We love dinosaurs, don’t we? Whether it’s visiting a museum to learn more about fossils or going to the movie theater for a Jurassic-themed blockbuster, we can’t get enough. But what do we actually know about dinosaurs? We’ve put together this list of incredible dinosaur information for kids to share with your students. You won’t believe some of these tidbits!
1. words Dinosaurs Comes from the Greek language.
The term was coined in 1842 by the English paleontologist Richard Owen Dinosaurs I mean “terrible lizards” but it’s not because they’re scary — it means their huge size!
2. Dinosaurs have ruled the earth for more than 150 million years.
Lizard-like reptiles were the main creatures on this planet and some of them still have the largest, most terrifying creatures! Beginning about 230 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the planet from the Triassic era through the Jurassic era to the end of the Cretaceous era about 65 million years ago.
3. Dinosaurs became extinct about 65.5 million years ago.
No one is sure why the dinosaurs died. Some believe that the climate has become too hot or too cold for their existence. Others say that a giant asteroid collided with the Earth — if this is true, then why did some species, including the ancestors of frogs, turtles and even birds, survive? It’s a mystery! Watch this video to explore some theories.
4. Baby Tyrannosaurus was probably adorable.
The ferocious adult T-Rex was the king of the dinosaurs, however Rebirth of their young children The American Museum of Natural History is amazingly beautiful!
5. The largest were land-based dinosaurs Argentinosaurus hinculensis.
Incredibly, these giant dinosaurs can reach 130 feet in length! Check out this video about the biggest dinosaur!
6. The name of the first dinosaur was Megalosaurus.
Watch this video about the discovery of the first dinosaur in 1824.
7. The oldest dinosaur is the europtor.
We are still learning about dinosaurs, but the oldest known to us at the moment is the europtor, an omnivore that roamed the earth about 230 million years ago.
8. Paleontologists study dinosaurs.
What do paleontologists do? This video will help you “dig” and learn more!
9. Dinosaur fossils were first discovered in the early 1800s.
These remains have been preserved in the rock and give us a better idea of the dinosaurs and how they lived.
10. Scientists believe that birds came from dinosaurs.
Fossils also say that dinosaurs were cousins of lizards, snakes and crocodiles! Watch this video from National Geographic to answer the question: Are birds modern-day dinosaurs?
11. Many adult dinosaurs had feathers.
The largest known was the feathered dinosaur Yutyrannus huali (See this to learn more about this super-hunter!) This cousin of the T-Rex was 30 feet tall and probably relied on its feathers to stay warm. Other types of dinosaurs had flying feathers that they flew!
12. Dinosaurs and humans did not coexist.
Humans did not appear on Earth until about 65 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
13. Not all dinosaurs were carnivorous.
Many large dinosaurs, including Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus, were herbivores. To protect themselves from their carnivorous opponents, many had natural weapons such as horns as spikes or shields on their tails.
14. Dinosaur fossils have been found on every continent.
Dinosaurs lived all over the world in a variety of environments and climates, from arid, sandy deserts to tropical forests.
15. We drink the same water as dinosaurs.
Billions of years ago, water came to Earth, probably as meteorite ice that crashed into the new planet. These same water molecules continue to evaporate, condense into clouds, and rain down. This means we are all drinking the same water that dinosaurs did millions of years ago!
16. Pterodactyls are not dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs had a lot in common with these flying reptiles and their existence was overlapped, but by definition they are not dinosaurs. This video from the American Museum of Natural History explains why. They were, of course, the first reptiles able to fly!
17. Some dinosaurs were smaller than chickens.
The microraptor, for example, was a small carnivore that weighed about two pounds and was small enough to fit in the hands of an adult. It had flying feathers on its legs that helped it move from branch to branch.
18. The dinosaurs were colorful.
Although scientists believe the dinosaurs were gray, green or brown, new research has revealed that they were probably more colorful than that! For example, Sinosauropteryx was a turkey-shaped dinosaur that was probably orange and white with a striped tail. Fossils also suggest that Kaihong Juji was a rainbow with shiny, sharp feathers on his chest and neck!
19. Dinosaurs lay eggs.
Most dinosaurs lay eggs and build large nests to protect their young and keep them together.
20. Young dinosaurs grow rapidly.
Notably, dinosaurs have reached their full size, or adulthood, in just seven or eight years!
21. Some dinosaurs had long lifespans.
It is believed that some large dinosaurs can live about 100 years.
22. Not all dinosaurs existed at the same time.
Over millions of years, new dinosaur species emerged while others became extinct at different times. By the time T-Rex survived, Stegosaurus was already a fossil!
23. Dinosaurs get sick.
There is evidence that non-avian dinosaurs suffered from shortness of breath and developed symptoms such as colds and coughs.
24. Dinosaurs liked to steal.
One of the most amazing dinosaur information for kids was that these animals snatched. Fossils were discovered about 70 million years ago by the fossil skeletons of three young Oviraptorosors that were stuck together. It is possible that they were living together for protection or to stay warm.
25. We haven’t found all the dinosaurs yet.
Science is to find the answer to the question and then ask more questions! New species of dinosaurs are found all the time, which gives us a clear idea of what their life was like. This helps us to better understand the species we have already found Isn’t science amazing?
What is your favorite dinosaur information for kids? Share in the comments below!
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