Has the sheer volume of species featured in Prehistoric Planet been overwhelming? Have names like Quetzalcoatlus, Xiphactinus, and Hatzegopteryx left you (or a loved one) confused? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this five-part series, I will be cataloguing the various species of Prehistoric Planet in order of their appearance in the show. Today’s article will list the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals featured in episode 3, Swamps. Without further ado, let’s get this party started!
Unnamed Azhdarchid: Swamps opens with a flock of Azhdarchid pterosaur hatchlings taking their first flight over the dangerous waters of prehistoric Asia. Instead of the typical Prehistoric Planet formula of Azhdarchids eating baby dinosaurs, it is the Azhdarchid babies who fall victim to the ferocious jaws of Shamosuchus. RIP little pterosaurs!
Shamosuchus: An ancient cousin of modern crocodiles, Shamosuchus takes advantage of fledgling pterosaurs for an easy meal. Crocodile representation in Prehistoric Planet has been lacking, so the presence of Shamosuchus and Simosuchus from S2 episode 1 have been welcome additions to the series.
Unnamed Gar: Fish are friends, but in Prehistoric Planet, they are food too. Featured as prey for the dromaeosaur Austroraptor, gars were once a common lineage throughout the Mesozoic world but are now restricted to a handful of species in North America.
Austroraptor: An immense raptor from South America, numerous Austroraptor are depicted in the throes of a feeding spree. While one might expect that a 5-meter predator would hunt larger prey, the elongated snout and conical teeth of Austroraptor would have been ideal tools for a piscivore.
Masiakasaurus: Briefly shown after the episode shifts settings to Madagascar, this dinosaur is scared off by the devil toad Beelzebufo. Between this, having its babies eaten by Beelzebufo in season 1, and getting eaten by a giant snake in S2 episode 1, it’s clear who the punching bag of prehistoric Madagascar was.
Beelzebufo: The largest frog to have ever hopped the earth, a male Beelzebufo is shown attempting to attract a mate in the swamps of prehistoric Madagascar. While his vocal skills put Michigan J. Frog of the Looney Tunes to shame, his party is interrupted by a herd of giant sauropods. Talk about a buzzkill!
Rapetosaurus: While their party-crashing wasn’t intentional, a herd of Rapetosaurus invade the swamps of Beelzebufo for a soothing mud bath. Given their immense size, the blistering heat of prehistoric Madagascar, and the ever-present threat of parasitic insects, it would have been crucial for these giant sauropods to cool off. At least they didn’t crush the frog!
Pachycephalosaurus: The most famous bone-headed dinosaur, a herd of Pachycephalosaurus are shown congregating on a dried riverbed. Like bighorn rams 66 million years later, male Pachycephalosaurus are shown bashing their domed skulls together – while fighting for social standing – resulting in severe injuries for the loser. After watching Concussion, I’m scared to imagine what CTE would look like in a dinosaur…
Triceratops: In a brief appearance, herds of Triceratops are shown congregating in the swamps of North America. The individual variations in horn appearance between each Triceratops are incredible, reflecting the dozens of unique skulls known to paleontologists.
Edmontosaurus: The fate of Edmontosaurus was forecasted when the Apple TV Twitter account blocked all mentions of its name. In Swamps, a herd of Edmontosaurus is ambushed by a pair of Tyrannosaurus rex, leading to the death of one individual. Despite this, I have to say the portrayal of Edmontosaurus is terrific, with it being made larger than T. rex and putting up a decent fight.
Tyrannosaurus: The king of the dinosaurs gets its first real hunting scene of the series here, with a pair dispatching a poor Edmontosaurus. While the darkness may be irritating, it offers a unique view of Tyrannosaur ecology that has never been depicted before. Like modern carnivores, theropod dinosaurs likely practised nocturnal behaviours, making the inclusion of a midnight hunt all the more thrilling.
Thank you for reading today’s article! If you want to read more about Prehistoric Planet, including my official review of the second season and earlier parts of the species guide, I suggest you check out the following link!
I do not take credit for any images found in this article. All images are credited to Apple TV
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