Skip to content

Animal-behaviour Quote by Michael Crichton

“Why did Dodgson just stand there like that? That's not the way to act around predators. You get caught around lions, you make a lot of noise, wave your hands around, throw things at them. Try to scare them off. You don't just stand there." "He probably read the wrong research paper. There's been a…” quote by Michael Crichton
Download Open image
““Why did Dodgson just stand there like that? That's not the way to act around predators. You get caught around lions, you make a lot of noise, wave your hands around, throw things at them. Try to scare them off. You don't just stand there." "He probably read the wrong research paper. There's been a theory going around that tyrannosaurs can only see movement. A guy named Roxton made casts of rex braincases, and concluded tyrannosaurs had the brain of a frog." "Roxton is an idiot. He doesn't know enough anatomy to have sex with his wife. His paper was a joke." "What paper?" "Roxton believed that tyrannosaurs had a visual system like an amphibian: like a frog. A frog sees motion but doesn't see stillness. But it is quite impossible that a predator such as a tyrannosaur would have a visual system that worked that way. Quite impossible. Because the most common defence of prey animals is to freeze. A deer or something like that, it senses danger and it freezes. A predator has to be able to see them anyway. And of course a tyrannosaur could.””

Michael Crichton

About This Quote

Source Film: Jurassic Park, 1993

The dialogue satirizes flawed scientific theories about dinosaur vision, highlighting the absurdity of ignoring basic predator‑prey dynamics.

In simple terms: Scientists sometimes make ridiculous claims about dinosaur senses.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions and seek solid evidence.

Themes

science misinformation dinosaurs predator‑prey humor

Mood

playful critical inquisitive

Type

satirical educational informative

When to use this quote

  • museum exhibits
  • educational videos
  • science classrooms
  • popular media discussions

Key Concepts

visual perception evolutionary biology scientific rigor

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we differentiate credible science from entertaining myth?
  • What evidence would convincingly refute the motion‑only vision claim?
A Different Perspective

The humor may oversimplify complex research, leading to misunderstandings.

5.0 out of 5 (4 ratings)

More by Michael Crichton

Explore all 386 Michael Crichton quotes

More Animal-behaviour quotes

Browse all 2 Animal-behaviour quotes