Introduction to Dinosaurs

 
Richard OwenMankind has not always known about the dinosaurs. Actually dinosaurs were only mysterious and strange fossils until 1841 when a leading scientist of his time Professor Richard Owen defined then as an entirely different species. Owen was the first to believe that these strange enormous fossils were not directly related to living animals of his time. He proposed in the Plymouth meeting that they were another species, maybe even thousands of previously unknown species.
   
The defining characteristic of dinosaurs is that they .....
  • lived between 250-65 million years ago,
  • they lived on land,
  • they could not fly,
  • they had strait legs tucked underneath their enormous bodies,
  • and that they gave evidence of being reptilian.
    These characteristics are important because other animals lived and were developed during the time of the dinosaurs. Some of these creatures could fly, others lived in the oceans, and seas. The early ancestors of crocodiles, turtles, and mammals roomed the earth during the time of the dinosaurs.
    Dinosaur is derived from the greek terms of dinos meaning "terrible", and sauros meaning "lizard".  The name was important because of the size of the first dinosaurs found were enormous colossal creatures.

    Today paleontologist are the dinosaur hunters. They have discovered many interesting facts about dinosaurs, and how they lived from the fossil record of these versatile creatures. They have discovered tracks, nest, and even the remains of dinosaurs with in the belly of another dinosaur. Paleontologist theories from the fossil remains how the dinosaurs lived. But because time has made it impossible for us to know everything about the dinosaurs may theories are still being challenged or changed by the day. These theories are a best guess from the evidence found in palaeontological sights around the world. But the facts remain much of the dinosaurs daily lives are still a mystery.
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