![]() ![]() Examples must be evil/antagonistic and inaccurate. Note: An inaccurate pterosaur by itself does NOT qualify as an example. See also Giant Flyer, All Flyers Are Birds, Dinosaurs Are Dragons (because pop culture pterodactyls are often surprisingly similar to wyverns), and Terrifying Tyrannosaur (for when tyrannosaurs are the ones depicted as scary). See Artistic License – Ornithology for the avian version and Somewhere, a Herpetologist Is Crying for a reptilian version. This is a subtrope of Artistic License – Paleontology. As in the case of most other Prehistoric Monster portrayals, Rule of Cool very much applies here. To appear more monstrous, these pterosaurs are often depicted with traits such as exaggerated sizes, scaly reptilian skin (because Reptiles Are Abhorrent), a beak full of sharp teeth, grasping eagle-like talons to grab prey with, and leathery wings that make them look like a giant Bat Out of Hell. Most media depicts these creatures as something like monstrous reptilian eagles or bats, carrying off such luckless victims like tasty humans or adventurous baby dinosaurs and being far more aggressive than they were in real life. Nothing adds to the atmosphere of Hollywood Prehistory like tossing in some of these flying reptiles. ![]() ![]() As a case in point, look no further than their close relatives, the pterosaurs - the first vertebrates note that is, animals with backbones to fly. While dinosaurs are increasingly averting Science Marches On, however, the same cannot be said for the other dominant reptiles during their 200-million-year reign. While it is true that our knowledge of prehistoric fauna is steadily improving, the depictions in popular media do not seem to be as up to date with modern science. Palaeontologist Mark Witton, "Why pterosaurs weren't so scary after all" ![]()
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