Dinosaur Planet Summary . The " Enterprise " is headed to the " Oblik " solar system , a mysterious region , far from the heart of the Federation . Spock , the ship ' s first officer , informs Captain Kirk that they are approaching the third planet . Chekov brings up the planet on the viewscreen . The surface of the world is scarred by volcano es and lava , similar to an ancient Earth , and the computer detects no signs of life whatsoever . As they approach the planet , a warning goes off , and Kirk instructs Ensign Sulu to turn it off . Spock reports that the computer has found signs of intelligent life on the far side of the planet . Kirk has Chekov contact Dr . McCoy and Scott , along with security officers Frank Tanka and Wodsworth . Along with Sulu and Spock , they form an away team that beam s down to the planet . Down on the planet , they find nothing but lava and craters , and it appears to be an exact replica of Earth during its prehistoric cretaceous period , a time when dinosaur s roamed the planet , more than 130 million years earlier . Wodsworth spots something flying toward them , a pterodactyl . The away team fires phaser s on stun at the creatures , but they have no effect . Spock suggests that they find a better defensive location , and they head to a cave . Inside , Wodsworth trips on a rock and twists an ankle . Kirk helps him as the pterodactyls follow them . However , Wodsworth seems to be suffering some type of emotional shock and when they come across a wall of gemstones , Wodsworth becomes obsessed with them . As they stare at the wall , a Tyrannosaurus Rex approaches them , but Sulu points out that its arms are longer , their claws are almost Human - shaped , and their skulls larger than the prehistoric Earth variety . Spock suggests that they are the intelligent life detected earlier . The creature begins to talk to them using telepathy telling Kirk that they thought he was a pirate , there to steal the riches of the planet . Wodsworth takes offense and fires his phaser at the creature before Kirk can knock him out . The phaser fire has destabilized the cavern , and the dinosaur has them climb onto his and his companions ' backs and the dinosaurs race out of the cavern , carrying the " Enterprise " crew . With the new - found communications between the two civilizations , the dinosaur creatures become the newest members of the Federation , and it is another job well done by the " Enterprise " . Memorable quotes . " " My ' machine ' as you call it , doctor , is far more exact than your instincts and thankfully it uses more of its brain than you do . " " " " Now , take it easy you two . If the ship ' s computers say that there ' s life on this planet , I believe it . They have never been wrong before . " " " " Gems ! The entire wall is made up of rare gems ! " " " " I ' m rich ! . . . I mean we ' re rich . Who would have thought such a savage planet would hold such riches ? ! Captain Kirk you must destroy the monsters out there and claim this world in the name of the Federation ! " " " " Well , another solar system explored and another inhabited planet signed up as a member of the Federation . I would say it was a job well done . " "