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Valley of the Dinosaurs
"What Goes Up"
TV episode
Written by: Unknown
Directed by: Charles A. Nichols
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Giant army ants threaten the village.
Didja Know?
The writers of each TV episode are not specifically revealed,
but the end credits of every episode listed the series writers
as: Peter Dixon, Peter Germano, James Henderson, Ernie Kahn, Ben
Masselink, Dick Robbins, Henry Sharp, and Jerry Thomas.
Didja Notice?
The pterosaurs that appear at 1:16 on the DVD appear to be
Rhamphorhynchus. Likewise the pterosaur at 11:16
(although at 11:20 the beast suddenly is depicted as a
Pteranodon!) and at 16:01.
The carnivorous theropod dinosaur called Konga by Gorok is
referred to as a Tyrannosaurus rex by John. Yet
the beast appears to have three claws on its forelimbs,
whereas T. rex had only two.
Ants similar to fire ants but larger, are called tagas by
the cave-dwellers. Greg asks his father if they are like the
ones in the Amazon. But the Valley of the Dinosaurs is
in the Amazon! Anyway, the tagas are about the size of a
man's hand; modern world army ants are about a half-inch at
best.
The dinosaur seen at 3:55 on the DVD may be a Gallimimus,
judging from what appear to be three-clawed forelimbs.
John comments that army ants can bridge streams, sometimes
using their own bodies. This is true, army ants are known to
build structures such as nests, walls, and bridges out of
their own living bodies.
At 6:32 on the DVD, notice that Tana is standing on Glump's
back in the background!

At 6:37 on the DVD, Digger and Glump cover their eyes at the
news that the tagas are on the way to the cave and there is
no escape. Oh, what would little child viewers do without
animated pets to provide comic relief?
The primitive birds seen at 7:00 on the DVD are
unidentified. They do not seem to be the popularly-known
Archaeopteryx, as they are missing the characteristic
frond-tail. Likewise, the more eagle-looking bird seen
at 10:32 (possibly a Chilean Blue Eagle, though a bit out of
its range in the Amazon).
The reptile at 7:04 on the DVD may be a
Postosuchus.
John remarks to his wife, "You know, Kim, that's why I
married you. Every time we're in hot water, you come up with
a good idea." Were the two of them in the habit of getting
into hot water together before they were married? Ah, the
untold stories of their courtship!
Gorok tells John that the tagas do not move at night. This
is true of many species of army ant, though there are some
that are nocturnal.
When Gorok questions the small model balloon John and Kim
are making, John responds it's just to show him and his clan
how a hot air balloon will work, adding, "Call it a sales
pitch." But I doubt Gorok understands what the term "sales pitch"
means either!
Some type of plesiosaur is seen at 11:20 on the DVD.
The synapsid (not a true dinosaur) seen at 11:32 on the DVD
is a type of Dimetrodon. Lok tells Katie not to be
afraid because it is a plant feeder. But Dimetrodons
were actually carnivores.
The pterosaur seen at 12:41 on the DVD is a
Pteranodon. Another is seen at 13:55.
The dinosaur seen at 13:59 on the DVD appears to be a
Stegosaurus.
John remarks that Lok's flint is better than matches, able
to light a fire even when it's wet. It is true that flint
will create a spark when scraped against iron pyrite or
steel, but not generally when it is wet. John would seem to
be thinking of ferrocerium, a man-made metallic substance
often referred to as "flint".
As they light a grass fire to turn back the tagas swarming
around Gorok, John remarks to Lok that it's like forest
rangers lighting a backfire. A backfire is a controlled burn
ignited intentionally by fire fighters in the wilderness to
burn out a small, prescribed area to prevent a larger fire
from spreading.
Greg throws a large rock against a tree to stop the tagas
from climbing up it and he calls it his "stone fishing
sinker". Presumably, he is referring to primitive stone
sinkers used on fishing lines by stone age tribes and even
into the modern day by primitive fishing enthusiasts.
At 20:51 on the DVD, it appears that Tana is laughing at
Greg's accident, but no sound is heard. Greg also appears to
say something after tasting the fruit that has splattered
over him, but it is also not heard.
Unanswered Questions
Why don't the Butlers build another balloon and attempt to escape
the valley? Just because this one escaped from them doesn't mean
they can't try again.
Why did the tagas turn around and leave the valley mostly
unmolested? Just because of the rain? It's not explained.
Memorable Dialog
that's why I married you.wav
I'll pass on that invitation.wav
I hope it doesn't take me for a Geranium.wav
with
our luck.wav
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