Relative of birds
The shape of Caudipteryx is definitely that of a small therapod dinosaur, so it is distinctly different from birds. However, many features are the same. Obviously, there are the feathers, but both animals also have a wishbone - the bones are light because they are filled with air -and the feet have three forward-facing toes. Similarities like this are enough to convince most palaeontologists that birds and dinosaurs are directly related - and that Caudipteryx is part of that evolutionary chain....
Archaeopteryx
When Archaeopteryx remains were first unearthed, the dinosaur was thought to be a Compsognathus. However, palaeontologists soon realized that this is one of the most important dinosaur discoveries ever made. Family Coelundea Period Late Jurassic Where found Germany Heiaht 0.3 metre 1 foot
Abelisaurus
Named after Roberto Abel of the Argentinian Museum of Natural Sciences, this late Cretaceous dinosaur is something of a mystery but we do know it's a pretty fearsome predator. -to RFEL-ee-SORE-us H0W10 l ame Abel's lizard Period Late Cretaceous Where found Argentina -to RFEL-ee-SORE-us H0W10 l ame Abel's lizard Period Late Cretaceous Where found Argentina Length 9 metres 29.7 ft U Weight 1,300 kilograms 0-4
Early find
Anchisaurus remains were some of the first dinosaur bones discovered in the United States. They were found in Connecticut in 1818, although at first people thought the bones were human. Eventually, they were correctly identified and the misunderstanding was put to rest. However, some confusion remains, as Anchisaurus is also sometimes known as Yaleosaurus. How to say t an-kee-SORE-us Weaning of name Near ,izard Fami y Anchisauridae eight 1 metre 3.3 feet Length 2 metres 6.6 fee
Vegetation
The surface of the continents also looked different from the way it does today. For a start, what are now deserts -the Sahara, for example - weren't always barren sandy places, but were once rich with vegetation and vice versa. However, most of the plants we know today simply weren't around during the Mesozoic era. There were no grasses, for instance, and flowering plants did not appear until the Cretaceous period. The main types of vegetation were ferns, cycads palm-like trees , conifers and...
Ankylosaurus
This is the last and possibly the most famous of the ankylosaurids. Ankylosaurus is big, wide, heavy and covered in bony plates. This is one well protected dinosaur, and most predators have to think twice before trying to tackle it. The body of Ankylosaurus is all about defence, being covered in thick plates of bone fused into the dinosaur's skin. This forms a hard, shell-like structure over the creature it even has bony plates over its eyes. Not only that, but its body is covered in rows of...
Timeline
This timeline will give you an idea of when the dinosaurs featured in this book lived in relation to each other. Of course, palaeontologists can't be sure whether these dates are wholly accurate, but they are a useful guide. Eoraptor Herrerasaurus Coelophysis Euskelosaurus Plateosaurus Riojasaurus Massospondylus Syntarsus Dilophosaurus Anchisaurus Rhoetosaurus Megalosaurus Xiaosaurus Yangchuanosaurus Brachiosaurus Diplodocus Kentrosaurus 155-144 Mamenchisaurus 126-121 Baryonyx 126-112...
Allosaurus
This top-ranking predator is one of the most common and has a great range. Allosaurus can be found in locations as far apart as North America, Australia and Tanzania, which means that plant eaters right across the Jurassic world have plenty to worry about. Allosaurus is at the very top of the Jurassic food chain. For 10 million years this will be the biggest carnivore on the planet. It is more than capable of tackling most plant eaters, even up to the medium-sized sauropods. However, some...
What is a
Although there were hundreds of different types of dinosaurs, not every animal encountered on your trip will actually be one. It is easy to forget that dinosaurs shared the planet with many other types of animals. Depending how far back you go, you will also encounter mammals, birds, insects and other land-dwelling reptiles - to say nothing of all the flying and swimming reptiles or even the fish.