Did you know that the Spinosaurus was the largest meat-eating dinosaur? Or that the Sauroposeidon was the tallest dinosaur? And that the Gallimimuses had beaks instead of teeth? Learn more about dinosaurs from their evolutionary family trees.
Spinosaurus was the largest meat-eating dinosaur
Spinosaurus was a massive theropod that lived in Africa. It was about 15 meters long and 2.9 to 3.2 meters tall, weighing six to eight tons. It was closely related to T. rex, the largest carnivorous dinosaur on record. It ate small Cretaceous animals and insects. This meat-eating dinosaur lived around 125 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Morrison Formation, a layer of Jurassic period rocks. The dinosaur was named for the fossil collector Othniel Charles Marsh.
Sauroposeidon was the tallest dinosaur
The Sauroposeidon was one of the tallest dinosaurs, with a head that could be raised up to 60 feet off the ground. Its long neck and high brachiosaurid shoulders probably helped it achieve that height. Its build and proportions were similar to modern giraffes. It is estimated that it measured between 89 and 112 feet (27-34 m) in length.
Stegosaurus was a dumb dinosaur
Stegosaurus was a giant herbivorous dinosaur that lived in Europe and North America. It was named for its bony plates that stood up on its back. It was an herbivore that lived during the Jurassic period, about 155 million years ago. Stegosaurus was about 20 feet long, but some specimens were over 30 feet long.
Gallimimuses had beaks instead of teeth
Gallimimuses were similar to modern birds, except that they had beaks instead of teeth. They also had a shorter spine and lighter bones. Because they had no teeth, their beaks did not narrow into a point, but instead were more of a bill. These characteristics likely aided in the efficient movement of the animals. Gallimimuses had long necks, similar to those of other ornithomimids, and long legs and arms, which might have helped them carry out more complex tasks.
Tyrannosaurus rex was the most dangerous dinosaur
When it comes to dinosaurs, no creature was more fearsome than Tyrannosaurus rex. This 40-foot-long, eight-ton predator had a jaw that shattered bones. It was capable of running at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour and was thought to hunt in packs.
Troodon lived in humid jungle biomes
Troodon is one of the most well-known dinosaurs. Its large head and large, powerful brain allow it to outmaneuver its prey. It was likely very social, and likely lived in groups of several individuals. It preyed on ornithopods, ornithomimids, and pachycephalosaurids. It also avoided large carnivores and armored herbivores. However, it was unable to avoid combat with smaller carnivores, and its bite was venomous.
Stegosaurus thrived in cold climates
Despite its relatively low intelligence, Stegosaurus lived in social herds. Members of its herd would coordinate their movements to surround a predator and cut off its movement. This large herd would act as an impenetrable force and even theropods would not dare attack such a herd.
Compsognathus was the size of a giraffe
Compsognathus was a dinosaur that was about the size of a giraffe, and measured about 75 centimeters (30 inches) long. It was also very fast. Its skeleton was discovered in France and Germany. The bones of the dinosaur were almost completely intact, and scientists even found the remains of its last meal.
Quetzalcoatlus northropi was the largest ptero
Quetzalcoatlus northropi was a pterosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous Period. It was one of the largest known flying animals. This dinosaur belonged to the family of advanced toothless pterosaurs. Its name derives from the Aztec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Its wing bones were made of hollow tubes, and were no thicker than a playing card.
