beginning of the triassic period. they became extinct at ... · form the other continents. there...

3

4.5 billion years ago

3.5 billion years ago

570 million years ago


The fi rst dinosaurs

appear

Dinosaurs rule the

world

Dinosaurs become extinct




Triassic Period

Jurassic Period

Cretaceous Period

Archean Period

Precambrian Period

Palaeozoic Period

Cenozoic Period

- Age of Dinosaurs -

Mesozoic Period

years

The dinosaurs ruled the earth for many millions of years. They lived in the Mesozoic era, which is divided into the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.The fi rst dinosaurs appeared about 225 million years ago – at the beginning of the Triassic period. They became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period.

The word dinosaur consists of the Greek words “deinós” and “sauros”, which mean “terrible, powerful lizard”. Scientists classify most dinosaurs as reptiles. Differing from reptiles, though, as it is assumed that there were cold-blooded as well as warm-blooded dinosaurs. Cold-blooded animals are quick and agile as long as it is warm. If it is cold, they cannot move as well. Warm-blooded animals, like mammals, do not depend on the outside temperature.

Dinosaurs on Dinosaurs on

our planetour planet

What are dinosaurs?What are dinosaurs?

2

years ago

ozoic iod

ars

When the dinosaurs lived, there was only one large continent on our planet called Pangaea. Over the course of many millions of years, the continent drifted apart to form the other continents.

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There were plant-eaters and meat-eaters among the dinosaurs. Some of them walked on two legs, and some on four legs, depending on their posture.

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Prehistoric scientists assume that many dinosaurs lived in herds. This might be the reason why so many skeletons have been found at the same place. Other evidence includes fossil footprints that have been found.Living in a herd was useful to defend against natural enemies or to protect their young.The dinosaurs cared for their young: They laid eggs in their nests and protected them for a long time after they had hatched.

Prehistoric scientists – also known as Palaeontologists – have explored the science

of prehistoric life. They build their knowledge from fossils excavated from all around the world. The most popular fossils are petrifications,

moulds in rocks or animals that are enclosed in pieces of amber. These fossils tell us what the dinosaurs looked like and how they lived.

How the How the

dinosaurs lived dinosaurs lived

How do we know How do we know

so much about so much about

dinosaurs? dinosaurs?

4

The dinosaurs were spread over the entire globe because the earth consisted of only one vast continent during the age of dinosaurs. Their skeletons have been found and excavated on all of today‘s continents.

Fossils can be found in deep layers of earth or in quarries. Prehistoric scientists study which layer of earth contains the fossils and use this to estimate their age. The oldest known dinosaur fossil is 230 million years old.

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mmoniteAmmonite TR

ILOByTeTRILOByTe

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Dinosaurs ruled the earth for many years. But at the end of the Cretaceous period, nearly all types of dinos died out.To this day, there still is no exact explanation why dinosaurs became extinct. One theory is that a large meteorite collided with the earth and dramatically changed the climate. The collision

threw a lot of dust into the atmosphere and darkened the sky for years. Many plants could not grow. There was no food for the plant-eaters, and thus no food for the meat-eaters either. Another theory states that huge vulcanic eruptions may have been responsible for similar changes in climate.

Birds are the closest descendants of the dinosaurs because of a number of their characteristics. The feet of fowl-like birds, for example, are very similar to those of Tyrannosaurus: three toes

at the front and one at the back. Another close relative of the dinosaurs is the crocodile. Its skull resembles that of a dinosaur a lot.

Why are there no Why are there no

dinosaurs today?dinosaurs today?

The descendants

of the dinosaurs

The descendants of the dinosaursThe descendants of the dinosaurs

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T-Rex was one of the largest and most terrifying dinos. It was a solitary

dinosaur and had a strong jaw with sharp, big teeth. With its muscular hind

legs and long tail, it was able to walk quickly. It would keep hold of its prey

with its strong, short arms.

Velociraptor had a sharp, crescent-shaped claw on its hind foot. This claw could grow up to 6.5 cm and was very useful when hunting or climbing. Velociraptor used to eat up its prey with a total of 56 teeth.

Deinonychus is a close relative of Velociraptor. It also had a crescent-shaped claw, up to 12 cm long on each hind foot. It hunted in packs and made use of its claw and its long arms, too. Its jaw was armed with up to 70 teeth.

Tyrannosaurus RexTyrannosaurus Rex VelociraptorVelociraptor DeinonychusDeinonychus

Name means: tyrant lizard king

Size: 15 metres long, 6 metres tall

Weight: 5 – 6 tons

Diet: meat-eater

Location: North America

Name means: speedy thief

Size: 2 metres long, 1 metre tall

Weight: 15 kg

Diet: meat-eater

Location: Asia

Name means: terrible claw

Size: 3.4 metres long, 1.7 metres tall

Weight: 73 kg

Diet: meat-eater


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Brachiosaurus was the largest land-living animal that ever roamed the earth. Because its neck was up to 16 metres long, it could easily reach the leaves in the treetops. It lived in herds to protect its young. It also made use of its long tail as a whip for the same purpose.

Saichania had a bulky body and short legs, protected by an armour of bone plates. In addition, its back, head and cheeks were covered with spikes. Saichania had a long tail with a massive, bony club on the end. This helped defend against attackers.

BrachiosaurusBrachiosaurus SaichaniaSaichania

Name means: beautiful one

Size: 7 metres long, 2.2 metres tall


Diet: plant-eater

Location: Asia10

Name means: arm lizard


Weight: up to 80 tons

Diet: plant-eater



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Stegosaurus was recognised by its bone plates running from its neck to tail. They could reach a size of 60 x 60 cm. They were mainly used to regulate body temperature. Four sharp spikes on its tail made a powerful weapon against attackers.

Dimetrodon attracted attention because of the large sail on its back. Its legs were positioned on the side of its body and enabled it to run very fast. It had a large head with a powerful jaw. Its terrifying, sharp, fang-like teeth in different sizes offered its prey no chance of escaping.

StegosaurusStegosaurus DimetrodonDimetrodon

Name means: roofed lizard



Diet: plant-eater

Location: North America and Europe

Name means: two measures tooth

Size: 3.5 metres long, 1 metre tall

Weight: 250 kg

Diet: meat-eater

Location: North America, Europe


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Triceratops was a very large and strong animal. The three horns on its head could grow up to 1 metre long and protected it against predators. The frill served as a protection against dangerous neck bites. Its mouth was rather a curved beak, which was useful for plucking food from the floor or from bushes.

The snakefl y can be recognised by its long neck and fl at head. It lived in trees and bushes and preyed upon other insects.

Dinosaurs had very few enemies, due to their large size. But snakes were looking for the giant lizards‘ eggs, lying unprotected in their nests.

The dragonfl y is a fast and slim predator. The oldest dragonfl y ever found is about 250 million years old. During the age of the dinosaurs, dragonflies had a wingspan of up to 20 cm.

Pterodactyls could easily glide short distances, mostly from trees to the ground. This was possible because of elongated ridges supporting the skin, which could be stretched like a sail.

TriceratopsTriceratops SnakeflySnakefly

SnakesSnakes

DragonflyDragonfly

PterodactylusPterodactylus

Name means: three horn face

Size: 9 metres long, 3.5 metres tall

Weight: 5 - 8 tons

Diet: plant-eater


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beginning of the triassic period. they became extinct at ... · form the other continents. there...

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