Dinosaurs are extinct reptiles that existed on Earth nearly 65 million years ago. This term was first announced in 1842. He was voiced by a biologist from England named Richard. That is how he described the first fossils, which were striking in their large sizes.
This word is translated from Greek as "scary and terrible". It is worth noting that the scientist gave just such a term to show the grandeur and size of these amazing reptiles.
Giant bones began to be found since ancient times. The first fossils were found in 1796 in England. But even now people constantly conduct various studies and find more and more confirmation that such amazing creatures lived on our planet many years ago.
In this article, we will cover 10 interesting facts about dinosaurs.
10. The largest - a seismosaurus
Seismosaurus is considered the largest dinosaur that lived on Earth.. During the study, his ribs were found, as well as a femur and several vertebrae. The description was first compiled in 1991.
A partial dinosaur skeleton was found in New Mexico. Initially, one of the scientists estimated its length at 50 meters, and weight about 110 tons. But if we consider the modern reconstruction, then it is only 33 meters.
The forelimbs were slightly shorter than the hind limbs. They helped to keep him his huge body. The tail had a rather unusual shape, it could easily be controlled. The long neck, according to the assumptions, was used so that the dinosaur could penetrate the forests and obtain foliage. Since, due to its large size, it was not possible to enter there.
Seisamozar lived in the steppes or in the swamps. Young individuals tried to stay in small herds, but adults could well be alone. But even at present, many facts remain debatable.
9. The hardest - titanosaurus
Titanosaurus is recognized as the heaviest dinosaur.. This is one of the herbivorous animals that lived in Asia, Africa, as well as Europe and even South America.
It reached a length of about 40 m. They found out about him in 1871, when he found his massive femur. Scientists for a long time could not understand which lizard it belongs to. But a little later they found several more vertebrae, with the help of which they could come to the conclusion that a new biological species of the dinosaur was discovered.
In 1877, one of the scientists decided to call this species of dinosaurs - titanosaurus. This was the first reptile found throughout the entire Southern Hemisphere. Such a find almost immediately caused a great sensation, since even earlier science did not know about their existence.
8. The smallest - compsognat
The smallest dinosaur is considered to be a compognate. For the first time his remains were found in Germany, as well as Bavaria. It differed from other senses and rather fast legs. It is worth noting that he had 68 sharp, but slightly bent teeth.
Fossils were first discovered in 1850. In length, it reached only 60 centimeters, but some large individuals - 140. Its weight is quite small - about 2.5 kilograms.
Scientists have found that this particular species was bipedal, but had rather long hind legs and a tail. It is worth noting that very often the compulsate got into many famous novels and films.
7. The closest relative is a crocodile
Not many people know that a close relative of dinosaurs is a crocodile. They also relate to the group of reptiles.
First appeared in the Cretaceous period. Currently, at least 15 species of crocodiles are known. They have a rather large lizard-like body, as well as a flattened muzzle. They swim perfectly and can move quite quickly on the ground.
You can meet in the tropical lowlands. At present, it is also known that they attack people and are considered dangerous to humans.
6. On Earth, there were more than 1,000 species of dinosaurs
Scientists have found that previously on Earth there were more than 1,000 species of dinosaurs. They were clearly divided into 2 groups - poultry and lizardotazovye. They also differed in their size, height and weight.
It was speculated that the first humans lived with dinosaurs. Since there are many drawings that were found during excavations. Specialists also found dinosaur footprints. Their casts were transferred to museums.
Dinosaurs existed over 65 million years ago. Why did they die out, no one can say for sure. Many assume that due to the fall of a series of asteroids on Earth, such hypotheses are also considered that there were changes in vegetation, which led to the extinction, for example, of herbivorous dinosaurs.
5. Birds descended from theropod dinosaurs
Not many people know that birds descended from theropod dinosaurs. Such a theory was first studied by the scientist Thomas in the 19th century. In principle, until the 70s of the last century, it was the main one.
Scientists have proven that the first bird lived on the border of the Jurassic and Cretaceous. It was then that many people came up with the idea that the ancestors of the birds are much younger than previously thought. Also, several scientists have found many similarities in the structure of the paws, tail, and neck.
4. In ancient China, dinosaur bones were mistaken for dragon bones
In ancient China, people took dinosaur bones for dragon bones for a very long time. They were widely used by them in medicine. Bones were used as a powder to get rid of trauma and weakness in the bones. Also, broths were cooked from them, since they have a lot of calcium.
3. The dinosaur brain is comparable to a walnut
Currently, many dinosaurs are known, which were noted for their unusual size, weight and lifestyle.
The lifestyle of herbivorous dinosaurs was very simple. Their existence is entirely aimed at just finding food for themselves. But even for such a passive image, a developed brain is needed.
And for the capture of other animals, an even more developed one is needed. But it is worth noting that even if the length of the dinosaur was about 9 meters, and its height was about 4, then the brain had a mass of only - 70 grams. That is, this brain size was much smaller than that of an ordinary dog. That is the conclusion scientists have come to.
2. The teeth of a tyrannosaurus had a length of 15 centimeters
Tyrannosaurus Rex was considered one of the most dangerous predators. In length, it reached about 12 meters, and weighed about 8 tons. They appeared on Earth in the Cretaceous period. In translation, the name means "King of Tyranger Lizards ". It is worth noting that the lizard had huge teeth that were 15 centimeters long.
1. Herbivorous dinosaurs ate about a ton of plants per day
There were quite a lot of herbivorous dinosaurs. Some of them weighed about 50 tons, which is why they need to eat quite a lot. Scientists have established that such species had to eat more than a ton of plants per day, and some even more.
Those who had rather large sizes ate the tops of trees, and, for example, diplodocuses mainly ate pasture, eating only ferns and simple horsetails.
Scientists have been trying for a long time to find out how food travels in the gastric tract of herbivorous dinosaurs, they tried to assess their nutritional value. As a result, they came to the conclusion that ferns were not inferior in nutrition, for example, to angiosperms.
According to rough estimates, for example, a dinosaur with a weight of about 30 tons needs about 110 kg of foliage per day. But it is worth noting that carbon dioxide, which was contained in the atmosphere, also played a large role here. It was he who influenced the nutritional value of all plants.