Raptors Could Have Had iPods in 10,000,000 B.C.

In Jurassic Park III, Sam Neill's character said that "Were it not for the cataclysmic events which overtook them, it's entirely possible that raptors, rather than humans, would have become the dominant species on this planet."

Do you think that sounds far-fetched? Consider this: starting from when we were chimpanzees, it took us about 5 million years to evolve into our modern selves and invent the iPod. My, how far we've come. And look at how we continue to change at an increasing rate. 130 years ago we sat in the dark because we didn't have lightbulbs, 50 years ago TVs were not that common, and 15 years ago most people had never heard of email.

With things changing this fast, it's impossible to make any accurate guesses as to what dinosaurs might be like today if they hadn't been wiped out 65 million years ago by a giant meteor or whatever. But velociraptors were fierce, intelligent, and capable of communication and coordination way back then. If we could go from chimps to iPods in 5 million years, how far might raptors have come in 65 million years?

Now, maybe we're really as great as we think we are, and raptors might have taken much longer to evolve. Even so, is it unreasonable to think that in 10 million B.C. they might be found listening to their iPods in Starbucks or Neiman Marcus? If so, would it be reasonable for them to think that God had created them in his image? Would humans have survived to the present day? Would we be their pets? Would they be vegans by now?

Of course, Hollywood has a tendency to exaggerate things. In reality, velociraptors were the size of turkeys, and probably less intelligent than big cats. Maybe they didn't have what it takes to become the dominant species on this planet. But maybe humans didn't either. Maybe we needed a giant meteor to level the playing field. I certainly appreciate being able to drink my morning coffee in peace, without fear of being eaten. Anyway, we may not be a perfect species, but we're still on top...for now.