Utahraptor Nearly Carried Spielberg's Name

The dinosaur Utahraptor ostrommaysi nearly received the name Utahraptor spielbergi because it resembled the oversized Velociraptors in Steven Spielberg's upcoming Jurassic Park film. A paleontologist named James Kirkland planned the tribute to attract publicity, and a museum had already printed hundreds of shirts bearing the proposed name. Less than two weeks before publication, his employer ordered him to change it after Universal Studios threatened museums using "Jurassic" in their exhibit titles. Kirkland instead named the species after paleontologist John Ostrom and Dinamation president Chris Mays.

Previous Fact Next Fact