What kind of animals were dinosaurs?

Dinosaurs were various types of reptiles that ruled the Earth during the Mesozoic Era, from about 230 million years ago to 66 million years ago. As the name "terrifying lizard" suggests, there were dinosaurs that boasted huge bodies and great strength, but there were also small and agile dinosaurs.

 

How is the dinosaur era divided?

The Mesozoic Era, when dinosaurs lived, is largely divided into three periods.

● Triassic Period: From about 250 million years ago to 201 million years ago, this is the period when early dinosaurs began to appear.

● Jurassic Period: From about 201 million years ago to 145 million years ago, this is the period when giant sauropods and various types of theropod dinosaurs flourished. It's like the period that served as the setting for the movie <Jurassic Park>!

● Cretaceous Period: From about 145 million years ago to 66 million years ago, famous dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops lived, and it marked the end of the dinosaur era.

 

What were the characteristics of dinosaurs?

Dinosaurs had several characteristics that set them apart from other reptiles.

● Upright walking: Most dinosaurs walked upright, with their legs extended straight down their bodies like mammals. This was advantageous for efficiently supporting their body weight and moving quickly.

● Pelvic structure: Dinosaurs had a unique pelvic structure, which played an important role in the movement and support of their legs.

● Various sizes and shapes: From giant carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus to small dinosaurs like Compsognathus and long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs like Brachiosaurus, they had a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

● Reproduction: Dinosaurs were reptiles that reproduced by laying eggs. Dinosaur egg fossils found in nests provide important clues to the lifestyle of the time.

 

Various types of dinosaurs

So many types of dinosaurs walked the Earth. Let me introduce you to some interesting dinosaurs.

● Tyrannosaurus Rex: A representative carnivore dinosaur with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, as its name "tyrant lizard" suggests.

● Triceratops: A herbivorous dinosaur with three horns on its face and a large frill. Along with Tyrannosaurus, it is a representative dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period.

● Brachiosaurus: A sauropod dinosaur with a long neck and a huge body. It would have looked like a living giraffe.

● Velociraptor: A small carnivore dinosaur with sharp claws and fast speed. It became known to many people through the movie <Jurassic Park>.

● Stegosaurus: A unique type of herbivorous dinosaur with large plates on its back and sharp spikes on its tail.

 

Why did dinosaurs become extinct?

Around 66 million years ago, many creatures, including dinosaurs, disappeared from the Earth due to the mass extinction that occurred at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The most likely cause is a huge meteorite impact.

The rapid environmental changes caused by the meteorite impact were extremely harsh for the dinosaurs.

 

However, not all dinosaurs became extinct! Scientists believe that birds evolved from small theropod dinosaurs. In other words, the birds we see around us are descendants of dinosaurs! Isn't that amazing?