Dinosaurs Facts for Kids
Roar-some facts about dinosaurs
Fossilised dinosaur droppings, called coprolites, give scientists clues about what dinosaurs ate. One famous T. rex coprolite found in Canada contained crushed bone fragments, confirming it chomped right through its prey.
Dilophosaurus was made famous in Jurassic Park as a venom-spitting dinosaur, but there is absolutely no fossil evidence it could spit venom or had a neck frill. In reality it was a large, fast predator about 6 metres long.
Scientists have long puzzled over how long-necked sauropods pumped blood all the way up to their heads. Some researchers think they may have had multiple hearts, or an unusually powerful single heart the size of a bathtub.
For many years, scientists thought Brachiosaurus used its forehead nostrils as a snorkel to breathe underwater. We now know it was purely land-based, and the high nostrils may have helped with smell or sound production.
Ornithomimus, an ostrich-like dinosaur, may have been the fastest dinosaur, capable of running at around 60–70 km/h. Its long legs, light build, and toothless beak made it look almost identical to a modern ostrich.
Kentrosaurus, an African relative of Stegosaurus, had long spikes running from the middle of its back all the way down its tail. Computer simulations show its tail could swing fast enough to seriously injure a large predator.
Psittacosaurus, a small parrot-faced dinosaur, had a remarkable array of long bristle-like filaments growing from the top of its tail. These may have been used for display, like a peacock's tail feathers.
Yutyrannus huali is the largest known feathered dinosaur, reaching about 9 metres in length. Its name means 'beautiful feathered tyrant,' and its fluffy coat may have kept it warm in the cool Cretaceous climate of what is now China.
The large plates along Stegosaurus's back were filled with blood vessels, which suggests they could flush with colour — possibly turning bright red when the animal was excited or threatened. They may have worked like a living mood board.
Gallimimus was a fast, ostrich-like dinosaur that could run at roughly 50 km/h on its long, powerful hind legs. Despite looking like a meat-eater, it was likely an omnivore that scooped up small animals and plants with its beak.