Every once in a while, you see the meme going around about how much it sucks to be an adult because nobody ever asks you what your favorite dinosaur is. Today, I am here to rectify that!
Like a lot of boys, I went through a dinosaur phase, so I know a lot of them, but not as many as they know about now (I’ve lost touch over the years with dinosaurs because, yes, I became a no-fun adult), and over the years, I learned that many of the so-called “dinosaurs” I used to dig are not actually dinosaurs, including the one that’s my favorite! So this Question is more like, “What’s your favorite dinosaur or dinosaur-adjacent reptile or even sort-of-looks-like-a-dinosaur animal?” You know what I’m talking about! If your favorite “dinosaur” is an ichthyosaur, say it loud and proud!
My favorite “dinosaur” was always Dimetrodon, but I have learned that’s even pushing my loose definition. Dimetrodon went extinct in the Permian period, some 40 million years before dinosaurs existed, and it’s apparently more closely related to mammals than reptiles. But come on, look at that dude! How can you not love him?
I guess if I have to pick an actual dinosaur, I’ll go with Ankylosaurus. Who wouldn’t want to ride this bad boy into battle against your dire enemies?!?!?
You know you have a favorite dinosaur, even if you haven’t thought of it since you were 12! Are you a Tyrannosaur guy? Are you a Pterosaur gal? Let the world know!
Pffff. Even when I was a kid, I knew that the admittedly cool-looking Dimetrodon wasn’t a dino. C’mon, you gotta *read* those prehistoric life books, not just look at the pictures… 😛
Anyway, this question does, in fact, have a right answer, and that answer is Triceratops. Followed in second place by several other Ceratopsians.
I got to hold a piece of triceratops horn at the Raleigh Science Museum last year. It’s much heavier than I imagined it looking at pictures of the dino — something that would really wreak havoc backed by a half-ton of triceratops.
https://frasersherman.com/2024/08/14/triceratops-butterflies-and-gems-oh-my/
I’m sure I knew Dimetrodon wasn’t a dinosaur back in the day, but in the long years since, I just forgot. I was reminded of it recently, though!
Dinosaurs were my favorite thing ever when I was a kid. My favorite was Tyrannosaurus because it was the biggest theropod and meat-eaters are cool. Then, Deinonychus (the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park are really Deinonychuses) because it looked awesome and had the sickle claw on its foot for extra slashiness.
Then… feathers. Look, I am 100% in favor of scientific accuracy when depicting dinosaurs in any media. Dinosaurs with feathers and beaks should be shown with those elements. Thing is, they look goofier. I prefer the murder lizards of my youth. Unfortunately, the feathers make Deinonychus less cool. And now paleontologists think the sickle claw might not have been used to slash prey? Ugh.
Other therapies are cool- Giganotosaurus, Carcharodontonsaurus, Cryolophosaurus, Acrocanthosaurus- but none of them are a match for the king. Back to T.Rex, even if it’s the most basic answer.
I dig Tyrannosaurus, of course, but I tend to like Allosaurus a bit more. I’m not sure why.
I agree with you, though – sure, feathers for scientific accuracy, but it just doesn’t look as cool! 🙂
I am also an ankylosaurus guy. I feel like they don’t get the same pop culture love as other dinos. But I haven’t really kept up on dinosaur lore.
The coolest dinosaur without doubt is obviously Barney.
Triceratops. I got a little motorized toy version, as a kid and thought he was cool as hell. Our World Book Encyclopedia had an illustration of a triceratops, fighting a T-rex, based on a fossil find of a pair. My money was on the triceratops. Plus, Russ Manning used them in the newspaper strip Tarzan and The Land Time Forgot.
I’ll put in a belated vote for Stegosaurus
because I think Stegosauri need more love