Allosaurus: World's No.

1 Predatory Dinosaur
By Jennifer Viegas

During the Late Jurassic, Allosaurus was the world's No. 1 predatory dinosaur. There is little argu ent to the contrary, gi!en e"traordinary e!idence such as a disco!ery ade at a #tah $uarry. %aleontologists at the site unco!ered ore than 1&,&&& dinosaur 'ones. (ost 'elonged to large, plant)eating sauropods, li*e +a arasaurus and Apatosaurus, which appear to ha!e 'een !icti s of Allosaurus. The ratio of predator to prey 'ones suggests ,ust a few Allosaurus were responsi'le for the prehistoric dinosaur carnage. Skull and Head -t's hard to i agine how any creature could ha!e sur!i!ed an Allosaurus 'ite. This theropod's teeth were ra.or sharp, serrated and cur!ed toward the inside of its outh on the upper ,aw. /n the lower ,aw, the teeth had a ore upright position. This allowed the hunter to hac*, a"e)li*e, into flesh with its upper teeth, while its lower teeth could then rip flesh fro 'one 'efore the dinosaur i ediately gulped it down. All of this action too* place in a huge head that was surprisingly lightweight, due to its 'one consistency and large spaces holding the eyes and nose. Puzzling Head Crests A ridge of 'one for ed a crest in front of each eye and e"tended toward the nasal tip. This ga!e the dinosaur a sort of dou'le (ohaw* loo*. %aleontologists aren't certain how the crest functioned. -t ay ha!e protected the eyes during fights with other ani als. -t also could ha!e housed special, as)of)yet unidentified, glands for the eyes. Alternati!ely, it ight ha!e 'een an identifying feature, distinguishing ales fro fe ales. Built to Kill Allosaurus was a lean, ean, *illing achine. (uscles in its 0)shaped nec* allowed the dinosaur to grasp and sha*e large prey, such as ulti)ton sauropods. 0turdy clawed li 's supported its 1.2)ton 'ody, with the thic*, strong tail adding e"tra support. -t's li*ely that lone indi!iduals stal*ed prey 'efore attac*ing !icti s with long, sharp claws. The carni!ore ight ha!e also hunted in pac*s, 'eing careful not to run too fast. Tripping would ha!e 'een a concern, since its !ery short foreli 's could ha!e thrown the fleet)footed 'east head o!er heels if Allosaurus ade a wrong o!e, which pro'a'ly didn't happen often. Dinosaur Name3 Allosaurus

rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, Theropoda, Allosauridae Name $eans3 4different li.ard,4 since it possessed unusually lightweight spinal 'ones %ime Period3 Late Jurassic, 152)166 illion years ago

&o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates, %ortugal, Australia, Tan.ania &engt(3 up to 65 feet

)guanodon: Dinosaurs o* +uestiona"le Class

By Tracy V. 7ilson, 8ow0tuff7or*s

-guanodon isn't a single dinosaur 9 it's a dinosaur genus that contains ultiple species, all of which had four legs and ate plants. (ost grew to 'e a'out 1& feet long. Today, there's so e contro!ersy a'out -guanodon. 0o e paleontologists argue that any of the dinosaurs *nown as -guanodon are classified incorrectly, lea!ing only one or two true -guanodon species. #irst #inds (ary Ann (antell disco!ered the first -guanodon fossil 9 a tooth 9 in 0usse", :ngland, in 1;<&, 'efore the word 4dinosaur4 e!en e"isted. 0he decided that the tooth loo*ed li*e a larger !ersion of an iguana tooth, so she na ed the speci en -guanodon. -t wasn't until later that paleontologists disco!ered a ore co plete s*eleton, allowing (antell to learn what *ind of ani al her tooth 'elonged to. The tooth now resides in at Te %apa (useu in New =ealand. All %(um"s /ne of the ost distincti!e traits of dinosaurs in the -guanodon genus is a large, spi*y thu '. This thu ' loo*ed so uch li*e a horn that the first representations of the dinosaur placed it on the nose, not on the hand. The thu ' wasn't particularly fle"i'le or o'ile, eaning it pro'a'ly didn't do uch to help the creature collect its leafy food. -nstead, -guanodon ay ha!e used its spi*e to defend itself against predators. Hoo,es *or Hands 0ince its disco!ery in 1;<&, scientists' portrayal of these dinosaurs has changed significantly. (any early representations showed -guanodon as a 'iped, wal*ing only on its 'ac* legs. But further study of -guanodon fossils has re!ealed that they pro'a'ly had the a'ility to stand on two legs 'ut also spent a lot of ti e on all fours. The 'iggest piece of e!idence is the three iddle fingers, each of which rese 'les a hoof. Her"i,ores in Herds

Dinosaurs in the -guanodon genus didn't ha!e front teeth. -nstead, they gathered foliage with their 'ea*) li*e ouths and used their 'ac* teeth to chew. -n 1;>;, fossils of 11 adult -guanodon were found in a coal ine in Belgiu . (ost li*ely, these ani als were either tra!eling or li!ing together, which suggests that -guanodon li!ed in herds.

Dinosaur Name3 iguana tooth,4 'ecause its teeth rese 'led those of an iguana rder! Su"order! #amily3 /rnithischia, +erapoda, -guanodontidae Name $eans3 4iguana tooth,4 'ecause its teeth rese 'led those of an iguana %ime3 Late Jurassic to Late +retaceous, 155)?? illion years ago

&o'ation3 @o ania, Arance, 0pain, Austria, #nited 0tates

Ankylosaurus:Armor-Plated and on t(e De*ense

By Tracy V. 7ilson, 8ow0tuff7or*s

An*ylosaurus was a short, s$uat, hea!ily ar ored dinosaur that was a e 'er of the An*ylosauridae fa ily. -t was a little li*e a prehistoric porcupine 9 it had ar or plates called osteoder s co!ering its 'ac* and sides, lea!ing its 'elly unprotected. 0o e of these plates had a ridge called a *eel, although scientists aren't sure e"actly where on the 'ody these scales appeared. An*ylosaurus also had short, dense legs to hold up its hea!y 'odyB it was <5 to 15 feet long and weighed three to four tons. Ankylosaurus at Bat Ar or wasn't An*ylosaurus' only defense. -t also had a clu' at the end of its tail. This clu' was for ed 'y a set of tightly pac*ed !erte'rae co!ered in ar or and could ha!e 'een a powerful weapon. An*ylosaurus' tail wasn't particularly fle"i'le, though, so aneu!ering it to stri*e a predator ight ha!e 'een difficult. Beaks and Horns Behind each of its eyes, An*ylosaurus had a pair of horns. These ay ha!e pro!ided another line of defense against predators li*e Tyrannosaurus, or they ay ha!e 'een used for display or for fighting against ri!als. -ts outh pro'a'ly didn't pose uch of a threat, though. -t was 'ea*li*e and had s all teeth that were good for gra''ing and chewing plants. Not .noug( %ime +o pared to the other e 'ers of the An*ylosauridae fa ily, An*ylosaurus was relati!ely short)li!ed. -t wal*ed the earth for a'out 5 illion years, while the fa ily as a whole e"isted for close to ;& illion years, throughout the entire +retaceous period. %aleontologists ha!e also found ore fossils 'elonging to other An*ylosaurs than to An*ylosaurus. -n fact, An*ylosaurus fossils are rare 9 researchers ha!e only found two s*ulls and fewer than fi!e inco plete s*eletons. This eans that uch of what we *now a'out An*ylosaurus co es fro the study of its relati!es. Head to t(e /round

An*ylosaurus' front legs were a little shorter than its 'ac* legs, and the shape of its !erte'rae pro'a'ly *ept it fro 'eing a'le to lift its head. -t pro'a'ly ate low)lying !egetation, li*e grasses and shru's. Dinosaur Name3 An*ylosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 /rnithischia, Thyreophora, An*ylosauridae Name $eans 4fused li.ard,4 since the ar ored plates on its 'ac* were connected together %ime3 Late +retaceous, 2&)>5 illion years ago

&o'ation: Northern North A erica

$aiasaura Pee"lesorum: %(e #irst Dinosaur in S0a'e

By Ciersten Aschauer, 8ow0tuff7or*s

0pace)tra!elling dinosaurs ay see li*e science fiction, 'ut one dinosaur actually ade it into space in 1?;5. Astronaut Loren Acton pac*ed 'one frag ents fro a historic (ontana dig 'efore 'oarding 0pacela' <, a*ing (aiasaura the first dinosaur to or'it the earth. That ight ha!e gi!en so e paleontologists reason to grin, 'ut what pro'a'ly e"cites the ore is ta*ing a loo* 'ac* 25);& illion years 'efore the (aiasaura's trip to the stars, when this duc*'illed plant eater li!ed a ong the li*es of Tyrannosaurs and Velociraptors. C(eeky Dinos The duc*)'illed (aisaura were 'ig dinosaurs and 'ig eaters. These her'i!ores had fi'er)rich diets that consisted of 'erries, seeds and up to <& pounds of lea!es a day. 8owe!er, oddly enough, its sharp, ena eled teeth lined its chee*s rather than its 'ea*. 7eighing in at a'out ;,&&& pounds, the (aisaura were part of the 8adrosauridae fa ily, growing to 'e a'out 1& feet long and ; feet tall. -t could na!igate on either two or four legs, 'ut perhaps had a 'it of an une!en stance, as it had stu''y ar s with four)fingered hands and hoo!ed 'ac* legs that were uch stronger than its front. -ts strong tail was presu ed to 'e used as a 'alancing de!ice. The s all crest 'etween its eyes s oothed 'ac*ward to re!eal a flat s*ull. $o,ers! S(akers! Herders and %ra,elers The (aisaura speci ens found to date ha!e all co e fro the Late +retaceous periodDs Two (edicine Aor ation in western (ontana. (aisaura's closest relati!e ay ha!e 'een Brachylophosaurus fro southern Al'erta and (ontana. Because fossils ha!e 'een disco!ered in groups totaling up to 1&,&&&, (aisaura are alleged to 'e herders who needed to tra!el seasonally in search of food, and then returned annually to 'reed in their ho e colonies. $odel $oms

There is a reason the (aisaura ha!e 'een nic*na ed the 4good other li.ard.4 0cientists repeatedly found fossils alongside nests that contained up to <5 grapefruit)si.ed eggs. -t is 'elie!ed that the (aisaura o s nurtured the hatchlings until they at least dou'led in si.e 9 longer than any other dinosaurs stayed with their young.

Dinosaur Name3 (aiasaura pee'lesoru rder! Su"order! #amily3 /rnithischia, /rnithopoda, 8adrosauridae Name $eans3 4good other li.ard,4 'ecause it nurtured its young longer than illion years ago ost dinosaurs

%ime3 Late +retaceous, ;&)25 &o'ation3 (ontana

A0atosaurus: %(e Dinosaur #ormerly Kno1n as Brontosaurus

By Jennifer Viegas

7hen usic star %rince changed his na e to an unpronouncea'le glyph, e!eryone still called hi 4%rince.4 0i ilar confusion surrounds the dinosaur Apatosaurus, which any still refer to as 4Brontosaurus.4 The i")up goes 'ac* to 1;>?, when paleontologist /thniel (arsh ista*enly stuc* a +a arasaurus head on an Apatosaurus and called it a Brontosaurus. 7hen the ista*e was disco!ered years later, scientists erased Brontosaurus fro their 'oo*s, 'ut the incorrect na e still lingered in peopleDs inds. Anatomy To add to the confusion, Apatosaurus rese 'led its close relati!e, Diplodocus. Both were gigantic plant eaters, 'ut Apatosaurus had a uch sturdier 'uild. -ts 'ody loo*ed li*e an a alga ation of other ani al parts 'rought together in a 'i.arre co 'ination. Apatosaurus possessed elephant)li*e 4toes4 at the 'otto of hefty, thic*, pillar)shaped li 's. A long, whipping tail held together with ;< 'ones e"tended fro the dinosaurDs <6.2)ton 'ody. At the front was a long, uscular nec* capped off 'y a tiny head, not unli*e that of a odern horse, 'ut full of pegged teeth. Big Body! Big Diet The s all ,aws and head of Apatosaurus ha!e pu..led scientists for decades, since it would see 'iologically i possi'le for a dinosaur of such i ense si.e and weight to feed itself properly through such a s all orifice. %aleontologists suspect the dinosaur ust ha!e eaten all day. After hours of feasting on tree lea!es, ferns, shru's, cycads, conifers, gin*gos and other plants that were pre!alent during the Late Jurassic, Apatosaurus pro'a'ly waded in water to cool off and to *ill parasites 'efore ta*ing 'rief, standing naps. The eating phase then li*ely started all o!er again. A #ormida"le 00onent

Aor a large carni!orous dinosaur li*e Allosaurus or Tyrannosaurus, one Apatosaurus ust ha!e ade $uite a 'east feast. Apatosaurus, with its assi!e 'ody, couldnDt ha!e run fast, so it li*ely stayed with others to for a protecti!e herd. The huge her'i!ore was also not entirely defenseless. -t could crac* its

long tail li*e a whip, causing serious da age to would)'e attac*ers, perhaps sending the air'orne. Apatosaurus also possessed claws on each of its 4thu '4 digits. -tDs possi'le that this enor ous dinosaur reared up on its 'ac* legs and then crashed down on its ene ies, ,a''ing claws into the upon i pact.

Dinosaur Name3 Apatosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, 0auropodo orpha, Diplodocidae Name $eans3 4decepti!e Li.ard,4 'ecause its 'ones were confused with those of other dinosaurs me Period3 Late Jurassic, 152)166 illion years ago

&o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates, Northwestern (e"ico &engt(3 up to ?& feet

,ira0tor 0(ilo'erato0s: .gg %(ie* or .gg Prote'tor2

By Ciersten Aschauer, 8ow0tuff7or*s

:arly fossil hunters were pro'a'ly $uite curious to *now e"actly what they found when they stu 'led upon a crushed s*ull and a few 'ones that would later 'eco e *nown as the /!iraptor philoceratops. This 1?1< disco!ery 'y scientists fro (ongolia and the A erican (useu of Natural 8istory and other finds 'y paleontologists during the 5& years that followed allowed for a ore co plete picture of this s all, 'irdli*e creature first du''ed 4the egg thief.4 %(ie* or Prote'tor2 As it turns out, the /!iraptor's nic*na e ay 'e inaccurate. The prehistoric 'east ay not ha!e stolen unhatched eggs fro other nests, as has 'een suggested. -n fact, the opposite ay 'e true3 -n 1??5, the A erican (useu of Natural 8istory announced the disco!ery of a fossil of an ostrich)si.ed /!iraptor co!ering its own nest of unhatched eggs in a see ingly protecti!e stance. Co'k-a-Doodle Dino /!iraptors did not loo* li*e your typical coloring 'oo* dinosaur 9 ore li*e a strange science e"peri ent where a 'ird and dinosaur enter the cha 'er fro the o!ie The Fly. -ts ost distincti!e feature was the rooster)li*e crest that attached to nostril passages on its 'ea*. -ts s*ull was s all with large eye soc*ets, and its deep ,aws were toothless. An adult /!iraptor ay ha!e easured a'out 1 feet tall and around 2 feet long. )* 3ou Can't 4oin '.m! 5a'e '.m 0o, how did s all the /!iraptor sur!i!e in the (ongolian desert with predators li*e the ighty +archarodontosaurus lu 'ering around the neigh'orhood 9 especially with a powerful, 'ut s all, 'ea* that ser!ed as ore of a nutcrac*er than a predatory assetE This has 'een a topic of de'ate in the paleontological co unity. 0o e scientists say the /!iraptor was a carni!ore sca!enger that ostly dined on scraps fro othersD *ills. /thers say it was an o ni!orous ani al that feasted on eggs, fruit, insects and hunted shellfish. (ost see to agree that the ani al was an agile runner. 7e also *now this3

The two, 'ony spi*es on the roof of its it digesti'le.

outh leads us to 'elie!e the /!iraptor crushed its food to

a*e

Dinosaur name3 /!iraptor philoceratops rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, Theropoda, /!iraptoridae Name $eans3 4egg thief,4 'ecause it %ime3 Late +retaceous, ;5)>5 &o'ation3 0outhern (ongolia ay ha!e dined on stolen eggs

illion years ago

Bra'(iosaurus:
By Jennifer Viegas

ne o* t(e &argest Dinosaurs

/ne of the largest dinosaurs of all ti e, Brachiosaurus could ha!e towered o!er ost four)story odern office 'uildings today. At first scientists thought the dinosaur weighed ;& tons, 'ut now theyD!e lowered the esti ate to around 5& tons, which is e$ui!alent to si" or so elephants ,a ed together on a scale. Brachiosaurus re ains one of the 'iggest, tallest, hea!iest and longest *nown sauropods, although its tail was relati!ely short when co pared with others in this group of di!erse plant eaters. &ong Ne'k The nec* of Brachiosaurus could stretch to around 1& feet in length. Twel!e indi!idual !erte'rae supported its giraffe)li*e nec*, with each !erte'ral 'one easuring <; inches or ore. %aleontologists are stu ped as to how a creature with such a gigantic nec* could ha!e supplied an e!en flow of 'lood to its 'rain. 7ithout special adaptations, the dinosaur would ha!e fainted all the ti e or, e!en worse, e"perienced 'urst 'lood !essels in the 'rain when it 'ent o!er after raising its tiny head. 0cientists theori.e that either its heart was e"tre ely powerful, pu ping 'lood at constant high pressure, or the dinosaur *ept its head in a position ore parallel to the ground, perhaps sweeping it fro side to side in search of food. #eeding and Digestion Due to its weight, Brachiosaurus would ha!e re$uired appro"i ately 66& pounds of food each day, according to scientific esti ates. 0ince this dinosaur only ate plant aterials, it ust ha!e spent the a,ority of its day chewing foliage with its sharp, inwardly cur!ed teeth, gulping the food down its long nec*. Fastroliths, otherwise *nown as 4gi..ard stones,4 rested in its gut and helped to further grind down the plant ash. &ong Arms To support all of the eating action and nec* swaying, Brachiosaurus possessed two long 4ar s.4 -t was the only *nown dinosaur to ha!e front li 's longer than its hind li 's. Firaffes e 'ody a si ilar design today, 'ut the front to 'ac* difference isnDt as pronounced. The long Brachiosaurus foreli 's allowed the sauropod to raise its chest and shoulder region a'out ; feet a'o!e ground le!el. Although this

dinosaur li*ely was not a fast runner, the li 's could ha!e stepped o!er o'stacles with ease and allowed for 'etter access to lea!es on tall trees. 5i,als and De*ense Voracious eat eaters li*e Allosaurus pro'a'ly preyed upon young or sic* Brachiosaurus indi!iduals, 'ut carni!ores ight ha!e steered clear of adults, due to their inti idating si.e. Brachiosaurus also possessed sharp claws on its feet that could ha!e gored intruders with one swift *ic*. Additionally, this dinosaur pro'a'ly tra!eled in s all herds, gaining protection in nu 'ers. Dinosaur Name3 Brachiosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, 0auropodo orpha, Brachiosauridae Name $eans 4ar Li.ard,4 since its forelegs were so illion years ago uch longer than its hind legs

%ime Period3 Late Jurassic, 151)111

&o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates, 0outhern :urope, Northern Africa &engt(3 up to ?< feet

Proto'erato0s Andre1si: Horned! #rilled Dinosaur An'estor

By Tracy V. 7ilson, 8ow0tuff7or*s

%rotoceratops andrewsi was a four)legged, her'i!orous dinosaur with a 'ony frill around the 'ac* of its nec*. This ade it loo* li*e a iniature !ersion of Triceratops, only without the distincti!e three)horned profile. -t also loo*ed a lot li*e a s aller !ersion of its relati!e %rotoceratops helleni*orhinus. %. andrewsi had a 'ea*li*e outh, which it used to eat foliage. Pre'ursor to Horns %rotoceratops had a 'u p on its nose in the place where any later ceratopsians had horns. -t also had thic*ened areas of 'one a'o!e its eye soc*ets 9 another spot for horns in dinosaurs li*e Triceratops. Aor this reason, so e researchers 'elie!e %rotoceratops was an ancestor of any other horned, frilled dinosaurs. A Case o* $istaken )dentity /ne of the first dinosaur eggs e!er atched up with its species was, scientists 'elie!ed, fro a %rotoceratops. The eggs had 'een found 'eneath a s*eleton du''ed /!iraptor philoceratops or 4egg stealer that li*es ceratops.4 @esearchers 'elie!ed the dinosaur had 'een stealing the eggs when it died. -n 1??5, another tea called this identification into $uestion. -t turns out that /!iraptor was pro'a'ly guarding its own eggs rather than stealing the eggs of a %rotoceratops. Proto'erato0s ,s. 6elo'ira0tor Another a,or disco!ery occurred in 1?>1, when paleontologists found a uni$ue %rotoceratops fossil in the Fo'i Desert. This speci en died while fighting a Velociraptor. The 'ones of the two dinosaurs show the Velociraptor attac*ing the %rotoceratops' nec* with its clawed toe. But %rotoceratops wasn't going down without a fight 9 it 'it and possi'ly 'ro*e Velociraptor's ar 'efore 'oth dinosaurs were 'uried in sedi ent that preser!ed their 'odies id)fight. $y Pet Proto'erato0s

-f dinosaurs were ali!e today, %rotoceratops ight 'e one people would *eep as pets or li!estoc*. These dinosaurs didn't eat eat, so they wouldn't 'e a 'ig threat to pets or children. They were also a'out the si.e of a sheep. 8owe!er, 'eing nu..led 'y a %rotoceratops ight not 'e a pleasant e"perience 9 it could weigh at least two to four ti es as uch as an adult sheep.

Dinosaur Name3 %rotoceratops andrewsi rder! Su"order! #amily3 /rnithischia, +erapoda, %rotoceratopsidae Name $eans3 4first horned face,4 'ecause it's 'elie!ed to 'e the first of the ceratopsians %ime3 Late +retaceous, ;5 to ;& illion years ago

&o'ation3 -nner (ongoliaB (ongolia

Bra'(ylo0(osaurus: %(e .l,is o* Dinosaurs

By Jennifer Viegas

Brachylophosaurus ay 'e its official na e, 'ut any affectionately *now this relati!ely 4new4 dinosaur as 4:l!is,4 due to its unusual head crest that rese 'les the fa ous roc* 'n roll singerDs hair. Aossil collector and paleontologist +harles 0tern'erg first the dinosaur descri'ed it in 1?51. No other speci ens e"isted until noted dinosaur e"pert Jac* 8orner identified another Brachylophosaurus s*eleton fro (ontanaDs Judith @i!er Aor ation during the 1?;&s. Head Crest The solid 'oned head crest e"tended fro the snout, laid o!er the top of the dinosaurDs flat head and then finished with a stylish spi*e at the 'ac*. Aside fro the :l!is hair co parison, it also loo*ed a 'it li*e a odern 'i*e racing hel et, and perhaps ser!ed a si ilar head)protecting function. -tDs possi'le that Brachylophosaurus engaged in head to head pushing contests, si ilar to how ale ani als with antlers or horns today will often fight for leadership status or choice fe ales during the ating season. %eet( and Diet Brachylophosaurus was a duc*)'illed dinosaur, 'ut its upper 'ea* was larger and 'roader than that of ost hadrosaurs. Both its upper and lower 'ea*s encased ,aws set with hundreds of teeth. Their position and the ,aw structure suggest Brachylophosaurus chewed plant aterial fro side to side, as cows and horses do today. Analysis of the preser!ed sto ach contents of one indi!idual re!eal it ate ferns, conifers, agnolias and the pollen of ore than 6& different plants. Can'er %aleontologists in <&&1 were surprised to disco!er the dinosaur suffered fro cancer. They found at least four for s of the deadly disease in nu erous Brachylophosaurus s*eletons. +ancer appears to ha!e 'een rare in other dinosaurs, or perhaps e!en li ited to this species. :"perts arenDt sure why, 'ut they suspect genetic or en!iron ental factors were to 'la e. /uinness World 5e'ord Holder

0ince its disco!ery in the early 1?5&s, a nu 'er of e"tre ely well preser!ed Brachylophosaurus re ains ha!e 'een e"ca!ated. -n <&&1, a speci en, na ed Leonardo, was honored 'y the Fuinness Boo* of @ecords as 'eing 4the 'est preser!ed dinosaur re ains in the world.4 The certificate went on to say, 4around ?& percent of the 'ody is co!ered with fossili.ed soft tissue.4 %aleontologists !alue such dinosaur 4 u ies,4 since they pro!ide rare tissue sa ples in addition to 'one. Dinosaur Name3 Brachylophosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 /rnithischia, /rnithopoda, 8adrosauridae Name $eans3 40hort)+rested Li.ard4, 'ecause of its s all crest %ime Period3 Late +retaceous, >5)25 illion years ago

&o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates, +anada &engt(3 up to 1& feet

S0inosaurus: World's &argest Carni,orous Dinosaur

By Jennifer Viegas

A recent o!ie 'attle pitted a 0pinosaurus against Tyrannosaurus re", with the for er portrayed as a !ictor after it snapped its ri!alDs nec*. 7hile 0pinosaurus and T. re" ne!er fought in real life, since they li!ed illions of iles and thousands of years apart, 0pinosaurus holds the world record for 'eing the largest *nown carni!orous dinosaur, gi!en its i pressi!e length and ?.?)ton 'uild. Sail The i posing dinosaurDs ost unusual feature was its large sail. 7hene!er 0pinosaurus would arch its 'ac*, the sail, ade of lengthy spines co!ered with s*in, would rise into the air. The sail alone was the height of a hu an 'as*et'all star. %aleontologists continue to de'ate its function, 'ut ost suspect the sail helped to regulate 'ody te perature and was used to woo the opposite se" or to scare off co peting ales. %eet( and Diet -tDs no wonder 0pinosaurus often a*es fil appearances, since this dinosaur flashed a illion)dollar 4s ile.4 7hile ost carni!orous dinos had cur!ed teeth, the teeth of 0pinosaurus were straight and pro'a'ly functioned li*e *ni!es, s*ewering often)slippery prey. Li*e odern gri..ly 'ears, 0pinosaurus pro'a'ly spent a lot of ti e gra''ing fish in, or near, water. A dinosaur of such girth, howe!er, li*ely did not su'sist on an all seafood diet. -t pro'a'ly *illed and consu ed s aller dinosaurs too, along with sca!enging flesh fro corpses. Big Head 0uch feasting would not ha!e posed a challenge, since 0pinosaurus possessed what was argua'ly the longest head of any *nown carni!orous dinosaur. (easuring close to 2 feet in length, the head featured a narrow snout 9 all the 'etter for showcasing its straight teeth 9 with tiny ears on either side. 0caly s*in co!ered its nec*. 5i,als

Aew ene ies pro'a'ly dared to challenge 0pinosaurus, considering that its large 'ody could loo* e!en twice as 'ig once its sail was instantaneously raised, scaring ost would)'e attac*ers. 8u ans turned out to 'e a significant threat, to its fossils at least, since a 7orld 7ar -- 'o ' raid destroyed the first *nown 0pinosaurus re ains, which were collected 'y Fer an paleontologist :rnst 0tro er. Luc*ily, 0tro er docu ented his find or else no one would e!er ha!e *nown a'out the distincti!e dinosaur.

Dinosaur Name3 0pinosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, Theropoda, 0pinosauridae Name $eans3 4spine li.ard,4 due to its flat, large 'ac* spines %ime Period3 (iddle +retaceous, 1&&)?1 illion years ago

&o'ation3 :gypt, (orocco, @epu'lic of Niger &engt(3 up to 2& feet

Car'(arodontosaurus: %(e S(ark &izard

By Ciersten Aschauer, 8ow0tuff7or*s

The dinosaur *nown 'y the co on na e 4shar*)toothed li.ard4 is o'!iously not a shar*, nor a li.ard. -n fact, if the +archarodontosaurus were to ha!e a closest li!ing relati!e it would 'e a e 'er of the order +rocodylia. The inside of its s*ull and inner ear, as well as its 'rain si.e, are si ilar to so e odern reptiles. .arly #inds Though +harles DepGret and J. 0a!ornin were the first to unearth so e of the first +archarodontosaurus fossils during a North African dig in 1?<>, it was a disco!ery in the 1??&s that ga!e a clearer picture of this creature. A 1??2 e"pedition to (orocco led 'y paleontologist %aul +. 0ereno re!ealed a huge s*ull and partial s*eleton of a +archarodontosaurus saharicus. -t appeared to 'e larger than North A ericaDs Tyrannosaurus re" and a close relati!e to 0outh A ericaDs Figanotosaurus. The s*ull alone easured 5 feet 6 inches long. Just a year after cele'rating that find, 0ereno and paleontologist 0tephen Brusatte found a second species3 +archarodontosaurus -iguidensis. Also a e 'er of the +archarodontosauridae fa ily, +. liguidensis had any si ilar characteristics to the +. saharicus, 'ut Brusatte found apparent differences in the 'ones in the nose and around the 'rain. A Born Hunter /ne thing was for sure3 This 4shar*)toothed li.ard4 was a hunter. -ts short ar s sprouted sharp, three) fingered claws and it had serrated, ;)inch)long teeth ade for eating eat. Along with its sharp claws and i pressi!e teeth, the 'ipedal +archarodontosaurus was speedy and sported a wide 'ody, weighing around 12,&&& pounds. -t grew up to 65 feet in length and stood 1> feet high, a*ing it one of the largest carni!ores on the planet, according to scientists. Hunters /et Hunted %oo 7ith such an inti idating physical structure, you ight thin* the +archarodontosaurus would 'e free of ri!als. Not the case. Though it is suspected they could ta*e on so e of the largest dinosaurs ali!e,

including the sauropods, their 'iggest ri!al was the 0pinosaurus, also *nown as the 4spine li.ard,4 which grew up to 2& feet in length. An .70edited .7tin'tion2 Dr. Angela (ilner, deputy *eeper of paleontology at LondonDs Natural 8istory (useu , has speculated that the +archarodontosaurus ight ha!e 'een a !icti of 4allopatric speciation.4 This is when 4'iological populations are physically isolated 'y a 'arrier, in this case a seaway, and e!ol!e in reproducti!e isolation,4 she said in a N8( London press release. 4-f the 'arrier 'rea*s down later, indi!iduals of the populations can no longer inter'reed.4 Dinosaur Name3 +archarodontosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0auropsida, Theropoda, +archarodontosauridae Name $eans3 4shar*)toothed li.ard,4 'ecause it's na ed after the great white shar* %ime3 +retaceous, 11&)?& illion years ago

&o'ation3 :gypt, (orocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Li'ya, Niger

Stegosaurus: %(e Solar Paneled Dinosaur

By Jennifer Viegas

0tegosaurus is the ost well)*nown e 'er of the 0tegosauria dinosaur group, which consisted of 4'ird)hipped4 plant eaters. All species within the 0tegosauria group during the Late Jurassic possessed two other hard)to) iss defining characteristics3 leaf)shaped plates that ,utted out of their 'ac*s and pointy spines for defense. (eat eaters would not ha!e had trou'le spotting the lu 'ering !eggie)lo!ing 4fashion plates,4 'ut two)ton 0tegosaurus could ha!e put up a good fight. Stegosaurus Plates The 0tegosaurus plate display consisted of 1> thin, leafli*e, 'ony protrusions running fro the 'ac* of the dinosaurDs head to the iddle of its tail. 0o e easured up to 1 feet in height. 0ince the plates were rather fragile, these structures li*ely didnDt help with defense. -nstead, they ser!ed as the Jurassic !ersion of solar heating and cooling. Blood !essels within the plates could either a'sor' or release heat, depending on weather conditions and the direction in which 0tegosaurus o!ed. /n a hot day, for e"a ple, the dinosaur could let a 'ree.e hit the plates, as for a sail, allowing 'lood !essels to release heat and pro!ide a cooling sensation that would ha!e soothed the 'eastDs entire 'ody. Beak! %eet( and Diet 7e hu ans can release a lot of heat fro our heads, 'ut the 0tegosaurus head was !ery s all when co pared to the si.e of the rest of its 'ody. The dinosaurDs narrow snout featured a tiny 'ea* that enclosed teeth full of ultiple ridges that rese 'led notches on a 'lunt, triangular, serrated *nife. These per itted it to chew plant aterials, which it also ight ha!e fer ented in its gut to release e"tra nutrients. 5i,als and De*ense The stoc*y 0tegosaurus ust ha!e 'een li*e a ha 'urger on legs for carni!orous predators, such as Allosaurus and +eratosaurus, which coe"isted in North A erica with the flashy her'i!ore. 0tegosaurus had a good chance of sur!i!ing attac*s, howe!er, due to its protecti!e, disc)shaped plates that safeguarded its hips, along with 'ony studs that lined its otherwise !ulnera'le throat. -f those defensi!e easures didnDt wor*, it could then swipe at ri!als with four sharp spi*es that stuc* out of its tail. These

caudal spi*es ight ha!e also inflicted serious in,uries if the 0tegosaurus, either intentionally or not, 'ac*ed up into another indi!idual.

Dinosaur Name3 0tegosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 /rnithischia, Thyreophora, 0tegosauridae Name $eans3 4roofed li.ard,4 'ecause of its 'ony 'ac* plates %ime Period3 Late Jurassic, 152)166 illion years ago

&o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates, 0outhern -ndia, +hina, 0outhern Africa &engt(3 up to 1& feet

Deinony'(us:
By Jennifer Viegas

ne o* t(e Deadliest Dinosaurs

Although Deinonychus was only a'out as 'ig as a two)passenger co pact car, e!ery inch of this dinosaur contri'uted to its reputation as 'eing one of the worldDs deadliest dinosaurs. 7hen its powerful ,aws opened, o!er 2& daggerli*e teeth flashed, ready to dig into uch larger dinosaurs such as 0auropelta and Tenontosaurus. +laws on its grasping hands could inflict se!ere da age that would ha!e 'een co pounded if Deinonychus decided to *arate)*ic* unfortunate !icti s with one, or 'oth, of its toe claws. %erri"le Cla1s 7hen a ore co plete fossil of Deinonychus was unearthed in the 1?2&s, paleontologists for the first ti e disco!ered that this dinosaur wielded sic*le)shaped claws on the second toe of each 4foot.4 -t could retract these li*e a switch'lade 'ut, to preser!e the sharpness of its !alua'le weapons, Deinonychus held the claws upright and instead wal*ed on its third and fourth toes. Thus, the 4terri'le claws4 didnDt drag on the ground, where they could catch or 'eco e 'lunt. A thic*, horny sheath, si ilar to what co!ers 'ird and cat claws today, surrounded 'oth its hand and foot claws. Deinony'(us /angs 7hile an indi!idual Deinonychus would ha!e ade a for ida'le opponent, this species pro'a'ly gathered in gangs to fell especially large, eaty dinosaurs. /ne intriguing piece of e!idence for this is a fossil site containing the re ains of a 'rutali.ed Tenontosaurus surrounded 'y the 'ones of four Deinonychus dinosaurs. /ne interpretation is that Tenontosaurus, which could grow up to <> feet in length, put up a good fight, 'ut was *illed and consu ed 'y other e 'ers of the Deinonychus gang. The winners perhaps then disappeared, lea!ing 'ehind their less fortunate cohorts. Atta'k %e'(ni8ues Despite possi'le hea!y Deinonychus losses during 'attles, this carni!ore could attac* in ultiple ways. 0ince its tail was strong, it ight ha!e 'alanced itself on one foot while it gored and dise 'oweled !icti s with a toe claw. Fi!en its uscular legs, it could ha!e also ,u ped directly on prey, digging its claws into the !icti as it landed. -f ultiple Deinonychus perfor ed such o!es si ultaneously, itDs no wonder the 125)pound predator pro'a'ly feasted on ultiton 'easts.

Built &ike a #ier'e Bird Aeatherli*e structures lin*ed to close relati!es of Deinonychus suggest feathers co!ered the dinosaurDs uscular, yet lightweight, 'ody. The dino also shared certain anato ical features with todayDs 'irds, such as the shape and structure of its pel!ic 'ones. -t additionally could o!e li*e a flightless 'ird, swer!ing, running and 'alancing itself with relati!e ease. Dinosaur Name3 Deinonychus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, Theropoda, Dro aeosauridae Name $eans3 4terri'le claw,4 'ecause of the large, sic*le)li*e %ime Period3 :arly +retaceous, 1<1)?; &o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates &engt(3 up to 11 feet illion years ago

%ri'erato0s: &argest! Hea,iest and $ost Common Horned Dinosaur

By Jennifer Viegas

7hen an odd pair of horns was e"ca!ated at the high plains east of the @oc*y (ountains in the 1;;&s, paleontologists thought they had found the re ains of a prehistoric 'ison. 7hat they really disco!ered were two of the three horns of Triceratops, a dinosaur that holds three records a ong all horned dinosaurs. -t was the largest, hea!iest and, in its ti e, ost co on ceratopsid. These were four)legged, plant)eating dinosaurs characteri.ed 'y 'road, 'ony frills and well)de!eloped 'row horns. &arge Skull! Small Brain (assi!e Triceratops could weigh up to si" tons and, unli*e so e dinosaurs whose heads were uch s aller than their 'odies, this dinosaurDs head was ighty 'ig. The head alone was as long as an adult hu an. 7hile 'rain tissue does not e"ist for any dino, researchers can use e"isting s*ulls to esti ate 'rain si.e and shape. Based on such studies, the Triceratops 'rain was a'out the sa e si.e as a hu an fist, suggesting the dinosaur did not ha!e !ery acute senses and wasnDt the 'rightest of 'easts. Ne!ertheless, it was adept at fending for itself, using its scissorli*e teeth to slice through !egetation. #rill The 'ony nec* frill on Triceratops could e"tend to o!er 2.5 feet in width. 0e!eral theories ha!e 'een proposed for its function. 0o e scientists thin* the frill protected the dinosaurDs !ulnera'le nec* area against predators. Tyrannosaurus 'ite ar*s o'ser!ed within frill re ains, howe!er, suggest it wasnDt always successful in deterring attac*ers. /ther researchers suspect it helped to regulate 'ody te perature, while still other paleontologists theori.e it was used in ating displays and in helping the dinosaur to identify e 'ers of its species. Horns Triceratops horn fossils loo* i pressi!e enough. -n real life, though, its horns were uch sturdier weapons. Antler)li*e aterial would ha!e co!ered the e"isting cores, a*ing the uch longer and sharper. The dinosaur could gore or i pale carni!ore ri!als with its short nose horn or its two long 'row

horns, which ,utted out o!er each eye. -f that didnDt scare away the threat, Triceratops at the assailant with its toothless, yet pointy, 'ea*. 5(ino and .le0(ant Com0arisons

ight ha!e pec*ed

Triceratops so ewhat rese 'led todayDs elephants and rhinoceroses. -ts girth was co para'le to that of an elephant and it too possessed hea!y legs. Li*e a rhino, it had short, 'road feet with padded toes to help cushion the weight as it pounded the dirt. -tDs possi'le Triceratops li!ed the rhino lifestyle as well, 'y unching on plants ost of the ti e and then putting its horns into action whene!er predators approached.

Dinosaur Name3 Triceratops rder! Su"order! #amily3 /rnithischia, (arginocephalia, +eratopsidae Name $eans3 4three)horned face,4 due to its nose horn and two long 'row horns %ime Period3 Late +retaceous, 2;)25 illion years ago

&o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates, 0outhwest +anada &engt(3 up to 1& feet

Di0lodo'us: t(e .art(

ne o* t(e &ongest Animals to Walk

By Tracy V. 7ilson, 8ow0tuff7or*s

Diplodocus was a genus of se!eral four)legged, plant)eating dinosaurs with !ery long nec*s, whipli*e tails and a speciali.ed claw on one toe of each foot. -ts tail and claw ay ha!e 'een defensi!e weapons, 'ut paleontologists ha!en't confir ed this theory. These dinosaurs were a ong the longest land ani als e!er to wal* the :arth. But while they were !ery long, they weren't 'ul*y. Diplodocus weighed less than half as uch as si ilarly shaped dinosaurs li*e Apatosaurus. Kee0 3our Head Do1n /ld Diplodocus illustrations often show it using its long nec* to reach food in the tops of trees. Newer research suggests that the dinosaur wasn't 'uilt to o!e this way )) it pro'a'ly couldn't lift its head far a'o!e its shoulders. -t could, howe!er, o!e its head in great arcs fro side to side. -nstead of gra.ing fro the tops of trees, it pro'a'ly stripped !egetation fro a wide swath of plants. %(ese %eet( Were $ade *or Ni00ing As it gra.ed, Diplodocus didn't do a lot of cho ping. All of Diplodocus' teeth were in the front of its outh, so it couldn't chew its food. -nstead, it nipped at !egetation and swallowed it whole. These large chun*s of !egetation would ha!e 'een hard to digest, so Diplodocus got so e help fro roc*s. -t swallowed stones, *nown as gastroliths, which helped grind the lea!es inside the dinosaur's digesti!e syste . %(e Nose Kno1s (any depictions of Diplodocus show its nostrils on top of its head, near its eyes. -n <&&1, researcher Lawrence 7it er pu'lished a paper in the ,ournal Science that refuted this idea. 7it er clai s that the dinosaur's nostrils didn't line up with the nasal ca!ity in its s*ull. -nstead, the nostrils were uch closer to the outh, allowing the nasal passageway to act as a heat e"changer and o!e e"cess heat away fro the dinosaur's 'rain. 9Not: Bringing ;0 Ba"y

There's e!idence to suggest that so e dinosaurs war ed their nests with their 'odies and cared for their young. Diplodocus wasn't one of the . %aleontologists ha!e found lines of fossili.ed Diplodocus eggs, suggesting that these ani als lay eggs while on the o!e and left the 'ehind.

Dinosaur Name3 Diplodocus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, 0auropodo orpha, Diplodocidae Name $eans3 4dou'le)'ea ed li.ard,4 'ecause the !erte'ral pro,ections of the idsection of its tail for ed an in!erted 4T4 or dou'le 'ea %ime3 Late Jurassic, 121)162 illion years ago

&o'ation3 7estern North A erica

%roodon *ormosus: Dinosaurs

By Tracy V. 7ilson, 8ow0tuff7or*s

ne o* t(e World's Smartest

The di inuti!e dinosaur Troodon for osus was a'out 2 feet tall and weighed a'out 11& pounds. -t was a predator with sharp, serrated teeth, 'ut it was only 'ig enough to eat s all creatures, li*e li.ards and early a als. Li*e Velociraptor, Troodon o!ed around on its hind legs only, using its forelegs to hold prey. $agni*i'ent Brains Troodon was a'out the si.e of a an. Li*e a an, the si.e of its 'rain was fairly 'ig when co pared to the si.e of the rest of its 'ody. This eans Troodon ay ha!e 'een one of the ost intelligent dinosaurs to ha!e li!ed. Seeing in t(e Dark According to fossils of its s*ull, Troodon pro'a'ly had good eyesight, which ay ha!e allowed it to hunt at night. -ts eyes were also close enough together on the front of its head to allow it to ha!e 'inocular !ision, which would ha!e gi!en it the depth perception needed to 'e a ore efficient hunter. %(um"s and Cla1s Both of Troodon's three)toed 'ac* feet sported a large claw that it held off the ground as it ran. This claw, co 'ined with Troodon's agility, was pro'a'ly a for ida'le weapon. This dinosaur's hands ga!e it an ad!antage, too. -ts thu 's were partly opposa'le, gi!ing it the a'ility to grasp o',ects. #or t(e Birds 0o e fossils show Troodon adults sitting on or near clutches of eggs, suggesting that they 'rooded their eggs the way today's 'irds do. According to the fossil e!idence, these dinosaurs pro'a'ly lay and incu'ated eggs one or two at a ti e, also si ilar to today's 'irds. Another si ilarity is that Troodon was descended fro feathered dinosaurs, although there's not a lot of conclusi!e e!idence to pro!e whether it possessed the as well. Ainally, Troodon could fold its ar s the way 'irds fold their wings. Because of

all these si ilarities, so e paleontologists see Troodon as an e!olutionary lin* 'etween theropods and odern 'irds.

Dinosaur Name3 Troodon for osus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, Therapoda, Troodontidae Name $eans3 4wounding tooth,4 'ecause of its cur!ed, sharp, serrated teeth %ime3 Late +retaceous, >6)25 illion years ago

&o'ation3 (e"ico, +anada, (ontana, 7yo ing

Dromaeosaur al"ertensis: #eat(ered! Cla1ed and 4a1ed

By Ciersten Aschauer, 8ow0tuff7or*s

+all the Dro aeosaur al'ertensis an 4odd 'ird4 and youDd 'e right in ore ways than one. 7hile this Late +retaceous speci en is reported to ha!e had feathers, it also had the luc* of sharing the sa e 4secret weapon4 as si ilar theropods. At the end of its slender 'ut powerful legs were two cur!ed toes and a strange)loo*ing4 sic*le claw4 ,utting out fro the top of the foot. Though s aller than so e other Dro aesaurs, itDs 'elie!ed that this carni!ore used the claw to cla p down on prey and *ill it. Pie'ing %oget(er t(e Dromaeosaurus Puzzle 7hile the Dro aeosaur is a well)*nown prehistoric character in any 'oo*s and o!ies, there is still uch to 'e learned a'out the species. %aleontologists ha!e pieced together what this e 'er of the 0aurischia order ay ha!e loo*ed li*e, 'ut a full s*eleton hasnDt 'een disco!ered yet. %aleontologist Barnu Brown disco!ered the earliest re ains during a 1?16 A erican (useu of Natural 8istory e"pedition, collecting a partial s*ull and so e 'one frag ents and starting the hunt for ore clues to the life of this creature. .,olution Dro aeosaur ay ha!e e!ol!ed 'etween >2 and >6 illion years ago on the watery islands of :urope, hunting in pac*s to sur!i!e. The group pro'a'ly 'eca e e"tinct at the end of the +retaceous period. S'ary Cla1s! &ong 4a1s Dro aeosaurs grew to 'e appro"i ately 2 feet in length and weighed a'out 11 pounds. -t was pro'a'ly the si.e of a large dog. -t e!en had a fle"i'le tail that was, at ti es, flipped upright. Ceen eyesight and hearing ay ha!e contri'uted to this creatureDs hunting s*ills, along with its trade ar* sic*le claw. But its long ,aws with rows of sharp teeth pro'a'ly ca e in $uite handy at dinnerti e as well. 5elati,ely S0eaking

0o e paleontologists suspect that Dro aeosaurs could 'e the closest *nown relati!es to 'irds Has has 'een thought a'out any dinosaurs of this eraI. Dinosaur Name: Dro aeosaur al'ertensis rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, Theropoda, Dro aeosauridae Name $eans3 4swift)running li.ard,4 'ecause the 'ipedal dino was a'le to run after their prey %ime3 Late +retaceous, >2)>6 &o'ation3 :urope illion years ago

%yrannosaurus: ne o* t(e Biggest #les(-.ating Predators o* All %ime

By Jennifer Viegas

%aleontologists were shoc*ed when they unearthed a near)co plete s*eleton of Tyrannosaurus in 1?&<. By its 'ones alone, the scientists *new they had found one of the 'iggest flesh)eating predators of all ti e. -ts head was the si.e of an adult person. The Tyrannosaurus 'ody could e"tend the entire width of a tennis court. #p to se!en tons of uscle and other tissues filled out the rest of its sturdy fra e. This was a onster carni!ore that ust ha!e terrified all other dinosaurs during the Late +retaceous. Bone-Crus(ing %eet( :!idence supports TyrannosaurusD *iller reputation. A Triceratops hip'one, for e"a ple, was found co!ered in Tyrannosaur 'ite ar*s, including a large chun* of issing 'one. This suggests the predator could 'ite through e!ery part of its !icti s with its ;)inch)long, cone)shaped, ra.or)sharp teeth. A fossili.ed lu p of Tyrannosaurus dung, when analy.ed, was found to contain ultiple :d ontosaurus 'ones, further pro!ing the clai s. @ecent studies also suggest that todayDs lions 9 for ida'le predators in their own right 9 only ha!e one)third the 'iting force of the Late +retaceous predator. %(e %yrannosaurus Walk The Tyrannosaurus strutted its stuff 'ac* in the day. @esearch indicates the dinosaur *ept its 'ac* le!el, held its tail still and then o!ed forward with a purposeful arch. At least 11 different uscle groups in its legs allowed this natural athlete to haul its hea!y 'ody with a proud, erect forward otion. &eggy 5unner Wit( %iny Arms At ti es Tyrannosaurus li*ely sprinted o!er short distances at speeds of up to <& iles per hour, which is !ery close to speeds run 'y hu an /ly pians. :ach pillar)shaped hind li ' ended with a four)toed foot that had hea!y claws for grasping prey and for traction. -ts e"tre ely short foreli 's loo*ed wea*, 'ut Tyrannosaurus could ha!e 'ench)pressed two adult hu ans at once with ,ust a single ar . -ts hands also featured two fingers capped off 'y two ultra)sharp claws. Hunting %a'ti's

-t's theori.ed that Tyrannosaurus patiently waited for unsuspecting !icti s 'efore charging at the with toothy ,aws agape. A 4puncture and pull4 techni$ue then felled the target. The dinosaurDs other feeding ethod would ha!e in!ol!ed sca!enging eat fro corpses. (ost sca!engers su'sist on rotting, unappeti.ing eat, 'ut i posing Tyrannosaurus li*ely scared away other carni!orous dinosaurs and stole their *ills, thus earning its 4tyrant4 na e.

Dinosaur Name3 Tyrannosaurus rder! Su"order! #amily3 0aurischia, Theropoda, Tyrannosauridae Name $eans3 4tyrant li.ard,4 due to its i posing head and teeth %ime Period3 Late +retaceous, 2;)25 illion years ago

&o'ation3 7estern #nited 0tates, 0outhwest +anada, Asia &engt(3 up to 62 feet

6elo'ira0tor mongoliensis: %(e Dinosaur o* <4urassi' Park< #ame

By Ciersten Aschauer, 8ow0tuff7or*s

(ost people thin* they *now the Velociraptor fro its portrayal in the popular Jurassic Park o!ies and 'oo*s. But 8ollywood too* any li'erties with its interpretation of this dinosaur, hea!ily le!eraging the dinosaurDs Latin na e velox HswiftI and raptor Hpredator, plundererI on)screen. The reality is that the history of how weD!e co e to *now the raptor is a story all its own. The tale'egins with a 1?<< e"pedition to the Fo'i Desert in (ongolia, when a group of scientists fro the A erican (useu of Natural 8istory disco!ered a co plete Velociraptor s*ull and a claw. The story continues 5& years later with another telling disco!ery. A Battle Preser,ed in %ime -n (ongolia in 1?>1, a (ongolian)%olish tea unearthed a well)preser!ed fossil of a Velociraptor 'attling another dinosaur. The speci en showed the raptorDs claws e 'edded in the head and sto ach of a %rotoceratops. Aside fro 'eing the first significant findings of these species, it was also a 'rea*through for scientistsD understanding of how dinosaurs li!ed, offering a clue to how Hand ifI certain dinosaurs coe"isted during the Late +retaceous period. )* a Basket"all Player Had Cla1s = Despite its larger)than)life persona in the o!ies, an upright)standing Velociraptor was actually a'out the height of a odern)day 'as*et'all player 9 appro"i ately 2 feet. But what it lac*ed in si.e, it ade up for in other areas. (ost i portantly, Velociraptors were intelligent co pared to any of their peers. They also had a heightened sense of s ell and 'inocular !ision. This $uic*, two)legged predator had a few secret weapons, too. The first was a 1.5)inch retracta'le claw that could $uic*ly wound an ene y with a 1)foot gash. The second was a outhful of ;& spi*y teeth, so e up to an inch in length. Their slee* 'odies and a'ility to run at speeds of <6 iles per hour also helped the sur!i!e in a world of uch larger predators. 0cientists ha!e disco!ered $uill *no's on the Velociraptor. These $uill *no's ay not ha!e i plied that they could fly, 'ut pro!ide clues that feathers

could ha!e 'een used for other reasons, such as to help regulate 'ody te perature, protect eggs in the nest or as a ating display. Pa'k-Hunting Carni,ores The Velociraptor was a tiny eat)eating achine that li*ely ate whate!er it could. Because Velociraptor fossils are often found in close !icinity to each other, it is thought that they li*ely hunted in pac*s. This hunting tactic could lead a s all group of raptors to prey on one larger predator with speed and ferocity.

Dinosaur Name3 Velociraptor

ongoliensis

rder! Su"order! #amily3 0auropsida, Dinosauria, Dro aeosauridae Name $eans3 4swift predator,4 which refers to its a'ility to run after prey %ime Period3 ate +retaceous, ;6);& illion years ago &o'ation3 +hina, (ongolia, for er 0o!iet #nion &engt(3 up to 62 feet