Robert T. Bakker

Robert T. Bakker (Bob Bakker) (born March 24, 1945) in Bergen County, New Jersey, is a famous American paleontologist who has helped re-shape modern theories about dinosaurs, particularly by adding support to the theory that some dinosaurs were homeothermic (warm-blooded). His special field is the ecological context and behavior of dinosaurs. His book The Dinosaur Heresies first propelled him to popular attention.

Related Topics:
March 24 - 1945 - Bergen County, New Jersey - Paleontologist - Dinosaurs - Homeothermic - Ecological

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With a cowboy hat and his huge beard, Bakker dresses in cowboy/biker style, quite unlike the common perception of scientists. His energetic personality effectively communicates his skeptical enthusiasm for his subject, and Bakker is in demand as a talking head for dinosaur documentaries.

Related Topics:
Cowboy - Biker - Talking head

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Bakker has been a major proponent of the theory that dinosaurs were "warm-blooded," smart, fast and adaptable. He published his first paper on dinosaur endothermy in 1968. He revealed the first evidence of parental care at nesting sites for Allosaurus. Bakker was among the advisors for the film Jurassic Park.

Related Topics:
Endothermy - 1968 - Allosaurus - Jurassic Park

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At Yale, Bakker studied under John Ostrom, an early proponent of the new view of dinosaurs, and gained a PhD at Harvard. He began by teaching anatomy at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Most of his field work has been done in Colorado, especially at Como Bluff, but he has ranged as far as Mongolia and South Africa in pursuit of dinosaur habitats. Bakker is currently adjunct curator of the Tate Geological Museum, Casper College, Wyoming, where he is helping smaller natural history museums in the state link together.

Related Topics:
John Ostrom - PhD - Harvard - Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, Maryland - Colorado - Como Bluff - Mongolia - South Africa - Habitats - Tate Geological Museum - Casper College, Wyoming

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His novel Raptor Red (ISBN 0785799729) tells the life of a female Utahraptor of the lower Cretaceous. In the story, Bakker elaborates on his theories of the behavior of dromaeosaurids ("raptor" dinosaurs) and life at the time of their existence.

Related Topics:
Utahraptor - Cretaceous - Dromaeosaurids

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The bearded paleontologist 'Dr. Robert Burke' in Steven Spielberg's film ' is an affectionate caricature of Bakker. The character is eventually eaten by a Tyrannosaurus.

Related Topics:
Steven Spielberg - Caricature - Tyrannosaurus

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