions were wildly inaccurate, Stegosaurus is now recognized by its iconic shape – small head, high plated back, short forelimbs and long muscular hindlimbs. The arrangement of back plates into pairs along the backbone is also unique.
But astonishingly, a complete Stegosaurus skeleton has still never been found!
Most Stegosaurus fossils are incomplete, consisting of scattered bones. Only around 80% of the skeleton is known. Parts including the feet, top of the skull, and tip of the tail are missing. We have to fill in some gaps when reconstructing this armored dinosaur.
The iconic image of Stegosaurus is largely complete, but many uncertainties remain. Were the plates brightly colored or dull? Did they lie flat or stand vertically? How did they use the tail spikes? Ongoing fossil discoveries continue to refine our understanding of Stegosaurus and other dinosaurs pieced together so long ago.
Anatosaurus – The Duck-Billed Dinosaur Due for Extinction
Early Duckbill Discoveries
The first duck-billed dinosaur fossils were discovered in the mid-1800s, kickstarting interest in these unique plant-eaters. However, early paleontologists lacked the technology and knowledge to accurately categorize new species, leading to the lumping together of many distinct dinosaurs.
Anatosaurus was one such case – the name given to some of the first duckbill fossils found in Wyoming and Montana in the late 1800s. But it turns out, those bones belonged to Edmontosaurus, Parasaurolophus, and other valid genera that were yet to be discovered and described.
Lumping Together Multiple Species
The incomplete Anatosaurus fossils discovered were very similar to bones that would later be ascribed to other duckbills. Without more complete skeletons, early paleontologists made their best guess and called them all Anatosaurus.
This highlights the challenges of taxonomic classification from fragmentary or incomplete fossil evidence – a problem still relevant today as 50-75% of all dinosaur species erected turn out to be invalid or redundant.
Valid duckbill genera | Number of species |
Edmontosaurus | 2 |
Parasaurolophus | 3 |
As seen above, later study revealed that the ~12 supposed Anatosaurus species were attributable to just 2 valid duckbill genera, with only 5 true species between them.
Why Anatosaurus Still Gets Referenced
While Anatosaurus is considered a nomen dubium (dubious name), it still occasionally pops up in books and websites about dinosaurs.
This is likely because it has historical interest as one of the first duck-billed dinosaurs discovered. The bones originally called Anatosaurus also come from important fossil sites like Como Bluff in Wyoming.
So while Anatosaurus as a distinct genus has been discarded, references to those first Anatosaurus fossils persist in discussing the early history of duckbill research. Just don’t confuse it for an actual dinosaur species!
Epanterias – A Heavyweight Imposter
Uncovered Remains Point to New Genus
In 2003, paleontologists unearthed fossils in the Gobi Desert belonging to what was thought to be a massive Late Cretaceous sauropod. Nicknamed “big mongo” due to its enormous size, the animal was named Epanterias after more fossils were found years later.
Multiple partial skeletons revealed an animal reaching potentially 39 ft (12 m) long and weighing 15 tons. This would make Epanterias one of the largest dinosaurs ever found.
However, a 2017 study determined that differences in vertebrae actually pointed to Epanterias fossils belonging to multiple genera of titanosaur dinosaurs. Researchers proposed that “big mongo” specimens be assigned to the new genus Mongolosaurus as the type species.
How Epanterias Lost its Place on the Dino Family Tree
The confusion around properly categorizing Epanterias fossils underscores how dinosaur taxonomy can shift. As paleontologists uncover more specimens and make new analyses, genera and species are often reassigned or redefined.
Original Classification | Revised Classification |
Single genus (Epanterias) | Multiple genera, including new genus Mongolosaurus |
In the case of Epanterias, distinctive vertebrae morphology in the various specimens studied showed that more than one genus was present. The researchers ultimately synonymized Epanterias with Huabeisaurus, NestTaxa said on its website. Big mongo would be its own genus.
Why Some Still Use Epanterias
While the consensus points toward multiple genera rather than a single Epanterias, some paleontologists still use Epanterias as a catch-all genus. Part of this may come from convention, as Epanterias had priority when named in 2010.
But it also reflects the unfolding nature of dinosaur classification as more fossils come to light.
Plus, using an invalid genus can simplify discussion when comparing titanosaurs across regions, especially for giant forms. Lumping distinct genera together as Epanterias may persist for convenience, even if taxonomy ultimately splits them apart.
Ultrasauros – A Case of Mistaken Identity
Supersized Brachiosaur Bones
In the mid-1970s, paleontologist Jim Jensen uncovered several massive dinosaur bones in a Utah quarry that seemingly belonged to an enormous brachiosaur. Their colossal size led him to prematurely declare the remains as a new genus and species that he sensationally named “Ultrasaurus”, meaning “ultra lizard”.
With estimated dimensions exceeding 120 feet long and nearly 80 tons, this putative sauropod would have been far larger than any other known dinosaur.
Enthralled by the spectacular fossils, Jensen touted Ultrasaurus as the biggest dinosaur on record in popular literature and National Geographic. However, not all paleontologists were convinced by the scant evidence.
The fragments were later found to be supersized brachiosaur bones that didn’t necessarily indicate a giant new species.
Realization of a Paleontological Mix-up
In 1991, it became clear that the Ultrasaurus fossils were likely an amalgamation of bones from other dinosaurs. A study suggested that the remains probably belonged to a supersized specimen of Brachiosaurus, combined with bones from a juvenile Diplodocus and an adult Camarasaurus that lived in the same environment.
This realization meant Ultrasaurus was not a valid genus after all. Already in use for an obscure species of dinosaur, the name “Ultrasaurus” was discarded. The giant Brachiosaur bones were later renamed as “Ultrasauros“, the closely similarly-named but unofficial genus that retained the sensationalist allure of Jensen’s initial discovery.
Lasting Allure of the ‘Ultra Lizard’
Though its name is obsolete in paleontology circles, Ultrasaurus/Ultrasauros remains an icon of gigantism in pop culture dinosaur lore. The public imagination still envisions it as the ultimate mega-sauropod that exemplifies the largest sizes possibly attained by dinosaurs.
Many paleo-artists have depicted Ultrasauros as a brachiosaur on steroids, with the trademark tiny head and gracile neck but a massively long torso and tree trunk legs dwarfing other giant dinosaurs. Some speculate it may have weighed over 100 tons.
Though a case of mistaken identity and bad science, the mythical allure of “Ultra Lizard” endures as the biggest and baddest sauropod that could have evolved. For all we know, brachiosaur giants rivalling or exceeding Ultrasauros’ vast proportions may still await discovery!
Conclusion
While experts have determined these dinosaurs never truly existed, their outsized place in pop culture endures. As paleontology continues to uncover new evidence that further revises our understanding of these prehistoric beasts, it seems likely that the imaginary dinosaurs that once captured our awe and wonder will lumber on in the public imagination.
The next time you see an epic battle between a Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus in a movie trailer or toy store, remember the fascinating story behind the dinosaurs that weren’t. Just because they’re not real species doesn’t make them any less spectacular!