Fascinating Facts About Dinosaurs (17 pics)

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The Tyrannosaurus Rex was an exceptionally dangerous predator, possessing vision significantly sharper than that of humans and even falcons. These massive carnivores could also perceive a broader spectrum of colors, including ultraviolet, and had a keen sense of smell, allowing them to detect prey even if it stood still. Adding to their formidable capabilities, T-Rex were surprisingly fast, able to outpace top human sprinters.

It's Very Likely That Dinosaurs Didn't Roar

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The sounds dinosaurs made were probably not the loud roars we often imagine. Instead of a larynx like lions, they had a syrinx, similar to birds and crocodiles. This means they likely produced softer noises, such as low rumbles, gargles, or even whistles and pops.

Velociraptors Were Much Smaller And Less Scary Than You Imagine

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Contrary to their depiction in Jurassic Park, actual Velociraptors were much smaller, roughly the size of a turkey, with skulls around six inches long. The fearsome, human-sized predators shown in the film more closely resemble another dinosaur, Deinonychus. Deinonychus was indeed a formidable creature, a fast, bipedal hunter equipped with deadly sickle-shaped claws capable of swift, fatal attacks.

There Were Many Other Animals Alive Millennia Before Dinosaurs Roamed

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Long before dinosaurs first appeared, a diverse array of animal life, including frogs, turtles, sharks, clams, and various fish, already populated the Earth. These creatures existed for millennia prior to the era when dinosaurs began to roam. The planet, therefore, was home to many established animal groups well before the rise of the dinosaurs.

Deinonychus Was The Inspiration For "Raptors" On Jurassic Park

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The name "Deinonychus," which translates to "terrible claw," actually refers to the dinosaur that served as the primary inspiration for the "raptors" in Jurassic Park. While the film used the name Velociraptor because it sounded more dramatic, the physical characteristics and size of the movie's creatures more closely matched those of Deinonychus. This highlights a creative choice made for cinematic appeal.

The Oldest Dinosaur That We Know Of Lived As Far Back As 237 Million Years Ago

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The earliest known dinosaur, a relatively small creature perhaps the size of a golden retriever, lived in Tanzania around 237 million years ago during the Triassic period; other early dinosaurs were even smaller, some akin to house cats. At that time, the world was largely dominated by crocodiles and other large reptilian animals. It wasn't until about 36 million years later, during the Jurassic period, that dinosaurs became the prevailing creatures.

Pterosaurs Are Not Seen As Dinosaurs

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Although they lived alongside dinosaurs, Pterosaurs are classified separately by scientists as flying reptiles. These airborne creatures are distinct from dinosaurs, despite sharing the same prehistoric era. Therefore, while often associated with them, Pterosaurs do not fall under the "dinosaur" category.

Dinosaur Were Relatively Social

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Discoveries of nesting colonies, such as those of Maiasaura, indicate that not all dinosaurs were solitary creatures. This evidence points to some species exhibiting social behaviors. These findings suggest a more complex social structure for certain dinosaurs than previously thought.

Pterosaurs Were The First Beings Larger Than Bugs That Could Fly

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Pterosaurs hold the distinction of being the first creatures larger than insects to achieve flight. Some of these ancient flying reptiles reached impressive sizes, with the largest having wingspans around 36 feet. This wingspan is comparable to that of a small modern airplane.

Birds Are In Fact Descendants Of Dinosaurs

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The lineage of modern birds traces directly back to dinosaurs, from which they evolved around 150 million years ago in the Jurassic period. Contrary to some popular depictions, pterosaurs were not flying dinosaurs but a distinct group of flying reptiles. In fact, birds are the only type of dinosaur that ever developed the ability to fly.

The Word "Dinosaur" Was Only Recognised In 1841

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The word "dinosaur," which translates to "Terrible Lizard," was first introduced in 1841. It was Sir Richard Owen who coined this term to describe these ancient reptiles. This new classification helped to define these creatures for scientific study.

Megalosaurus Was The First Ground-Dwelling Dinosaur To Be Published In Scientific Writing

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A portion of a femur discovered in the 17th century resulted in Megalosaurus becoming the first ground-dwelling dinosaur to be documented in scientific writing. This particular fossil find marked an early step in the formal study of dinosaurs that lived on land.

Dinosaurs Were On Earth For Well Over 165 Million Years

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Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for an extensive period, well over 165 million years. This is a remarkably long time, especially when compared to the approximately five to seven million years that humans have existed. The vast difference in these timelines underscores just how briefly humans have been present relative to the dinosaurs' long era.

There Were Three Periods Defined By Dinosaurs

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The era of dinosaurs is divided into three distinct periods: the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. During the Jurassic period, long-necked sauropods emerged, and overall dinosaur diversity greatly increased. The subsequent Cretaceous period was characterized by the presence of massive carnivores, titanosaurs, and various ornithopods such as Lambeosaurus and Iguanodon. Earlier, in the Triassic period, the dinosaur landscape included large herbivores like Plateosaurus and smaller carnivores such as Coelophysis.



Not All Dinosaurs Were Alive During The Same Periods

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The vast timeline of dinosaur existence, spanning over 165 million years, means that many iconic species never actually lived at the same time. For example, a T-Rex from 66 million years ago would have roamed landscapes containing the fossilized bones of earlier dinosaurs like Stegosaurus, which lived many millions of years prior. This chronological separation placed creatures like Dreadnoughtus and T-Rex in entirely different prehistoric eras, preventing them from ever meeting.

Many Species Of Dinosaur Had The Ability To Swim

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Evidence such as fossilized trackways showing dinosaurs entering water, with their footprints becoming lighter and eventually showing claw scrapes in the mud, suggests that many dinosaur species possessed swimming capabilities. Like other vertebrate animals, these ancient creatures could navigate aquatic environments. It's important to distinguish them from marine reptiles like Mosasaurs and Plesiosaurs, which were not dinosaurs, even though they lived in the water during the same era.

You Might Have Been Able To Out-Maneuver A T-Rex