What is a cool fact about dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs, among the most fascinating creatures in Earth’s history, captivate our imagination with the idea of coexisting with humans. However, considering the cautionary tales like Jurassic Park, it’s likely not the wisest concept. Nevertheless, exploring the rich history of these ancient reptiles allows us to delve into their world and unleash our creativity.
- Dinosaurs existed for over 235 million years!
Around 250 million years ago, many living things on Earth died off, and within the following ten million years, dinosaurs started to develop. We’re not certain about the exact time they appeared, but it was definitely between 230-245 million years ago.
- Dinosaurs existed in a time called the Mesozoic era.
The Mesozoic era lasted from about 245 to 66 million years ago and is split into three parts: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. Dinosaurs started evolving in the Triassic, became more diverse in the Jurassic, evolved more in the Cretaceous, and eventually, most of them died off.
- Dinosaurs originated from small reptiles about the size of house cats.
Between about 244 to 242 million years ago, tiny and nimble reptiles called dinosauromorphs quickly multiplied and spread worldwide. Though too small to be at the top of the food chain, their speed helped them escape predators long enough to eventually evolve into dinosaurs!
- Dinosaurs are still around and living with us today!
No need to panic, unless you’re terrified of chickens! Interestingly, all birds, including the common hummingbird, are descendants of dinosaurs. While non-bird dinosaurs disappeared, those that evolved into birds have been with us over the years.
- Pterodactyls aren’t really dinosaurs.
Pterodactyls and other flying reptiles similar to dinosaurs aren’t part of the dinosaur family; they belong to a group called Pterosaurs. Although they’re related to dinosaurs, the connection is distant, branching off from a group called archosaurs.
- Dinosaurs are divided into two main groups.
In simple terms, dinosaurs are either “lizard-hipped” (saurischian) or “bird-hipped” (ornithischian). Surprisingly, the ones with lizard-like hips are more closely connected to today’s birds, while the bird-hipped dinosaurs all disappeared.
- The first dinosaur got its name before we knew dinosaurs were a things.
In 1815, a geology professor named William Buckland at Oxford University discovered the skeleton of an animal that hadn’t been seen before. Thinking it was a reptile that no longer existed, he named it “Megalosaurus,” which means “great lizard” in Greek.
- Dinosaurs were officially grouped and named in 1842.
Seven years after Buckland found the megalosaurus, a geologist and his wife found a new skeleton in Sussex, England, similar to an iguana, and named it “Iguanadon.” As more fossils appeared, Sir Richard Owen, the founder of London’s Natural History Museum, grouped them together as part of the “Dinosauria” family, which means “terrible lizards” in Greek.
- In the 1800s, the megalosaurus was so well-liked that Charles Dickens mentioned it in one of his books.
At the start of Charles Dickens’s Bleak House, he envisions the idea of encountering a megalosaurus walking through London’s streets. Surprisingly, despite the megalosaurus being large and probably fierce, Dickens doesn’t portray it as scary, but rather as an “elephantine lizard.”
- You can distinguish between a dinosaur fossil and a rock by licking it.
Even though it might not sound very official, paleontologists sometimes lick fossils as part of their daily work! If you try licking a potential fossil, it will slightly stick to your tongue because fossils are more porous than rocks.
- Over 900 different kinds of dinosaurs lived on Earth.
When we mention dinosaurs from now on, we mean non-bird dinosaurs, as birds are a separate group. The 900 dinosaurs we’re discussing have enough fossil evidence to confirm they are genuine species. There are even more potential species with names, but they aren’t considered valid because there isn’t enough solid evidence for them.
- Dinosaurs inhabited every continent on Earth.
When dinosaurs appeared around 230 million years ago in the Triassic period, all Earth’s continents were joined in a huge supercontinent called Pangaea. In the next 165 million years, as dinosaurs roamed the Earth, Pangaea gradually split apart, causing many dinosaur species to become isolated from each other.
- The biggest dinosaurs were called titanosaurs.
Titanosaurs were a type of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs called sauropods. They lived towards the end of the dinosaur era, around 145-66 million years ago. Figuring out the biggest one is tricky because of not-so-well-preserved fossils, but the argentinosaurus is a top contender, estimated to weigh between 99 to 110 tons (90 to 100 tonnes)!
- Dinosaur fossils are mostly discovered in three specific locations around the world.
China, Argentina, and North America, specifically in high-altitude badlands, have a significant number of easily accessible dinosaur fossils. Although fossils are spread worldwide, it’s simpler to find them in desert-like areas with sparse vegetation.
- Many dinosaur bones that turn into fossils are no longer actual bones.
Fossilization often occurs when something gets stuck between layers of sediment or sand and stays there for millions of years. Water surrounds these remains, swapping out the original stuff with minerals, forming a rock-like copy!
Some Awesome Facts About Dinosaurs
- Dinosaurs with feathers existed, particularly in a group called theropods, which includes velociraptors and tyrannosaurus rexes.
- Most dinosaurs had small brains, even the fearsome ones. For example, the stegosaurus had a tiny brain despite its large body.
- Two famous paleontologists in the late 19th century, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, started as friends but became rivals, contributing to the birth of the US paleontology scene.
- The smartest dinosaurs were carnivores, especially theropods like the t-rex and agile ones like the velociraptor.
- Nigersaurus replaced its teeth as frequently as every fourteen days, having rows of teeth ready to move into position.
- Plesiosaurs, even though they share a common ancestor with dinosaurs, are not classified as dinosaurs because they lived predominantly underwater.
- The micropachycephalosaurus had the longest name among dinosaurs.
- The cause of the Cretaceous extinction, which wiped out non-avian dinosaurs, is commonly attributed to an asteroid crash, though other theories, including climate change, exist.
- Not all herbivorous dinosaurs walked on four legs; some could walk on two legs for short periods.
- Dinosaurs didn’t go extinct simultaneously; the asteroid crash likely triggered a gradual process over hundreds or thousands of years, leaving only avian dinosaurs.
- In the entire first Jurassic Park movie, only 15 minutes featured dinosaurs, with nine minutes showcasing animatronic dinosaurs and the rest using CGI.
- Some dinosaurs, like the Microraptor, had four wings, with feathers on both front and rear legs.
- Most dinosaurs were plant-eaters, while the carnivorous ones were top predators but less in number.
- A newly discovered triceratops relative, officially called Regaliceratops peterhewsi, earned the nickname “Hellboy” due to its unique skull shape resembling the comic book character.
- Some meat-eating dinosaurs, like velociraptors and T-rexes, had hollow bones like birds, making them lighter and better breathers.
- King Edward VII, upon seeing sketches of the first diplodocus skeleton, requested a cast for London’s Natural History Museum, where it became known as “dippy.”
- Diplodocuses had impressively long tails, measuring 46 feet (14 m).
- The plates on a stegosaurus’s back were likely used for display or temperature regulation, rather than defense.
- On average, dinosaurs weighed about 7,700 lbs (3,493 kg), placing them between the size of an elephant and a rhino.
- There’s a fossil capturing a protoceratops and a velociraptor in the midst of a battle, with both creatures trapped in a landslide, showcasing a fierce struggle.
