Dinosaurs
Fossils: How They're Formed
66 Million BC
Everything we know about dinosaurs comes from studying the fossils they left behind. Not every animal or plant that died in the distant past created a fossil. Usually, whatever was left of a dead animal was eaten by scavengers or gradually dissolved into the earth by the forces of air and water. Occasionally, [...]
Triceratops: Rhinoceros of Dinosaurs
70 Million BC30 Feet11 Tons
With its mighty three-horned head and heavily armored body, a fast-charging Triceratops must have been a fearsome sight to any hungry Tyrannosaurus. Certainly not what you would call an easy meal.
Pteranodon: The Flying Reptile
75 Million BC23 Feet37 Pounds
Pteranodon belongs to an ancient group of flying reptiles called "pterosaurs" that lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. When the first pterosaur fossils were discovered in Germany in 1784, scientists thought they were aquatic animals. It took them 100 years to finally recognize they were flying reptiles!