Dinosaurs: Dinosaurs mean ‘terrible lizards’. They were one of the most successful species ever to survive on the Earth. They were the well-known reptiles of the Mesozoic era. They ranged from being herbivores, carnivores to omnivores. They were different from early reptiles due to the following features: (1) Dinosaurs had their legs under their bodies. (2)They walked and ran fast and became the dictators of that era. The first bird, the Archaeopteryx, had features resembling a flying dinosaur appeared in Jurassic period.
Types of Dinosaurs: The various dinosaur families are as follows:
Saltoposuchus (Mesozoic era) were the first reptiles to walk on hind legs and hold things with short front legs.
Ichtyosaurs, Plesiosaurs were fish-like lizards which swam in seas with paddle-shaped front legs. They breathed through lungs.
Diplodocus (Jurassic period) were the largest plant-eating dinosaurs that were about 90 feet tall.
Tyrannosaurus (Cretaceous period) were the most fearsome animals that stood up to a height of 20 feet. Their teeth were 6 inches long.
Triceratops has large head covered with bony shields.
Dinosaurs: Around the World: Dinosaurs lived all over the globe since the continents were joined together and there existed one huge landmass (Pangaea). Remains of the dinosaurs were found in different places all over the world. For example, Tyrannosaurus Rex (ferocious dinosaur) was found in North America and Asia. Staurikosaurus (one of the oldest dinosaurs) was found in South America. Barosaurus was found in Africa and Asia. Iguanodon was found in Europe. Tuaziangosaurus (had spikes all along its spine) was found in China, Asia. And Minmi (body covered with hard plates, armoured dinosaur) was found in Australia.
