In a recent scholarly rebuttal, renowned palaeontologist Dr Darren Naish has challenged the controversial claims made by Brian J. Ford asserting that all non-avian dinosaurs were aquatic animals not suited to terrestrial environments. These claims originally surfaced more than a decade ago. However, they were given additional emphasis and pseudo credibility in a book originally published in 2018 and entitled “Too Big to Walk: The New Science of Dinosaurs”. Essentially, the author asserts that dinosaurs were just too big to be able to live on land.
In addition, he proposes that bipedal theropods were unable to balance effectively as they moved due to excessive rotation on their vertical axis (yaw). Hence, dinosaurs such as Allosaurus, Giganotosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex were aquatic.
Ford’s hypothesis suggests that dinosaurs adapted to a fully aquatic lifestyle. He supports his argument with selective interpretations of fossil findings and highly contentious statements.
The remarkable artwork of Rudolph F. Zallinger which is featured in the book “Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals”. Such depictions are now outdated and there is overwhelming evidence to indicate sauropods were terrestrial animals.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The theory that dinosaurs were adapted to aquatic environments has been proposed before. It was prevalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries and the contention that sauropods and the ornithischian hadrosaurs were aquatic animals remained popular up until the 1960s and 1970s. Illustrations of giant sauropods such as Brachiosaurus wading around in swamps and lakes featured in many books about dinosaurs. The artwork of Rudolph F. Zallinger (above) is a typical example.
Dr Darren Naish
Vertebrate palaeontologist and renowned author Dr Darren Naish challenges Ford’s assertions and sets out a critical response to the arguments put forward in “Too Big To Walk”. His peer-reviewed rebuttal has been published in the journal “Historical Biology”. Dr Naish stresses the importance of rigorous scientific methodology, highlighting how the fossil record and other scientific disciplines provides a wealth of evidence supporting the terrestrial nature of most dinosaurs.
It is true, that many species of non-avian dinosaurs were capable waders and swimmers. Indeed, some taxa such as the spinosaurids show adaptations for an aquatic life. However, Ford asserts that all the non-bird dinosaurs lived in water. A contention roundly discredited.
Birds, the only surviving members of the Dinosauria, exhibit a range of adaptations. It is true, that many extant birds are very much at home in the water. For example, penguins, but even these highly specialised birds must return to land to lay their eggs and raise the next generation. Dr Naish provides an effective counterbalance to Ford’s spurious claims. He argues that the assertions made are unfounded, lack substantial evidence and misinterpret existing data.
A lambeosaurine hadrosaur (Corythosaurus) depicted as an aquatic animal. The illustration by B. H. Robinson appears in a 1974 Ladybird leader book entitled “Dinosaurs”. Picture credit: B. H. Robinson.
Picture credit: B. H. Robinson
An Accomplished Author
Dr Naish is an accomplished author. He has written extensively about Mesozoic fauna, with a number of notable works focusing on the Dinosauria. In addition to his scientific papers and role as a consultant on films, television programmes and exhibitions he has published several extremely informative, popular science books. For example, last year, a book documenting the evolutionary rise of the ancient sea reptiles and their domination of the Mesozoic Seas was published.
Everything Dinosaur team members were sent an inspection copy, and we subsequently wrote a review.
To read Everything Dinosaur’s review: Ancient Sea Reptiles by Dr Darren Naish.
The rebuttal provides an insightful counterpoint to the ideas proposed by Brian J. Ford. The essay is not a detailed and forensic examination of Ford’s beliefs. However, it provides a comprehensive explanation as to why the narrative outlined by Ford is inaccurate. Furthermore, it highlights that palaeontology is dynamic, with the scientific community having altered its views on the Dinosauria based on new research. This contrasts with Ford’s own view of palaeontologists as being entrenched in dogma, unwilling to change with a “closed shop” mentality and hostile to outsiders.
Encouraging Debate and Reflection
It is important to note that debate is to be encouraged. We at Everything Dinosaur acknowledge the need to recognise different viewpoints and perspectives. However, we urge caution as new hypotheses are proposed, they should be open to continuous scrutiny and revision. The contentions of Brian J. Ford do not stand up to scientific rigour and we welcome the measured and well-written response from Dr Naish.
As the debate continues, it serves as a reminder of the intricate history of life on Earth and the ongoing quest to understand it. Furthermore, it serves as a warning to us in our fast-moving world of social media. Unfounded theories and “alternative facts” can find an audience and take on an air of credibility. Ultimately, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure a fair debate, and different perspectives are perfectly permissible. However, the theories proposed by Brian J. Ford have been discredited and we must guard against “populist” ideas gaining traction and damaging the scientific community and the wider public’s perception of palaeontology.
Read the peer-reviewed rebuttal of the all non-avian dinosaurs were aquatic proposition: The Response to and Rejection of Brian Ford’s “Too Big to Walk”.
Darren Naish (08 Nov 2024): The response to and rejection of Brian Ford’s Too Big to Walk, a 21st century effort to reinstate the aquatic dinosaur hypothesis, Historical Biology, DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2421268
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