Dinosaurs are fascinating creatures that used to rule our planet, and learning about these wonderful animals is extremely interesting. Below you will find a list of 5 of the most popular dinosaurs.
Tyrannosaurus Rex was one of the most imposing and intimidating dinosaurs that ever existed. This was one of the largest and most ferocious of all carnivores. It had a massive skull, a giant mouth full of dagger piercing teeth – and all kept in perfect balance by the use of its enormous tail and powerful hind quarters. The creature roamed the regions during the Cretaceous period about 65 million years ago in what is now Western North America.
Although the forelimbs of Tyrannosaurus Rex were small in proportion to its massive body, they were extremely powerful and each one contained two curved claws for slicing and piercing. The most complete fossil of a Tyrannosaurus Rex stands at 40 feet long and over 13 feet tall at the hips. The name Tyrannosaurus Rex translates to “tyrant king” in Latin.
[For more information see: Tyrannosaurus Rex Facts and Information]
The Triceratops was a very unique dinosaur. It had a massive torso, and three imposing horns that protruded straight ahead from a shielded head plate. One of the horns was positioned at the end of its curved snout, and larger, more intimidating horns were set above each of its eyes. The Triceratops would use its massive horns to charge threatening predators, such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The Triceratops grew to about thirty feet long and ten feet tall, and it dined only on the vegetation found in Western North America during the late Cretaceous period about 60 to 65 million years ago. When full grown, the Triceratops could weigh in at over 6 tons. The head of the Triceratops was its most impressive feature; containing a massive head plate that measured roughly four feet across and held its powerful horns. The plate is thought to have protected its neck from predators. It might also have been used to attract mates, or to aid in regulating body temperature. The name Triceratops translates to “three-horned-face.”
[For more information see: Triceratops Facts and Information]
The Stegosaurus had a very peculiar posture; it walked on all four feet, but its hind limbs were much taller than its front limbs. The head hung low to the ground, which means that it probably dined on low-lying bushes and other vegetation. The tail arched high over the back and contained large spikes and plates that acted as a defense mechanism.
Although the Stegosaurus was roughly the size of a bus, its neck was short and its head was small. They lived during the late Jurassic period roughly 150 million years ago. The name Stegosaurus translates to “roof lizard” or “covered lizard.”
The Velociraptor is a dinosaur that roamed the planet roughly 80 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous period. The Velociraptor had short fore-limbs and walked upright on its hind legs. The creature also had feathers that were probably used for visual displays, mating, regulating body temperature, or protecting their eggs. The short fore-limbs of the Velociraptor made lift off and flight impossible; however, it’s possible that the feathers are remnants of an earlier species that had the ability to fly.
The Velociraptor was a formidable predator that brought down prey quickly with its fearsome three-and-a-half-inch retractable claw and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. Traveling upright on its hind legs, it is though t that the Velociraptor could reach speeds of 24 miles an hour on land. A fossil discovered in 1971 immortalizes the Velociraptor in a life and death ancient duel with a Protoceratops. The name Velociraptor translates to “swift seizer.”
One of the largest dinosaurs ever to roam the planet is the Brachiosaurus. This massive creature could weigh up to 130 tons and reach lengths of over 100 feet. Opposite than the Stegosaurus and most other dinosaurs, the front legs of the Brachiosaurus were much longer than its hind legs. It had a very long neck that reached up to 50 feet into the air and supported a small head; its mouth contained 52 chisel like teeth used for eating the foliage located among the treetops.
An interesting feature of Brachiosaurus is that instead of its nostrils being located at the end of its snout, as we are accustomed to seeing, they were located on top of its head. The Brachiosaurus are thought to have traveled together in herds, and their defense was their massive size. This animal lived in the late Jurassic period roughly 150 million years ago. Brachiosaurus had one of the smallest of dinosaur brains and was among the least intelligent of dinosaurs. The name Brachiosaurus translates to “Arm lizard.”