- This article is about the paleontologist Jack Horner. See Jack Horner for other individuals with that name
Jack Horner (John R. Horner, born June 15, 1946) is an American paleontologist who discovered the Maiasaurus, which provided the first clear evidence that dinosaurs cared for their young. He also espoused the theory that Tyrannosaurus rex was a scavenger, and supported Robert Bakker's assertion that birds descended from dromaeosaurid dinosaurs. He achieved popular success as a technical advisor for the science fiction film Jurassic Park, and even served as partial inspiration for a lead character.
Discoveries and theories
In Montana during mid-1970s, he and his partner Bob Makela discovered a colonial nesting site of a new dinosaur species which they named Maiasaura, or "Good Mother Lizard". It contained the first dinosaur eggs in the Western hemisphere, the first dinosaur embryos, and settled questions of whether some dinosaurs were sociable, built nests and cared for their young.
Within the paleontological community, Jack Horner is probably best known for elaboating the contested theory that Tyrannosaurus rex was an obligate scavenger, rather than a predatory killer. His discovery of six specimens of T. rex, including one that is even larger than the specimen nicknamed "Sue", led to his suggestion that these dinosaurs moved as a pack.
Jack Horner is also well known for advancing Robert Bakker's theory that birds evolved from dromaeosaurids. However, he did not support Bakker's more controversial theory that the dromaeosaurids may have themselves evolved from very primitive birds — which recent findings have shown to be a possible case.
Jurassic Park
Despite his success, Jack Horner is probably best known outside of the paleontological community for his role as an advisor for the Jurassic Park films. In spite of his advice, there were some inaccuracies, which can be attributed to artistic license.
With Robert Bakker, he served as a model for the field scientist Alan Grant in the film.
History
A victim of dyslexia with a mediocre academic record, he worked as an assistant at the Museum of Natural History, at Princeton University, from 1975–1982. He is currently a professor at Montana State University, and the leading paleontologist of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.
In 1986 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. He is the author of Under the Big Sky ([ISBN 0878424458]), a non-fiction book on dinosaurs, field research, and the geology of Montana.
| 
