Thanks to modern scientific techniques, we can infer how a dinosaur might have behaved from a fossil. Though it may not have been able to breathe fire like a mythical dragon, Dracorex was clearly not a dinosaur to be messed with. Scientists have speculated that Dracorex may have used its horns to gore the flank of its opponents or in defence against predators, a behaviour seen in modern-day antelope known as oryx. The ridges and knobs on the skull of Dracorex may also have helped to stop its head slipping when pressed against another’s in a battle of strength. Experts think Dracorex may have fought by pressing their heads together and pushing, using upward thrusts to force their opponent backwards, a behaviour seen in some types of cows today. Indeed, the vertebrae show evidence of strong neck muscles that supported its flat-topped head. As with many herd animals, individuals may have competed with each other for mates. Despite its fearsome spiked skull, these dinosaurs are thought to have been mainly plant-eaters that lived sociably in small groups. Dracorex proved to be a type of ‘bone-headed’ dinosaur known as a pachycephalosaur. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Inspired by its dragon-like appearance, they named it Dracorex hogwartsia, which translates as the ‘dragon king of Hogwarts’, in honour of Harry Potter’s It bore a close resemblance to a Western fairytale dragon, with its bony head covered in spikesįossil collectors Brian Buckmeier and brothers Steve and Pat Saulsbury donated their find to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and, inĢ006, a team of scientists formally described the new species. In 2004, a spectacular dinosaur skull was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota in the US. Or might human imagination have conjured up giant reptilian creatures after seeing strange bones pulled from the earth? MEET THE HOGWARTS DINOSAUR Could this firebreathing behemoth be inspired by snakes or crocodiles with their smooth scales, long tails, sharp teeth and often impressive sizes? Its likeness appears in many cultures throughout the ages. The most iconic of these creatures is the dragon. So for each fantastic beast, the exhibition explores the real-life species that may be responsible for the myths. Scholars think that early descriptions of these extraordinary creatures may have been inspired or reinforced by encounters with real, but unfamiliar, wild animals. Of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Mythological creatures such as unicorns, dragons, merpeopleĪnd sea serpents are given a wizarding-world twist in the pages Some are terrible and fierce, others pure and benevolent, and many boast remarkable magical properties. ZONE 1: FROM DRAGONS TO DINOSAURSįor centuries, humans have whispered tales of mysterious creatures. Uncover the origins of mythical animals, explore parallels between the remarkable creatures Newt cares for and real-life species, and discover how we’re fighting to protect them. Step into our exhibition, created in partnership with Warner Bros., and you’ll follow in his footsteps, surrounded by propsįrom the Fantastic Beasts films and real specimens from the Museum’s collections. In the wizarding world, Newt Scamander is a Magizoologist on a mission to study and describe magical animals in his book, Fantastic Beasts and Rowling’s spellbinding world of magic and adventure. Our new exhibition – Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature – celebrates creatures, real and magical, through the lens of J.K. For more information on Membership, visit This December, you’re invited to enter an extraordinary world where mythical animals roam, where spiky fossils look like dragon skulls, and where natural curiosities are revealed. This article is an extract from Issue 44 of the Natural History Museum's Evolve Magazine, written by Kate Whittington.
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