About That Swimming Pyroraptor.

SasquaDash
MemberBrachiosaurusApr-29-2022 10:46 AMSo it was recently revealed that the Pyroraptor in Jurassic World: Dominion can swim, which of course has the paleo community loosing their minds. Many are having a meltdown, stating that the pyroraptor's ability to swim is "unrealistic" and that this is "proof that the series doesn't care about actual science", some even going as far as to claim that the pyroraptor breathing fire would be more "realistic" than it swimming (Yes, really). However is the pyroraptor swimming really that unrealistic?
The biggest argument I've seen against this, is the paleo community stating that it's a "feathered bird-like animal" so therefore it should act like a bird and not have the ability to swim.
Well...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8vaFl6J87s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVfOcq5PeM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3QcD0X7q34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiSMIcaUqbY
If you compare the scene of the pyroraptor swimming, it actually dives and swims in a pretty similar (if not nearly identical) way to these birds.
Most people would argue that these birds have specific adaptations that would allow them to swim like that. However, not only does the pyroraptor have these adaptations, they were actually shown off during the first trailer. While we were all distracted by its feathers, a lot of us overlooked a crucial detail that was clearly shown.
The JW pyroraptor has webbed feet.
So, the pyroraptor does have the physical adaptations it would need in order to swim like how it does in the movie.
The other complaint that's been hurled at this idea, is the fact that there's currently no evidence to suggest that the real pyroraptor could swim, with some deeming the idea as "highly unlikely". But, is it though?
The bird-like dinosaur, halszkaraptor, is officially classified as a dromaeosaur (the same family as velociraptor and pyroraptor) and it is currently believed that it it could swim and dive in the same way that modern seabirds and waterfowl can.
So the idea of other dromaeosaurs swimming isn't completely far-fetched. Especially when you consider how little is currently known about pyroraptor's appearance and behavior. There's also fossil evidence which suggests that other types of theropod dinosaurs may have had the ability to swim as well.
So, is the pyroraptor swimming weird? Yes.
Is it unrealistic? Eh, not really...
It's funny how the paleo community demanded for the Jurassic World movies to show fully feathered raptors that act like modern birds. Well, we technically got that. They just took more inspiration from modern seabirds and waterfowl, rather than taking inspiration from birds of prey.
Plus, in a series that features giant, hyper intelligent, door opening velociraptors and venom spitting, frill-necked dilophosaurus, is a swimming pyroraptor even that strange?