Dinosaur DatatDig
Dinosaur DataDig
The foremost electronic reference to non-avian dinosaurs available to the public.

"Gorgeous, exceedingly intuitive, well conceived, well rendered and performs well." - Rob Taylor

4 years in development with leading dinosaur experts and international collaborators, hundreds of references, 350,000 words, 1400+ illustrations.
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Mineo's guide to drawing dinosaurs
Mineo's guide to drawing dinosaurs
Want to create your own dino masterpiece? Here's a free online lesson courtesy of Mineo.
Dinosaurs as cultural icons: a resource collection

General and cross-media


The Complete Dinosaur: "Dinosaurs and the Media"
This book surveys the dinosaurs from the earliest discoveries through contemporary controversies over their extinction. Of relevance here is the section "Dinosaurs and the Media" by Don Glut and M. K. Brett-Surman. Preview this section in Google Books.


Cultural depictions of dinosaurs
An article at Wikipedia.org.


Dinosaur: Cultural depictions
A short article at The Art and Popular Culture Wiki.


Dinosaurs and Popular Culture
Since the earliest fossil discoveries, the public has been thrilled by the thought of dinosaurs, excited to think that such huge and sometimes ferocious creatures once walked the earth. A short article that mainly focuses on dinosaur film and particularly The Lost World.


Dinosaur Memories: Dino-trekking for Beasts of Thunder, Fantastic Saurians
A book by Allen Debus which considers the science and art of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals in a personalized, whimsical, pop-cultural vein. Preview in Google Books.

Dinosaurs, the Media and Andy Warhol
The role the popular media does and does not play in society's perception of dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Tracking: Where paleontology meets pop culture
Smithsonian magazine staff members and Rutgers University ecology and evolution student Brian Switek delve into all things Dinosauria.

Drawing out Leviathan: Dinosaurs and the Science Wars
This book by critically examines the standing of science in our culture in the light of some major debates about dinosaurs. Of particular interest is the chapter titled ""Le Dinosaure Postmoderne". Preview this section in Google Books.


Fictional dinosaurs
An index of articles at Wikipedia about fictional dinosaurs across a range of media.

Introduction to the Study of Dinosaurs: "Popular Culture and Science"
An introduction by Anthony J. Martin designed to teach students about scientific research and principles as they learn about dinosaurs. Includes a chapter titled "Popular Culture and Science".


Jurassic Classics: A Collection of Saurian Essays and Mesozoic Musings
A collection of articles by Don Glut. Of particular interest here is the section containing media-related topics, "Mesozoic Musings". Preview this section in Google Books.


The Last Dinosaur Book: The Life and Times of a Cultural Icon
A web feature for The Last Dinosaur Book by W.J.T. Mitchell including an excerpt from the book and links to additional site features and offsite resources. Preview in Google Books.


List of fictional dinosaurs
A second list of Wikipedia articles, this one in genres, of fictional dinosaurs.

Loving The Saurian
An essay by Steven Utley at the Internet Review of Science Fiction.


The Metropolitan Museum of Mesozoic Memorabilia
A collection of articles by leading dinosaurabilia collector Dean Hannotte on dinosaurs in art and literature.


Prehistoric life in popular culture
An index of articles and subcategories at Wikipedia.

Prehistoric Monsters: The Real and Imagined Creatures of the Past That We Love to Fear
A book by Allen A. Debus. Over centuries, discoveries of fossil bones spawned legends of monsters such as giants and dragons. As the field of earth sciences matured during the 19th century, early fossilists gained understanding of prehistoric creatures such as Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops and Stegosaurus. This historical study examines how these genuine beasts morphed in the public imagination into mythical, powerful engines of destruction and harbingers of cataclysm, taking their place in popular culture, film, and literature as symbols of "lost worlds" where time stands still.


Prehistoric Times
A full color, 50+ page magazine for dinosaur enthusiasts and collectors of related merchandise. Includes reviews of the latest prehistoric animal model kits, toy figures, books and more, plus interviews with artists and scientists, artwork from the finest paleoartists in the world and the latest scientific discoveries in paleontology. Also news and information about prehistoric life.

Pterosaurs in Popular Culture
Chronicles the appearances of pterosaurs in popular fiction in all kinds of different media.


Silent Movie Monsters: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World
A website devoted to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's grand adventure novel The Lost World in all its forms.


Starring T. rex!: dinosaur mythology and popular culture
An book by José Luis Sanz that analyzes the historical origins of the dinosaur myth in modern society and the manner in which information drawn from scientific study enters popular consciousness. Preview this book in Google Books.


Tropesaurus Index: Dinosaurs
A collection of essays about media depictions of dinosaurs. Detailed, wide-ranging and fun.


Tyrannosaurus in popular culture
A Wikipedia article that documents what is inarguably the most prevalent dinosaur to appear in popular culture.

When Dinosaurs Ruled The Screen
A guide by Marc Shapiro to the dinosaur on film and television.


Visual arts

Alternate History Theme Park Where Dinosaurs Fought in the Civil War
A roadside attraction telling the tale of a group of Union soldiers who discover a lost valley of dinosaurs in Virginia and plot to use them as weapons against the South.


The Art of Paleocatastrophe: Portraying Survivorship at the Quantum Crossroads
An essay by Allen A. Debus on how artists have depicted mass extinction.


Bringing Dinosaurs to Life
A discussion on how dinosaurs and their worlds are recreated for television documentaries like Walking with Dinosaurs and Dinosaur Planet.


Big Things: Dinosaurs, Prehistoric and Mythological Beings
From a website dedicated to the fantastic and awe inspiring monuments built by communities to draw tourist dollars into their community.


Drawing Dinosaurs
A reflection and brief history on restoring the life appearance of dinosaurs by paleontologist and artist Greg Paul.



Lanzendorf PaleoArt Prize Recipients
The John J. Lanzendorf PaleoArt Prize was created in October 1999 to recognize outstanding achievement in paleontological scientific illustration and naturalistic art.

Lines and colors: Paleoart
Coverage of "William Stout's murals for the San Diego Natural History Museum" as well as extensive profiles of other leading artists: Robert F. Walters, James Gurney, Dan McCarthy, David Krentz, Greg Broadmore, John Gurche and Charles R. Knight.


Lines and colors: Paleoart 2
Michael Skrepnick, William Stout, Carl Buell, Doug Henderson, Mark Hallett, John Sibbick and James Gurney.


Paleoartists see bones and make dinosaurs
The science of the art.


Paleo Art: Highlights from the Department of Paleobiology
Paleontological art has been used to help disseminate Smithsonian paleontological research findings since the Institution was founded in 1846 and continues today. This website highlights some of the Smithsonian Institution's most interesting historical paleo art, provides information about taking proper care of illustrations, and discusses techniques for creating paleontological and other scientific illustrations.


Roadside architecture: Dinosaurs
Very comprehensive and photo-rich guide to roadside dinosaurs.

Science, Art, and Dinosaurs
An article by Lawrence M. Witmer on the major role that works of dinosaur art can play in shaping scientific discourse.


The Scientific American Book of Dinosaurs: "A Quick History of Dinosaur Art"
A chapter "A Quick History of Dinosaur Art" by Gregory S. Paul is relevance here. A limited preview of this chapter is available via Google Books.


What's Wrong With This Picture? An Audio Critique
Thomas Holtz, a paleontologist for the University of Maryland, reflects upon what has changed, and stayed the same, since our 20th-century dinosaur coverage.


What rules the world?
From Brian Switek's Laelaps blog site this is a discussion on paleontological reconstructions with particular emphasis on earlier works.



Literature


Dinosaurs in Fantastic Fiction: A Thematic Survey
Author Allen A. Debus Allen A. Debus traces the public fascination with dinosaur fiction since they were first identified in the nineteenth century. Preview this book in Google Books.


The Dinosaur Scrapbook
This book by the venerable Don Glut explores dinosaurs from a media perspective, drawing on rare and unusual photographs, illustrations, and drawings from movies, museums, and magazines, and covering such unique aspects as "dinosaur parks" and comic books.


Dinosaurs in Science Fiction
John Joseph Adams at the Internet Review of Science Fiction examines the themes in science fiction literature in which dinosaurs figure. Also includes an excellent list of recommended reading.


Dinosaurs in Science Fiction Literature
A guide to stories, novels, anthologies and pulps compiled by paleontologist M.K. Brett-Surman.

Essays by Isaac Asimov about geology and dinosaurs
A list at Asimov Online.


"A Former State of This Earth": Fossils in Early American Works for Children
A brief introduction to works on fossils published for American children in books and magazines from 1832 to 1853. Some are illustrated; many aren't. Many of the illustrations, as with much of the text, are redrawn from earlier works.


Prehistoric Fiction
A very well maintained and comprehensive site focusing on fiction set in prehistoric times, or in which the principal characters are members of a prehistoric society.


Robert J. Sawyer's Far-Seer
A potpourri of material regarding The Quintaglio Ascension Trilogy at the author's website.


Sauria Monstra: Dinosaurs, Pterosaurs, and Other Fossil Saurians in Classic Science Fiction and Fantasy
Sauria Monstra collects 14 classic short stories featuring dinosaurs and other reptiles from the past, along with Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel, The Lost World.


Sdifan - Themes: Dinosaur books
Publication dates, some plot summaries and buying options.

Comics etc.

Bob Heffner's Dinosaurs Attack!
Heavily illustrated guide to the 1988 collector card series from Topps containing 55 cards and 11 Stickers.


Commodore Dinosaur
Superhero webcomic.


Devil Dinosaur #1 - Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy and Devil Dinosaur #8 - Dino-Riders
Articles at The Jack Kirby Comics Weblog.


Devil Dinosaur Archive
At the Gorilla Daze blog.


Dinosaurs Attack!
A brief glimpse at the ultra-violence and cruelty that Topps peddled to children back in 1988.


Dinosaur Comics
A webcomic by Canadian writer Ryan North.


Steve R. Bissette's The Paleo Path: The History of Dino-Comics
A series of articles at Michael Ryan's Palaeoblog.


Turok, Son of Stone
Covers and plot summaries for all the Gold Key/Dell silver age Turok comics.


Cinema


All Movies: Dinosaurs
An extensive list of dinosaur movies with ratings, plot summaries and production details.

Are Movies Science?: Dinosaurs, Movies and Reality
An article at the University of California Museum of Paleontology that tests the ideas used in the movies and literature (mostly Jurassic Park), to determine what is science and what is fiction.
Cinefantastique Online: Sense of Wonder: Cinema’s Greatest Dinosaurs by Steve Biodrowski

The Dinosaur Filmography
A definitive guide to dinosaur film, arranged alphabetically by title, contains entries that include basic facts (year of release, country of origin, studio, and running time) followed by a plot summary, commentary (the author’s review of the film), a section on people and production, and information on the special effects.


Dinosaur Movies
A site that focuses on reviews and sources of dinosaur films.

Dinosaurs Vs. Apes
View online this documentary about dinosaur movies hosted by Donald F. Glut and Bob Burns and filled with rare movie clips, behind-the-scenes footage, original props and insightful interviews with stop-motion experts Ray Harryhausen and Jim Danforth, Forrest J Ackerman, and author George E. Turner.


Dinosaurs Reel and Robotic
See how the portrayal of dinosaurs has evolved and changed over the years through artistic portrayal and advances in scientific information and technology. Dinosaurs: Reel & Robotic highlights classic films, Hollywood memorabilia, and life-like, robotic dinosaurs. A website created for an exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum.

Dinosaurus!
An overview of 50s dinosaur movies.


The Dino-Source for popular culture scholarship on dinosaur films
There is a lot here but most notable for its extensive Dino-Filmography, an achronological list of dinosaur films, with summaries (some extensive) and other notes. A resource by Dr. Michael Delahoyde of the Washington State University.


Cinefantastique: The History of Prehistoric Movies
A retrospective that charts Hollywood's long fascination for portraying primitive life as it might have been lived before the invention of modern technology.


Film: When Making Dinosaurs Scary, Less Becomes More
An article by Walter Kendrick of The New York Times on why it benefits filmmakers that dinosaurs are now more avian.

A History of Dinosaur Movies
A chronological list at the Dinosaur Interplanetary Gazette of every dramatic dinosaur movie (to 2002) made.

Hollywood Dinosaur
A book providing on overview of dinosaur movies by Daniel Cohen.

Hot Blooded Dinosaur Movies by James van Hise
Another chronicle of the history of dinosaur film.


Jurassic Park, or Sympathy for the Dinosaur
What dinosaurs seem to represent to us is a whole alternate model, an elaborate projection, of a racially-varied 'society' not unlike our own.

King Kong
Website of Peter Jackson's 2005 version. A generous site with plenty of "backstory" information.


T. rex on the Silver Screen
A short history of dinosaur movies at Fact Monster.