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DinosaursDinosaurs are terrestrial reptiles that lived on Earth during the Mesozoic Era, from about 245 million to 66 million years ago.
While humans have encountered fossilized dinosaurs for millennia, they were not identified as a group of extinct creatures until 1842. This sparked an interest in fossil hunting that has led to the discovery of about 1,000 species as of 2025—though scientific models suggest that as many as 500,000 species may have existed.
Early dinosaurs' feather coats and ability to walk upright facilitated their adaptation to changing environments after two mass extinction events wiped out most other species, including their amphibious competitors. Research suggests dinosaurs exhibited many characteristics of modern-day animals, including herd-like social structures, varied diets, and visual and auditory communication.
The age of dinosaurs ended when an asteroid larger than Mount Everest struck Earth in what is now the Yucatan Peninsula, producing a mass extinction event endured by small non-avian dinosaurs that evolved into today's birds.Explore Dinosaurs
What we've found
Discovering how the dinosaurs went extinct may have helped avert nuclear warThis NPR Throughline episode explains how the 1980 discovery that an asteroid-driven dust cloud killed the dinosaurs inspired Cold War scientists’ fears of “nuclear winter”—a sunlight-blocking aftermath of nuclear war that may have discouraged leaders from launching one. Throughline NPRAir sacs and lightweight bones helped some dinosaurs grow to enormous sizesAfter the Triassic extinctions, new species with birdlike anatomy evolved from smaller, early dinosaurs. This anatomy allowed for more efficient breathing and lighter skeletons, favoring the evolution of larger organisms. Insider ScienceDinosaurs are defined by specific traits that many dinosaur-like creatures lackAlthough pterodactyls, mosasaurs, crocodilians, and other organisms are mistaken for dinosaurs, they do not have upright legs or specific hip structures characteristic of the terrestrial reptiles. Some, like the Dimetrodon, are more closely related to humans than dinosaurs. IFLScienceMillions of years of evolution produced dinosaurs with bizarre featuresThis list of the 17 weirdest dinosaurs includes a cross between a parrot and a porcupine, a dinosaur whose arms each ended with one finger, a vampire dinosaur, a dinosaur with wings on its legs instead of its arms, and a Harry Potter-inspired “dragon king of Hogwarts.” BBC Science Focus MagazineDinosaurs ranged from the size of chickens to multistory buildingsThe largest known dinosaur, Argentinosaurus, was about 39 meters long and outweighed a Boeing 737. Species like Parvicursor and Epidexipteryx were less than 45 centimeters long, though the actual smallest dinosaur is likely lost to history. Visual CapitalistThe resulting climate change, not the asteroid impact itself, killed most dinosaursAlthough the Chicxulub impact caused widespread destruction through earthquakes and tsunamis, the subsequent nuclear winter, acid rain, and eventual greenhouse warming drove mass extinction. Roughly 70% of species, including all non-avian dinosaurs, went extinct. National Science FoundationSome dinosaurs evolved night vision and acute hearing for nocturnal huntingPaleontologists analyzed the fossilized eye and ear structures of 16 theropods, finding that some had owl-like hearing and huge pupils. These characteristics are consistent with modern-day nocturnal species, including nightjars and geckos. The ConversationFossilized bite marks suggest some dinosaurs may have engaged in cannibalismAn excavation site near the Colorado-Utah border contained Allosaurus bones with tooth marks of other Allosaurus, which may have occurred in response to a dry season in the area. The Tyrannosaurus and Majungasaurus have also been shown to eat their own. Smithsonian MagazineDinosaurs’ feathers and greater metabolism helped them survive polar conditionsStudies of dinosaur footprints alongside ice-deposited rock fragments indicate that early dinosaurs adapted to cold weather before the volcanic winters of the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event. These geological events helped dinosaurs to flourish by wiping out their amphibious competitors. Columbia Climate SchoolBirds are living dinosaurs that evolved from feathered theropodsTraits associated with birds, including feathers, laying eggs, and hollow bones, were first present in dinosaurs and carried through to their descendants. Fossils of these dinosaurs have been found in a sleeping posture, resembling roosting behavior. BirdLife InternationalDinosaurs emerged 245 million years ago when Earth’s continents were still conjoinedOnce the supercontinent split apart, dinosaurs evolved into thousands of species as they adapted to their changing environments. All non-avian dinosaurs went extinct about 66 million years ago following an asteroid impact, while avian dinosaurs evolved into today’s birds. National GeographicJupiter may have affected the trajectory of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaursDespite its reputation as Earth’s cosmic shield, Jupiter’s gravity pulls more asteroids into Earth-crossing orbits. Simulations show that Earth experiences over three times more asteroid impacts because of Jupiter’s influence than if Jupiter didn’t exist. Big ThinkWithout dinosaurs, plants could produce fleshy fruits with bigger seedsPreviously disturbed by massive herbivores, denser and darker forests shifted plant evolution, reaching the greatest diversity of seed sizes, fruit sizes, and fruit types about 50 million years ago. PBS EonsStudies show the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs was from the outer asteroid beltIsotopic evidence confirms the rock was a carbon-rich asteroid, likely born beyond Jupiter and later knocked into Earth's path after billions of years of orbital drift and gravitational nudges. Its path spanned over 4 billion years and ended in the extinction of 75% of life, including all nonavian dinosaurs. NautilusUnlike the roars in movies, dinosaurs likely cooed, rumbled, and boomedFossil evidence and CT scans suggest that many dinosaurs produced low-frequency sounds using resonating crests, closed-mouth vocalizations, or organs similar to those of birds and crocodiles. Larger sounds would not have been helpful for sneakily hunting prey. BBCA history of belly buttons, from dinosaurs to modern dogsCould dinosaurs have had belly buttons, just like you and me? Some researchers believe they've found evidence the ancient reptiles had the cute scar, a common feature among placental mammals (but which is also found in many more kinds of animals). Dive into their peculiar findings with this fascinating video. YouTubeUncovering the evolution of history's largest dinosaursThis article details how sauropods—the dinosaurs that Little Foot would call longnecks—repeatedly evolved to attain such colossal sizes, towering over other land critters, including tyrannosaurs and mammoths.
Sauropods were giant, long-necked... Scientific AmericanBringing dinosaurs back to MongoliaThe Gobi Desert, which crosses Mongolia and China, was a dinosaur hotspot, offering visitors splendid freshwater lakes and a lush, humid climate. These past verdant vast valleys have become the largest dinosaur fossil reservoir in the world, and with that title comes those seeking to remove such items, whether for personal satisfaction or scientific study. This article explains the fight to restore Mongolia's fossil heritage. BBC NewsExplore an interactive timeline and map of dinosaurs across the globeThis tool maps dinosaur habitats based on fossil sites around the world. It includes short articles and additional information—including size, diet, and weight—about each dinosaur. A timeline and data table also allow users to compare dinosaur emergence and extinction dates. Jeffrey RiceWhat did Earth look like when dinosaurs roamed?The face of the Earth isn’t remotely the same as when the dinosaurs ruled the roost. The passing of millions of years, plate tectonics, and a spotty track record with asteroid collisions have changed the planet’s surface. Use this interactive globe to see what the Earth looked like millions of years ago. The Dinosaur DatabaseDinosaurs suffered from cancer, arthritis, and infections seen in modern animalsUsing CT scans and advanced pathology techniques, paleopathologists have identified respiratory illnesses, malignant osteosarcoma, and other diseases in dinosaurs. The research has helped show how many of these ailments are not exclusively modern phenomena. BBC NewsThe day the dinosaurs diedRoughly 66 million years ago, a giant meteor struck Earth off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Some dinosaurs died in the immediate impact, which sent a 200-foot tsunami all the way up to what is now North Dakota. Many others perished in the resulting change in climate, with debris ejected into the global atmosphere. This 12-minute video provides an overview of what scientists have uncovered about the fateful day. YouTubeHow paleos dig up dinosaursFollow Kelsie Abrams and the dig team from the field to the lab, as they unravel mysteries from the end of the age of dinosaurs. YouTubeView a directory of more than 300 dinosaursThis resource details each dinosaur's taxonomy, type, diet, and habitat, from Aardonyx to Zuniceratops. More well-researched dinosaurs include information on when they were discovered alongside their size, behaviors, and other noteworthy findings. Natural History MuseumDinosaurs would likely still roam Earth if the Chicxulub asteroid had hit elsewhereSome scientists argue that the asteroid's impact would have been less severe if it had struck the ocean instead of shallow seas. In this scenario, small dinosaurs might have become urban survivors, living in cities alongside humans, much like pigeons or rats do today. BBCThe Age of Dinosaurs ended in fiery disasterHow did dinosaurs become extinct? Explore the Cretaceous extinction event and the role of the Chicxulub impact in the death of dinosaurs (except birds). Natural History MuseumDinosaurs thrived in the Arctic year roundThe Arctic in the Cretaceous Period was a rough place to live, especially in winter. And yet, the fossils of many kinds of dinosaurs have been discovered there. So how were they able to survive in this harsh environment? YouTubeMammals thrived under the feet of dinosaursAn explosion of fossil finds reveals that ancient mammals evolved a wide variety of adaptations allowing them to exploit the skies, rivers and underground lairs. NatureWhat did the world of the dinosaurs look like?Mesozoic means "middle life" and this is the time of the dinosaurs. This era includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods, names that may be familiar to you. It ended with a massive meteorite impact that caused a mass extinction, wiping out the dinosaurs. Agency logoHow microorganisms transformed into crude oil over millions of yearsDespite the misconception that oil comes from dinosaurs, the nonrenewable resource forms when tiny organisms are subjected to high pressure and high temperature while buried under layers of sediment over tens to hundreds of millions of years. During this time, they become a mixture that is almost entirely hydrocarbons, which can be harnessed and refined. Today I Found OutWatch animations of the creation and excavation of dinosaur tracksThe discovery of a dinosaur trackway in the UK emerged from a controlled explosion that removed limestone from an Oxfordshire quarry. The footprints provide unique insights into dinosaur behavior and movement, with marine fossils suggesting a lagoon-like environment. BBCDinosaur portrayals in film mistakenly limit them to only living in tropical climatesThe ancient creatures have been brought to life in cinema by combining animatronics and CGI. However, creative liberties have created misconceptions about dinosaurs for audiences, including that the Tyrannosaurus rex could not see stationary prey. Short WaveVariations in beak shape helped birds survive the dinosaur extinction eventThe asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago killed some avian dinosaurs. The smaller species endured by reproducing more quickly and adapting to the environment. Their different beaks allowed them to eat more varied foods for survival. Natural History MuseumHerd behavior has been seen in 193-million-year-old dinosaur fossilsScientists excavated eggs, juveniles, and adult remains in Patagonia, all arranged by age group. The organization into structured groups may have contributed to evolutionary success by consolidating eggs in one location to make defending them easier. MIT NewsThe Bone Wars turned paleontology into a rivalry fraught with public scandalOthniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope were friends-turned-enemies competing for the glory of discovering dinosaurs. It became so intense that when Cope died, he donated his body to science to prove he had a bigger brain than Marsh. TED-EdDinosaur names have shifted from ancient languages to pop culture referencesEarly dinosaur names used Greek and Latin roots, often just attaching “-saurus” (lizard) to another word describing a notable trait. Over time, this convention has evolved to incorporate the names of where the discovery was made, local languages, and even celebrities. Smithsonian MagazineRichard Owen coined the term ‘Dinosauria’ to group three giant reptilesIdentifying similarities in the fossils of Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Hylaeosaurus, Owen surmised that they were all part of a broader group of large terrestrial reptile species. The name “Dinosauria” came from combining the Greek words for “fearfully great” (deinos) and “lizard” (sauros). Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryCivilizations of the past mistook dinosaur fossils for dead mythological creaturesWithout knowledge of evolution or extinction, people believed such fossils were the bones of massive animals no one had ever seen alive, including dragons and giants. It was not until the science of paleontology and studies of extinction that these ideas were overturned definitively. Big ThinkThe formation and breakup of Pangaea altered Earth’s geology and biodiversityComing from the Greek words for “all” (pan) and “Earth” (gaia), the supercontinent existed from about 320 million to 195 million years ago. The tectonic activity that split Pangaea into today’s continents may one day bring the continents back together, forming Pangaea Proxima. Live ScienceThe ginkgo tree is a living fossil that has not changed in over 200 million yearsHaving outlived the dinosaurs, the tree has no living relatives as the only surviving species of the genus Ginkgo. Its growth in undisturbed environments, pollution resistance, and foul-smelling seeds may have contributed to its survivability. Yale E360Why have birds never become as large as a T. rex?Birds are descended from dinosaurs, but none have ever reached the gigantic size of their Jurassic ancestors. Some birds in the fossil record, like the "terror birds" of South America, have reached as large as ten feet, but the energy-intensive act of flying disallows birds much larger than that. Researchers claim a lack of evolutionary pressure and predatory bird behavior likely limit bird size. Smithsonian MagazineThe economics of horseshoe crab blood Horseshoe crabs are older than dinosaurs and have survived five mass extinctions that wiped most life from the planet. But it's only now that their future as a species is in danger. This blood, worth about $60,000 per gallon, is hyper-sensitized to certain bacteria that are fatal to humans. This 17-minute podcast dives into humanity's pursuit of horseshoe crab blood, a "somewhat magical" mixture heavily relied on by the pharmaceutical industry. The Economics of Everyday ThingsThere have been five mass extinction events in Earth’s historyEach extinction event has resulted in the loss of at least 70% of Earth’s species at the time of the event, often due to significant changes in global temperatures. The most recent event occurred 66 million years ago and wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs. Our World in DataHow flowering plants took over the worldFlowering plants are relatively young in the evolutionary scheme of things, only arriving after the dinosaurs had already been wiped out. Their evolution has long puzzled scientists, but recent research indicates their success is due to smaller,... CosmosEstimates say 2.5 billion total T. rexes lived on EarthRoughly 68 million years ago, the Tyrannosaurus rex was king of the North American ecosystem. Researchers used the dinosaur's size, metabolic rate, age of sexual maturity, and other factors to determine 20,000 individuals likely were alive at any given time, more than 120,000 20-year generations. This piece breaks down how they arrived at those numbers. Smithsonian MagazineWhat is Archaeology?If you are up-to-date on your Jurassic Park lore, then you likely already know the answer to this question. But for those of us who didn't delve into the world in dinosaurs, it's easy to assume that professionals who study old stuff likely study the remains of what came before us, right? Find out in this article by the Society for American Archaeology. Society for American ArchaeologyMammals gradually expanded in size and diversity after the dinosaur extinctionAfter an asteroid impact caused a mass extinction event 66 million years ago, small mammals were among the few surviving species. With fewer predators, mammals steadily grew larger as new habitats emerged. Smithsonian MagazineThere are lots of weird ideas about dinosaur extinction, like hungry, hungry caterpillarsOne of the great historical puzzles is this: why did the dinosaurs go extinct? Whether an asteroid, poison plants, volcanos and climate change, or something else, it's still a mystery. Scientists have been debating this question for almost a hundred years. One insect scholar suggests that caterpillars are the culprits. NPRSpinosaurus had the weirdest dinosaur tail of all timeA new fossil of one of the most unusual dinosaurs, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, suggests it was a swimming predator powered by a fin-like tail. YouTubeBrowse the prehistoric salad bar with these ancient plantsIn this video, Benjamin Burger, associate professor of geology at Utah State University’s Uintah Basin Campus talks about the different types of plants present during the Mesozoic Era. Professor Burger explores how these plants changed over time, served as food sources for the dinosaurs, and co-evolved with them during this period. YouTube
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