What it looked like
Palaeontologists consider Bagaceratops to be far more primitive than the ceratopids - even though it came later than many of them. Like the ceratopids, Bagaceratops has a relatively stocky build and short legs. However, along with its horn, its crest is nowhere near as large as those of Styracosaurus sty-RAC-o-SORE-us nor is Bagaceratops itself anywhere near as big. Its closest relative is probably Protoceratops pro-toe-KAIR-ah-tops , which is about twice the size of its smaller cousin. With...
Missing link
Archaeopteryx was the first feathered dinosaur to be found anywhere. Originally, palaeontologists suggested it could be a major link between dinosaurs and birds, but now some think that Archaeopteryx is a bit of a dead end in avian evolution. It has feathers and light bones like birds do, but it also has a flat breastbone and a long, bony tail, which birds don't have. However, Archaeopteryx is some kind of link between feathered and non-feathered creatures and, as such, is a highly prized...
Protoceratops
We know a lot about Protoceratops because palaeontologists have been able to study them at every stage, from egg to adulthood. We.ght 400 kilogralns TsZ Food Plants P01 Special features Early horned dinosaur
Thumb spike
One unusual feature of Iguanodon is its thumb spike - a horny digit on each hand where you might expect the thumb to be. Palaeontologists are still divided over the function of this spike. Some claim it is for defence and can be used to stab an attacking predator. Other scientists are less sure about its effectiveness as a weapon. Maybe it is used for pulling down branches or digging up plants Iguanodontidae Penod Early cretaceous 5 metres ,6.5 feet g lt l gt 10 metres 33 feet' r ji k I Ml r ji...
Giganotosaurus
When Giganotosaurus was first spotted in Argentina, it started a big debate - is this dinosaur the biggest meat-eater ever Many palaeontologists believe that Giganotosaurus is the largest of all the dinosaur carnivores - even larger than Tyrannosaurus rex. From sightings made so far, it certainly seems to be longer and taller than its more famous rival. However, like Carcharodontosaurus, it also seems to be more lightly built than Tyrannosaurus rex, so the argument continues about who is the...
Spinosaurus
This dinosaur might look a bit odd, but you wouldn't want to say that to its face - this late Cretaceous predator is even longer than Giganotosaurus. The most striking feature of Spinosaurus is the huge sail on its back. This isn't for any kind of defensive purpose - a meat eater like this has little to fear - instead, it is used to regulate the dinosaur's temperature. Blood is pumped around the sail, where it is either heated in the sun or cooled in the shade this, in turn, controls the...
Triceratops
One of the most famous dinosaurs you'll ever see, this big bruiser of a plant-eater is one of the most common Cretaceous dinosaurs. Triceratops is famous for the three sharp horns on its head, which give it its name. Partly for display but mainly for defence, these three prongs are equally effective in scaring off carnivores and male love rivals as they are attracting females. The formidable horns, particularly the pair of metre-long upper horns, are more than sharp enough to kill anything in...
Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus is the largest member of the stegosaur family - a wide-ranging group of large plant-eating dinosaurs found around the world. The most impressive features of Stegosaurus are undoubtedly the two rows of plates running down its back. When these were first spotted, palaeontologists presumed they were for defence we now know this isn't the case. Firstly, the plates are too weak to hold off another dinosaur. Secondly, they don't really protect the most vulnerable parts of the dinosaur,...
Omnivore
So, if Oviraptor isn't an egg thief, what does it eat It eats both meat and plants, which is unusual for a dinosaur. It might well be tempted to eat the odd egg, too, if one comes its way. Maybe the name isn't so wrong after all. Another of the thick-skulled dinosaurs, yet Pachycephalosaurus is nowhere near as tough as it looks.
Timeline
This timeline will give you an idea of when the dinosaurs featured in this book lived in relation to each other. Of course, palaeontologists can't be sure whether these dates are wholly accurate, but they are a useful guide. Eoraptor Herrerasaurus Coelophysis Euskelosaurus Plateosaurus Riojasaurus Massospondylus Syntarsus Dilophosaurus Anchisaurus Rhoetosaurus Megalosaurus Xiaosaurus Yangchuanosaurus Brachiosaurus Diplodocus Kentrosaurus 155-144 Mamenchisaurus 126-121 Baryonyx 126-112...
Colder climate
Cretaceous-period Australia was attached to Antarctica, so the climate there was very different to that of the present day. For the most part, the weather was cold and the days were dark. Leaellynasaura is adapted for those conditions - it has large eyes, which help it to see in gloomy light, for example. The discovery of Leaellynasaura reopened one of the oldest dinosaur debates - are they warm-blooded or cold-blooded Present-day cold-blooded reptiles aren't well adapted to living in cold...
Spot the difference
If group living is the norm, then these dinosaurs' crests become all the more important. Palaeontologists believe that they may be used to generate noise however, the shape is equally important. Each species has a different-shaped crest, which is a great visual pointer for where the rest of a particular dinosaur herd happens to be - very handy if you're on the move most of the time. Mow to say it LAM-be-oh-soRc Meaning of name Lambed lizard Family Hadrosauridae Penod Late Cretaceous Where found...
Archaeopteryx
When Archaeopteryx remains were first unearthed, the dinosaur was thought to be a Compsognathus. However, palaeontologists soon realized that this is one of the most important dinosaur discoveries ever made. Family Coelundea Period Late Jurassic Where found Germany Heiaht 0.3 metre 1 foot iength 0.5 metre 0-6 feet Weight 500 grams 08 ounces
Zephyrosaurus
Not many dinosaurs begin with the letter Z, so Zephyrosaurus is something of a collector's item. Keep your eyes peeled for this one if you're spotting in the United States. Early Cretaceous Where found USA Height 1 metre 3 feet Length 2 metres 6 fee We ght Not known Food Plants Special features Agile IBB. iBm sai n Jin iinr ii ji IBB. iBm sai n Jin iinr ii ji Since Zephyrosaurus is a small and agile dinosaur it is really skilled at zipping around. When you have no armour plating or defensive...
Ankylosaurus
This is the last and possibly the most famous of the ankylosaurids. Ankylosaurus is big, wide, heavy and covered in bony plates. This is one well protected dinosaur, and most predators have to think twice before trying to tackle it. The body of Ankylosaurus is all about defence, being covered in thick plates of bone fused into the dinosaur's skin. This forms a hard, shell-like structure over the creature it even has bony plates over its eyes. Not only that, but its body is covered in rows of...
Deadly claw
Deinonychus derives its name from the huge claw on its second toe. The claw is so large that it would get in the way when Deinonychus walks, unless the dinosaur can keep it pulled back retracted from the ground, like a cocked trigger on a gun. The claw is undoubtedly a fearsome weapon, but no one has got close enough to see precisely how it's used. Palaeontologists once presumed that Deinonychus would slash through the flesh of its unfortunate victim, but palaeontologists now believe the claw...
Puzzling plates
Kentrosaurus has a striking combination of spikes and plates that run down its back and tail. The upper part of the back has a double row of plates the lower portion and tail a double row of spikes. The spikes appear to be defensive but the plates are a little less easy to explain. Perhaps Kentrosaurus can make them change colour as part of a courtship display. Or maybe they are for regulating the dinosaur s temperature a series of blood vessels near the surface could help cool or heat the...