What are some methods that scientists use to learn more about dinosaurs?
What are some methods that scientists use to learn more about dinosaurs?
To discover how organisms lived in the past, paleontologists look for clues preserved in ancient rocks—the fossilized bones, teeth, eggs, footprints, teeth marks, leaves, and even dung of ancient organisms. Fossilized jaws, teeth, and dung provide important clues about what non-avian dinosaurs ate.
Can dinosaurs survive today?
Whatever Jurassic Park would have you believe, dinosaurs roaming the Earth today might need a bit more puff if they want to catch up with hapless tourists. It’s doubtful. But land dinosaurs would be quite comfortable with the climate of tropical and semi-tropical parts of the world.
How scientists developed a hypothesis for what caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs?
The Alvarez hypothesis posits that the mass extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and many other living things during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event was caused by the impact of a large asteroid on the Earth. They had determined that a 10–15 km (6–9 mi) space rock hurtled into earth at Chicxulub.
What is the longest living animal?
Bowhead Whale
How long could a dinosaur live?
Early estimates of 300-year lifespans for the largest sauropods were based on comparisons with crocodiles and turtles, which have much slower metabolisms. The consensus is now that Apatosaurus and Diplodocus dinosaurs probably only lived for 70 or 80 years, which is about the same as an elephant today.
How do scientists believe dinosaurs became extinct?
A big meteorite crashed into Earth, changing the climatic conditions so dramatically that dinosaurs could not survive. Ash and gas spewing from volcanoes suffocated many of the dinosaurs. Diseases wiped out entire populations of dinosaurs. Food chain imbalances lead to the starvation of the dinosaurs.
How did the dinosaurs die out?
Evidence suggests an asteroid impact was the main culprit. Volcanic eruptions that caused large-scale climate change may also have been involved, together with more gradual changes to Earth’s climate that happened over millions of years.