Terrible Lizards

S12DB14 Inside an Oviraptor Nest! 01.07.2026 12min

In this 2021 clip from Terrible Lizards, Iszi and Dave discuss the fossilised Oviraptor nest that made headlines around the world. Was this really evidence that dinosaurs sat on their eggs like birds, or was the story more complicated? Discover what embryos inside the eggs reveal about dinosaur parenting, asynchronous hatching, brooding behaviour, and why some palaeontologists think male Oviraptors may have guarded the nest. Along the way, the conversation explores ostriches, crocodiles, chickens, and how scientific discoveries can change as new evidence comes to light. Support Terrible Lizards and get bonus content at: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards Watch this episode as a video on iszitube: https://youtu.be/55ppw-nPhno #Dinosaurs #Palaeontology #Oviraptor #Fossils #SciencePodcast

TLS12E06 Spinosaurus, Jurassic World & Troodon 23.06.2026 54min

Recorded live at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2026, Iszi Lawrence and Dr Dave Hone tackle questions from the audience on everything from Spinosaurus salt glands and Jurassic World to feathered pterosaurs, Troodon taxonomy, AI in palaeontology and where the next great dinosaur discovery might be hiding. Questions featured in this episode include: • Could pterosaurs perch, hover or even fly backwards? • Did Spinosaurus have salt glands? • Has the Jurassic World franchise helped or harmed public understanding of dinosaurs? • Should amateur fossil collecting be restricted? • Is Troodon formosus valid again? • Do you need a PhD to work in palaeontology? • How little fossil material is needed to name a new species? • What made Troodon teeth so unusual? • What prehistoric animal would Dave and Iszi dress up as? • Has anyone tried reconstructing pterosaur calls? • Is AI useful in palaeontology? • Are pterosaur pycnofibres really feathers? • Why are Triassic ornithischian fossils so rare? • Where might the next big dinosaur discovery come from? • Have Dave or Iszi found any fossils recently? Support Terrible Lizards on Patreon: https://patreon.com/terriblelizards Iszi Lawrence NEW audiobooks (release date: 25-06-26) https://www.audible.co.uk/author/Iszi-Lawrence/B0865T388B https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/domesday-cows-9781801999274/ Find out more about the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival: https://fossilfestival.com/ Watch this episode on youtube (Search iszitube) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lujwm8nrvRA

S12DB13 Mary Anning, Marine Reptiles & the Jurassic Coast 17.06.2026 17min

Mary Anning is one of the most important figures in the history of paleontology but how much do we really know about her? Recorded live at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, Iszi Lawrence and Dr Dave Hone are joined by Kieran Satchell from Lyme Regis Museum to explore the life, discoveries and legacy of the pioneering fossil hunter who helped transform our understanding of prehistoric life. From ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs to the early days of fossil collecting on the Jurassic Coast, this episode dives into the science, history and myths surrounding Mary Anning. If you love paleontology, fossil hunting, history, dinosaurs, marine reptiles or the story of science, this one's for you. Support Terrible Lizards on Patreon: https://patreon.com/terriblelizards Watch this live on our Patreon or on youtube https://youtu.be/gtlA6kp58KA Find out more about the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival: https://fossilfestival.com/

S12DB12 What colour were triceratops horns? 03.06.2026 12min

Were dinosaur horns brightly coloured? And is there really such a thing as a "top predator"? In this extract of a Terrible Lizards bonus we recorded last year, we tackle two surprisingly big dinosaur questions from our listeners. First: what colour were dinosaur horns and frills? Could horned dinosaurs like Triceratops and other ceratopsians have had vivid displays like modern birds? We explore colourful toucans, puffins, flamingos, and even vultures that deliberately dye themselves red to ask whether dinosaurs may have been much brighter and stranger than we usually imagine. Then an argument with sharp teeth: is T. rex really a "top predator"? If killer whales sometimes hunt great white sharks, are sharks apex predators? Is the whole idea of a "top predator" actually misleading? Support the podcast, ask questions and get all the full bonus episodes here: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards You can watch this episode on patreon or on youtube here: https://youtu.be/EVSC9hQckrI

S12E05 Mass Extinctions, CGI & Dinosaurs 27.05.2026 56min

Can you make a prehistoric documentary without relying on T. rex? We chat to Tim Haines, the man behind Walking with Dinosaurs and the new series Surviving Earth about mammal-like reptiles, giant extinctions, documentary trickery, CGI dinosaurs, weird prehistoric noises and how you make audiences emotionally invest in creatures that may or may not have peed. From gorgonopsians to giant climate shifts, this is a deep dive into both prehistory and documentary filmmaking. Want bonus episodes and extra Terrible Lizards goodness? Head to https://patreon.com/terriblelizards Watch the series in USA THURS 6/11 NBC and peacock. #Dinosaurs #Paleontology #Documentary #WalkingWithDinosaurs #SurvivingEarth

S12DB11 What Bird Eyes Reveal About Dinosaurs 20.05.2026 14min

In this short discussion, palaeontologist Dave Hone and Iszi Lawrence chat with podcaster Suzy Buttress about the strangeness of bird eyes... from iris colour and pupil shape, to owls, crocodiles and the frustrating problem of soft tissue in fossils. Could dinosaurs really have had the slit pupils made famous by Jurassic Park? Or have we been picturing dinosaur eyes all wrong? Expect: birds, dinosaurs, crocodiles, giant marine reptile eyeballs, weird owl anatomy, and some surprisingly unsettling turkey dissection stories. This is an extract from Series 5 Episode 4 with Suzy Buttress from the Casual Birder podcast. You can watch the footage of this recording here: https://youtu.be/czcOPj8_jC8 Support the show and grab extra content: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

S12DB10 Could dinosaurs hear you whistle? 06.05.2026 11min

Could a dinosaur hear you whistle? Did giant dinosaurs have gigantic feathers? And would a head-butting dinosaur really scrape the ground like a bull before charging? In this Dinosaur Bite episode, palaeontologist Dr Dave Hone and Iszi Lawrence tackle your brilliantly weird dinosaur questions—exploring how dinosaurs heard the world around them, what their feathers were really like, and whether famous scenes in Prehistoric Planet are grounded in science or artistic licence. From tiny, high-pitched dinosaurs to booming giants, from Velociraptor quill knobs to the mystery of feather size in creatures like Gigantoraptor, this episode dives into what we really know—and what we're still figuring out—about dinosaur biology and behaviour. Support the show and get extra content for as little as $1 dollar! https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

Enigmacursor: Small Dinosaurs, Big Impact 29.04.2026 1h 1min

https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/giB-id1iEZE When people think of dinosaurs, it's usually the giants that come to mind—but most dinosaur groups began with much smaller, often overlooked species. Among them are the small ornithopods: fragmentary, tricky to classify, and frequently lost in a tangle of confusing names and incomplete fossils. Yet these modest dinosaurs are hugely important. They paved the way for the later success of major groups like iguanodontids and hadrosaurs, shaping the evolutionary story of herbivorous dinosaurs. In this episode, Paul Barrett from the Natural History Museum joins hosts Dave Hone and Iszi Lawrence to explore these fascinating underdogs—focusing on Enigmacursor, a recently named species that helps shed light on this often-neglected corner of dinosaur history. Settle in for an hour of small dinosaurs, big questions, and the challenges of working with fossils that are incomplete, confusing—and surprisingly revealing. Prof Paul Barrett | Natural History Museum: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/people/paul-barrett.html To support the show and get extra content: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

S12DB09 Planet of the Dinosaurs 1977 15.04.2026 14min

Dr Dave Hone and Iszi react to an old dinosaur movie from the seventees. We recommend watching this as a video, available on our patreon (as well as on Spotify) so you can see what we are reacting to. https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards This dinosaur bite is taken from an old bonus episode for our patrons back in 2021 where we watched the full movie (it was free on YouTube back then) and did a commentary. You can still watch the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/60258810 Becoming a patron allows us to keep the podcast advert free and you get access to bonus content. You can join for as little as $1 but we would ask you donate whatever you can afford: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

S12DB08 Dinosaur Cuckoos? 01.04.2026 9min

Did dinosaurs raise each other's young like modern cuckoos do? Dr Dave Hone and Iszi Lawrence discuss how we would know if brood parasitism existed millions of years ago. To get more bonus material and keep the podcast ad free go to: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

S12E03 Crocs 25.03.2026 1h 1min

Please support the show, grab extra content and keep the podcast ad free: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards You can watch this as a video on youtube here: https://youtu.be/z0y9N1bPmGY Having recently caught up with the much-overlooked prosauropods (or at least, overlooked by us), and after many requests from our patrons on patreon, this month we turn our attention to the crocodiles! Much like birds, major parts of the biology of these animals (living and extinct) are critical for understanding dinosaur biology, evolution and behaviour, so we shouldn't avoid them as much as we have on here. Happily, this month we are joined by croc-supremo Chris Brochu to talk about his career in crocodilian biology and his work on these animals. On the way, we get into a deep discussion on identifying species and what this means for taxonomy and evolutionary studies. But we start with some work Chris did as a postdoc on a certain fossil that everyone listening will have heard of: Sue the T. rex! Chris' University webpage: https://sees.uiowa.edu/people/christopher-brochu

S12DB07 Netflix: The Dinosaurs. Trailer Review 18.03.2026 21min

Iszi and Dave briefly discuss the new Netflix series "Dinosaurs". Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/ejpMkrDDsWw They analyse the accuracy of the trailer including the opening with Spinosaurus's hunting technique, neck musculature, and nostril placement, comparing it to real-world evidence and previous research. You can watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZBSzYUTL0 Keep the podcast ad-free and join in the discussion here: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

S12DB06 Frost Bite 04.03.2026 12min

Dinosaurs in the Arctic and Antarctic likely survived cold conditions by using similar strategies to extant species. The discovery of a new T. rex femur, nicknamed Goliath, potentially validates predictions about the maximum size of these dinosaurs. Or Does it? You can watch this as a video on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/0iVP_E0BfM0 Please keep the podcast advert free and get more bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

S12E02 Writing with Dinosaurs 25.02.2026 1h 6min

This is available to watch on youtube here: https://youtu.be/R-GgkboCjA8 Support the podcast (keep it advert free) and get exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards We have talked plenty about dinosaurs in pop culture, including in movies, but this is hardly a modern phenomenon. Dinosaurs were getting into the mainstream almost as soon as they appeared on the scientific scene and have a rich history in novels, and short stories. This week we are joined by Richard Fallon, a historian specialising in science in literature and with a particular interest in prehistoric animals in this context. Richard and Dave recently wrote a book chapter on the odds parallels between Jurassic Park and Michael Crichton and the Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle. Having won a prize for this ("Doylean Honors" from the ACD Society!) we though it a great time to sit down with Richard and talk about dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles in fiction and how this has changed over time. Here's some of Richard's collective works: Creatures of Another Age: https://www.valancourtbooks.com/creatures-of-another-age.html Contesting Earth's History in Transatlantic Literary Culture, 1860–1935: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Contesting-History-Transatlantic-Literary-1860-1935/dp/0198926162/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Reimagining Dinosaurs in Late Victorian and Edwardian Literature: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reimagining-Dinosaurs-Victorian-Edwardian-Literature/dp/1108984398/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4n1IVVZf74mbQ0RyFryuMDimH9ZiV04X3glC8p-KfT8.D618IUFHF0G27P0maCF82yXIjgZs_wzvKoA6n0yiz4Y&qid=1770283675&sr=8-1 And you can follow him on Bluesky: @richardfallon.bsky.social

S12DB05 Spinosaurus Mirabilis and Ajkaceratops 20.02.2026 13min

Little Dinosaur bite for you! Support us for extra bonus episodes here: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards Covering two new papers: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2026/february/new-sabre-crested-spinosaurus-species-named-from-desert-dinosaur-fossils.html https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2026/january/europes-missing-ceratopsian-dinosaurs-have-finally-been-found.html Watch on youtube here: https://youtu.be/GoAT-oVtqOc A new Spinosaurus paper was released, revealing a Spinosaurus with a larger head crest. While the new material is exciting, the larger crest is not surprising given the species' known display features. The new locality in Niger, further inland than previous finds, suggests Spinosaurus may have followed rivers inland, similar to other water-affiliated animals. A new paper confirms long-held beliefs about spinosaur evolution, including sexual selection, wading behaviour, and multiple evolutionary phases. The discovery of a new rhabdodontid skull, with clear ceratopsian characteristics, suggests that some previously identified rhabdodontids were actually early ceratopsians. This finding supports the idea that ceratopsians were present in Europe during the Cretaceous, filling a gap in the fossil record. Apologies for audio quality - was a bit rushed!

S12DB04 Why are pterosaurs bigger than birds? 18.02.2026 11min

You can watch this episode on youtube here: https://youtu.be/QI_nmQPADcE Support the podcast and get extra content by going to: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards In this episode from 2022, we delve into an incident that occurred in a Lower Cretaceous tracksite in Utah. A digger driven by the Bureau of Land Management accidentally drove over dinosaur tracks, causing damage to the site. This incident sparked outrage as the BLM was accused of violating procedures that required the presence of a palaeontologist. We then discuss pterosaur evolution, exploring the common ancestor of dinosaurs and pterosaurs. We also discuss the remarkable size of Quetzalcoatlus and Azhdarchids, shedding light on the evolutionary journey of these magnificent creatures and why they are so much bigger than birds.

S12DB03 Where are the Australian Dinosaurs? 04.02.2026 14min

Dinosaur Bites is taken from a live we did back in 2024. We ask where are the Australian Dinosaurs? What was the first ever Dinosaur? Why are only small dinosaurs feathered? (or are they...) You can watch this as a video here: https://youtu.be/UqUzAgcWMRg Terrible Lizards is a dinosaur podcast with Dr Dave Hone from Queen Mary University and Iszi Lawrence. To support the podcast and unlock extra content go to www.patreon.com/terriblelizards

S12E01 African Prosauropods 28.01.2026 56min

You can watch this episode as a video on youtube: https://youtu.be/C2atVWsvkS0 To support the show/get bonus content: www.patreon.com/terriblelizards We've barely mentioned African dinosaurs (apart from you-know-what) over the years and have repeatedly failed to give much love to the early sauropodomorphs either (the 'prosauropods'). Happily, this month we're getting a great two-for-one deal by speaking to Kimi Chapelle who tells us all about her work on the incredibly well-represented, but not actually that well-studied Massospondylus. This species is known from dozens of complete skeletons but has attracted surprisingly little attention in the scientific literature and Kimi has been working to correct that with a whole series of projects on this animal and its relatives. There's plenty to discuss and more to come on these overlooked dinosaurs, so headphones on and enjoy. Please support the podcast and get access to bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards Kimi's website: Kimberley (Kimi) Chapelle | Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University https://renaissance.stonybrookmedicine.edu/anatomy/people/facultypage/chapelle A profile of her and her work from the Superscientists website: Dinova - Kimberley Chapelle — SuperScientists https://www.superscientists.org/superscientists/chapelle

S12DB02 Colours and Compsognathus bites 21.01.2026 12min

Dinosaur Bites 002 Terrible Lizards Podcast returns with a discussion on dinosaur colours, and Compsognathus, from a 2021 live session. We talk about the preservation of dinosaur colours is limited to certain pigments and while some colours may not preserve well, the organisation of melanosomes is a more significant factor. And candidate for the cutest dinosaurs: Compsognathids, a group of small theropod dinosaurs, are often found as juveniles, leading to uncertainty about their phylogenetic placement. We discuss Andrea Cau's hypothesises that they may not be what they seem! Direct video link: https://youtu.be/5wGuzaJ16M8 For more bonus content and to get your questions answered: https://www.patreon.com/terriblelizards Also apologies for the audio glitches - when we talked over each other it became incomprehensible - so it was shoddily repaired by iszi.

S12DB01 Spinosaur Bites 07.01.2026 14min

A short extract from a live we did back in 2021 about these two new #spinosaur species: Riparovenator and Ceratosuchops. If you want to find out more about these animals please listen to the free full episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/jO6gyw-onBY?si=qHQ6oJ0wnqxJAaX- or find 'TLS05E01 Riparovenator and Ceratosuchops' on your podcast feed. https://terriblelizards.libsyn.com/tls05e01-riparovenator-and-ceratosuchops Terrible Lizards a podcast about #dinosaurs with Dr Dave Hone and Iszi Lawrence. It is released on the last wednesday of the month and there is a large back catalogue. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Ud7Vyrmvx9zUBLcXjiSSl?si=4d37e2a2fe3e4319 We will be releasing Terrible Lizards Dinobites intermittently too: to help promote the show - so if you enjoyed this do like and share and leave a review. For more info and bonus material and videos go to: www.patreon.com/terriblelizards