'Walking with Dinosaurs': Where to Watch and which dinosaurs feature?
Watch Walking With Dinosaurs from Sunday 26 May at 6.25pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Here we take a look at which dinosaurs feature in which episode.
Watch Walking With Dinosaurs from Sunday 26 May at 6.25pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Here we take a look at which dinosaurs feature in which episode…
Meet the Dinosaurs
Episode 1 - The Orphan
In Laramidia, a lush, subtropical landscape 66 million years ago, we meet Clover, an orphaned baby Triceratops. Alone and vulnerable without a herd for protection, she’s stalked by the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex.
Today, palaeontologists in Montana are uncovering her fossils, allowing us to imagine Clover’s life and the dangers she faced. Through stunning VFX we recreate her dangerous encounters and bring her fight for survival vividly to life.
Triceratops - Clover
At 8 tonnes and nearly 9 metres in length, Triceratops was the largest and most iconic of the horned dinosaurs. With two one-metre-long horns over its eyes, and a giant bony frill behind its head, Triceratops was an imposing sight.
Triceratops is thought by scientists to have evolved in tandem with Tyrannosaurus rex – an evolutionary arms race resulting in the ultimate predator and the ultimate defender.
Clover was a baby Triceratops, thought to only be about four years old and the size of a large dog. She was found in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, not far from the remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex. In this dangerous world of giants, Clover was in desperate need of a protector.
Helen Thomas, Executive Producer, said:
“The story of Clover is so fascinating because, like the whole series, it is based on the real finds from a unique dig site. In the case of Clover, finding the bones of a very young Triceratops is rare in itself as so many ended up as lunch for the many predators roaming north America in the late Cretaceous. But Clover’s story was something even more special - close to her dig site the team found remains of the most infamous predator of them all – T. rex. Unearthing the bones of predator and prey so close together enabled us to reveal the latest science of these iconic species and tell their extraordinary stories”.
Episode 2 – The River Dragon
At the edge of the Moroccan Sahara, an international team of palaeontologists lead by Dr Nizar Ibrahim has uncovered the bones of one of the largest predatory dinosaurs that ever walked the Earth: a Spinosaurus. A specimen that lived and died here one hundred million years ago.
Back then, land that is desert today, was a vast river system, supporting acres of scrub and forest. And far from being a monster, Sobek, the Spinosaurus we meet in this episode, is a new dad. Like some species of modern bird, it’s thought that once the eggs are laid, the job of looking after the babies falls to the male.
Sobek and his young family live on the banks of a nursery pool, because bones found at the dig suggest Spinosaurus spent much of their time in the water. Although the pool offers relative safety for his family, Sobek knows they must leave their home and travel somewhere they can catch far more substantial food. But the journey won’t be easy...
Spinosaurus - Sobek
Bigger even than T. rex, Spinosaurus was a giant predator unlike any other dinosaur – because it spent most of its time in the water. With a sail over 2 metres tall on its back, a paddle tail and webbed feet, this animal was perfectly adapted to live in the rivers and swamps of ancient Morocco.
Spinosaurus lived in the Kem Kem, an ancient ecosystem more dangerous than any other, with an abundance of predatory dinosaurs, over 7 species of crocodile, and hunting pterosaurs watching from above.
Sobek was a young male Spinosaurus, found in Morocco. Every year, he treks to a special stretch of river where enormous numbers of prehistoric sawskate fish gather. This time he will have to run the gauntlet of predators while protecting his young offspring to ensure their survival.
Dr Nizar Ibrahim, Anatomist & Palaeontologist at the University of Portsmouth who features in this episode, said:
“Spinosaurus is the most enigmatic and exciting dinosaur in the world right now, and we just have one skeleton of this spectacular, sail-backed, crocodile-snouted, and largely aquatic predator, hailing from an under-explored corner of the world: the Sahara. Resurrecting this dragon from deep time for an iconic series like Walking With Dinosaurs, was obviously a very special experience for my research team - unearthing this animal has been an incredible decade-long team effort, piecing together 100-million-year-old fossils, harnessing the power of digital anatomy, and braving sandstorms, snakes, scorpions and much more. Most people are somewhat familiar with the dinosaurs we all grew up with - but in this spectacular Saharan adventure they are going to come face-to-face with a very different giant - longer than T. rex - and a reminder that there is a lot we don't actually know about dinosaurs and that these creatures were a lot more diverse and adaptable than we previously gave them credit for.”
Episode 3 – The Band of Brothers
In the heart of the Utah desert a team of palaeontologists lead by Dr Jim Kirkland and Dr Josh Lively has uncovered the bones of one of the most heavily armoured dinosaurs that ever walked the earth: a Gastonia that lived and died here 130 million years ago.
George, a young Gastonia, must stay close to his parents for protection as they come face to face with a group of predatory Utahraptors, the heavyweight cousins of Velociraptor. The size of a grizzly bear, they are one of the most formidable predators that ever lived.
Gastonia - George
The spikiest dinosaur known; Gastonia belongs to the group of armoured dinosaurs known as ankylosaurs. Covered from head to toe in bony plates and osteoderms, these animals were well protected from predators.
Gastonia was one of the few social armoured dinosaurs known, being found in bonebeds consisting of multiple young individuals. Scientists believe that these individuals were juveniles that grew up together, so they had safety in numbers.
George was a juvenile Gastonia found in the Lorrie’s Site quarry, in the Cedar Mountain Formation. While George’s cause of death is unknown, he was found alongside multiple other young Gastonia, indicating they were possibly living together. Growing up here, the youngsters would have to deal with the ever-present threat from predatory Utahraptor.
Kirsty Wilson, Series Showrunner, said:
“Band of Brothers is an emotional rollercoaster of an episode. George the Gastonia might not be the fastest or biggest of all the dinosaurs, but this armoured dino may be the spikiest to have ever lived, and he has to face one of deadly predators of all time, Utahraptor. Lots of people assume that the infamous velociraptor they see in Hollywood movies is the most fearsome raptor, but actually, it was only the size of a turkey! Utahraptor was an altogether more terrifying animal. The fossil evidence reveals that it was fiercely smart, may have worked in a team and was the size of a bear. The production team loved working with the scientists to tell this dramatic and at times heart wrenching tale of a young dinosaur battling for survive against this ultimate adversary.”
Episode 4 – The Pack
71 million years ago we meet Rose, a teenage Albertosaurus; a faster, nimbler relative of T. rex. In modern day Alberta, a team of palaeontologists led by Mark Powers is unearthing the remains of this teenage Albertosaurus and attempting to uncover the secrets of Rose’s world. They find more bones belonging to multiple Albertosaurus, suggesting a mass grave where many individuals died together.
Rose is a member of a fearsome Albertosaurus pack, a group that hunts together and forms strong bonds - Rose even has a mate. Together, the pack hunts the enormous herd animal, Edmontosaurus, 'the McDonald's of the Cretaceous" as palaeontologist, Henry Sharpe, puts it. As our story of Rose unfolds, we learn that volcanic eruptions have delayed the migrating Edmontosaurus and Rose’s pack will have to find food elsewhere.
As we follow Rose’s quest for food, our team on the ground at the dig site learn one final surprise. Palaeontologist Colton Coppock has unearthed a tiny Albertosaurus jawbone, "the youngest individual we have". Could the baby possibly have belonged to Rose?
Albertosaurus - Rose
A smaller, but just as deadly, relative of T. rex, Albertosaurus were the speedsters of the dinosaur world. Young Albertosaurus were capable of reaching speeds of over 30 miles per hour, easily chasing down their prey.
Scientists have found Albertosaurus buried in groups, suggesting these hunters worked in groups to tackle larger animals.
Rose is a young Albertosaurus found in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Alberta, finding her place in her pack. A migration of Edmontosaurus draws close, and Rose will need to play her part to perfection to bring down one of these giants.
Mark Powers, Researcher at the Department Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, and Albertosaurus expert featured in this episode, said:
“Albertosaurus is the faster and sleeker cousin of T. rex. What it lacks in size it makes up for in speed and cooperation. No tyrannosaur has been found in such big groups as Albertosaurus, making it the most likely to have lived, or at least hunted in coordinated group efforts. It is astonishing to see these animals brought to life like never before in what can only be described as the most accurate and life-like restoration of this once apex predator!”
Episode 5 - The Journey North
Based on an unprecedented discovery in Alberta, Canada, The Journey North, tells the epic tale of one of the largest dinosaur herds that ever lived, the Pachyrhinosaurus, through the eyes of one of its youngest members, Albie.
To find enough food to survive, this close relative of Triceratops, must embark on a gruelling 400-mile migration North across hostile wilderness. As multiple herds begin to merge along the route, swelling the herd’s numbers into the tens of thousands, tensions rise as the strongest bulls begin to battle for their pick of their mates. A violent confrontation leads Albie to become separated from his mother. Pachyrhinosaurus, however, are thought to have had a remarkable way of finding each other. At the dig site the team, led by Dr Emily Bamforth, unearths something each Pachyrhinosaurus had - a horned, bony head frill. No two frills unearthed at the dig have been identical and it’s thought these unique frills may have allowed them to identify each other.
Pachyrhinosaurus - Albie
Closely related to Triceratops, Pachyrhinosaurus did not have eyebrow horns, and instead had a thick slab of bone over its nose, known as a boss, used for combat between males. Every single Pachyrhinosaurus discovered has had different horns on their bony headdress, known as a frill - almost like a fingerprint.
Scientists believe this unique arrangement of horns on their frill was used by Pachyrhinosaurus to identify each other in their giant herds, numbering in the thousands.
Albie is a little juvenile Pachyrhinosaurus, one of many found in the Wapiti Formation in Alberta, Canada. Every year, his herd makes an epic journey north as the seasons change. Along the way, he will encounter clashing bulls, tyrannosaur predators, and freak weather events.
Dr. Emily Bamforth, Palaeontologist and Curator at the Philip. J Currie Dinosaur Museum in Alberta, Canada, said:
“This episode is based on fifty years of research conducted at the Pipestone Creek Pachyrhinosaurus Bonebed in northwest Alberta. The Pipestone Creek Bonebed, tucked away in Canada’s mixed boreal forest, captures the moment when a herd of potentially thousands of Pachyrhinosaurus, an enigmatic ceratopsian (horned) dinosaur with a distinctive bulbous bump on the nose, was preserved in a single event. The bonebed provides an unparalleled opportunity for paleontologists to study growth, social structure, parental care, and behavior in a single community of dinosaur from a single point in time. The episode uses VFX and the integration of science-in-action to beautifully capture the immensity and scale of the bonebed, revealing the dramatic story of this dinosaur mega-herd, and the late Cretaceous world in which they lived.”
Episode 6 – Island of Giants
Island of Giants tells the tale of one of the largest dinosaurs ever to walk the earth, a colossal, long-necked Lusotitan, known as Old Grande.
Living 150 million years ago on an island called the Iberian Meseta, this titan dwarfs every other dinosaur in the region. His remains are being uncovered near Pombal, Portugal, by a team of palaeontologists led by Prof. Franciso Ortega, Dr Elisabete Malafaia and Dr Pedro Mocho. As the most complete Lusotitan ever found, his bones allow the team to tell his story like never before. At 25 metres long his intimidating size is only part of his story. His goal is to win over a female and secure his legacy.
Lusotitan – Old Grande
A giant of the Jurassic, Lusotitan was 25 metres long, and over 40 tonnes. Closely related to the iconic Brachiosaurus, this titan roamed ancient Portugal 150 million years ago, when Europe was a series of fragmented islands.
Air sacs and hollow bones throughout its neck and spine, helped Lusotitan to grow massive. Scientists have speculated that the large cavity in Lusotitan’s skull, just past the nose, could have been used to inflate balloons of skin, like modern frigate birds.
Old Grande was the largest Lusotitan ever found, being unearthed in the hill town of Pombal. In search of a mate, he would have to contend with other bull Lusotitans, hungry predatory Torvosaurus, and the rapidly changing seasons.
The creation of the VFX dinosaurs was a heavily involved process, starting with a rigorous and detailed brief document, the VFX team built up the skeleton, musculature, and finally the skin (and occasionally feathering) of the animals. From start to finish the creatures took around 2.5 years to create.