All Facts about Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs lived on all seven continents including Antarctica as their fossils have been found all over the world. The term has been derived from the Greek language and it means ‘terrible lizard’. These huge creatures roamed on our planet until 65 million years ago. They lived on earth for over 160 million long years. They were swept out of the earth when a huge mass extinction occurred 65 million years ago. The person who studies about dinosaurs is known as paleontologist. Megalosaurus was the first ever dinosaur to be formally named in 1824.
Quick Facts: –
- Modern day birds are believed to have descended from a group of dinosaur called theropods.
- During the time when dinosaurs liven on the earth, all continents were connected together in one landmass.
- British Paleontologist Richard Owen was the first person to coin the term ‘dinosaur’ in 1842.
- Brachiosaurus was the tallest plant eater dinosaur. It had a head up to 39 feet off the ground.
- All the dinosaurs are thought to be cold-blooded like modern reptiles but some of them were warm-blooded as well.
- Contrary to popular belief all dinosaurs have not lived during the same geological period.
- Traditionally, they have been divided in two categories on the basis of their hipbone structure.
- Those two categories are Ornithischian (bird-hipped) and Saurischian (lizard-hipped).
- Only 59% of adults in the United States know that humans and dinosaurs did not coexist.
