Here are some key events in the history of dinosaurs:
-
OriginDinosaurs first appeared during the Triassic Period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago.
-
EvolutionDinosaurs evolved from a group of dog- and horse-sized creatures into a diverse group of animals with a wide range of physical features.
-
DominanceDinosaurs became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates after the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event and continued to rule the world until about 66 million years ago
-
ExtinctionMost dinosaurs died out at the end of the Cretaceous Period, about 66 million years ago, when a massive asteroid or comet struck Earth. The impact caused a dramatic shift in Earth’s climate and widespread devastation.
-
BirdsSome meat-eating dinosaurs evolved into birds about 155 million years ago. Birds are the only dinosaur lineage known to have survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.
-
DiscoveryThe first known illustration of a dinosaur bone was in 1677.
Dinosaurs were a group of reptiles that had a hole in their hip socket, which allowed them to walk upright. They varied greatly in shape and size, with some weighing as much as 80 tons and others weighing as little as 8 pounds. -
