|
|
Article: dinosaur
- Article from:
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
|
Copyright informationThe Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information)
|
dinosaur [Gr., = terrible lizard], extinct land reptile of the
Mesozoic era
. The dinosaurs, which were egg-laying animals, ranged in length from 2 1/2 ft (91 cm) to about 127 ft (39 m). Recognized discoveries of fossilized dinosaur bones date only to the 1820s; Sir Richard Owen, a Victorian anatomist, coined the term
dinosaur.
Dinosaur Traits and Classification
Fossil remains of dinosaurs have been found in rock strata of every continent, indicating that they differed widely in structure, habitat, and diet. Their brain sizes varied, with some predators having brain-to-body ratios equivalent to those of some modern birds and animals. Many species built nests. Many ...
Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:
|