Origin of dinosaurs Essay Example
Origin of dinosaurs Essay Example

Origin of dinosaurs Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1247 words)
  • Published: October 21, 2017
  • Type: Research Paper
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There is a wealth of captivating myths and factual information about the origins of dinosaurs.

The term "Dinosauria" is the scientific name for various creatures with different lifestyles. These reptilian beings, known as dinosaurs, lived on Earth around 165 million years ago in the Mesozoic era. They were a subgroup of archosaurs that also included birds and crocodiles. By examining the evidence they left behind, we can infer the physical characteristics of dinosaurs from the Mesozoic era.

Weishampel et al. (2004) discovered that dodos offer valuable clues about the lifestyle of dinosaurs, as their appearance varied. Certain dinosaurs had simple feathers, while others had thick and rough skin due to their reptilian features.

The dinosaurs were famous for being one of the largest and most active creatures on earth. They hatched from eggs and could not fly or survive in water. Dinosaurs existed in different sizes, with so

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me measuring about 100 feet long while others were as small as a chicken. However, most dinosaurs were of medium size.

During the Triassic period, dinosaurs, craniates (reptile-like creatures), and various mammals emerged from the Permian period. This era experienced a significant increase in heat and aridity, causing large areas on Earth to become deserts.

During the early Triassic period, certain species managed to survive while others perished. These survivors were diapsid reptiles that sought shelter under stones and foraged for food in the cooler morning and evening temperatures. Over time, these reptiles eventually evolved into today's snakes and lizards as the temperature conditions became more tolerable.

The distribution of workss commenced, while another group of reptilians evolved into phytophagic rhynchosaurs. Numerous species of rynchosaurs emerged, showcasing distinct tall and gawky organic structures. Eventually

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these diverse rynausers evolved into dinosaurs, which included various types that thrived at different periods.

There were dinosaurs that walked on two hind limbs, known as bipedal dinosaurs, and others that moved on four limbs, called quadrupedal dinosaurs. The way their teeth were built could determine how much nutrients they consumed. Fossil evidence indicates that dinosaurs ate plants like trees. Dinosaurs are part of the archosaurs group and are classified in the Chordata phylum. There are different ways to categorize dinosaurs, but the Benton categorization is widely used.

According to Benton, all dinosaurs belong to the Amniota series, the Sauropsida class, and the Diapsida subcategory.

Division Archosauria. According to Benton (2004 pp 223-345), dinosaurs were divided into two major orders: Saurinchia and Orinthischia. The categorization of dinosaurs is both complex and broad. The extinction of dinosaurs remains a mystery, as they originated around 165 million years ago and became extinct about 65 million years ago.

Some scientists believe that dinosaurs became extinct naturally because of starvation. They ate tall trees and their tall and fast bodies cleared forests, leading to desertification. They could not thrive well in warm and dry environments so they perished. However, this theory faces criticism as extinction is the result of reduced birth rates rather than death.

The plants could also experience their green leaves being bitten off and they would develop new leaves faster and grow larger. According to Weishampel et Al. 2004, this resulted in the expansion of large forested areas, thereby reducing space for dinosaurs. Consequently, the ecosystem became unstable with a significant decrease in the number of plant eaters.

The complete collapse of the ecosystem occurred by the end of the Cretaceous period.

The discovery of the first dinosaur dodo remains in modern times took place in England in 1819, thanks to a British dodo finder named William Buckland. However, an earlier discovery of dodo dinosaur remains was made in 1676 by Reverend Plot, who found a massive thighbone that was initially believed to belong to an enormous elephant. The first set of complete dodo dinosaur remains was later discovered by William Parker Foulke in New Jersey, USA. The finding of Buckland's dodo dinosaurs in 1819 was significant.

There have been over 330 different dinosaur genera discovered, primarily in the USA. The initial identification of dinosaurs as a result of Buckland's find in 1876 dates back to the early geological records from 1824. Dinosaur fossils have been found in multiple locations within the US, such as Alaska, Alberta Canada, Alabama, and California.

The mentioned locations are Florida, Georgia, El Salvador, Kansas, and Illinois.

The states of Indiana, Maine, Louisiana, Missouri, and Minnesota.

Mississippi Montana Nevada Nebraska New Jersey New York

North Carolina, North Dakota, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

Among other provinces, Oregon was home to dinosaur dodos. Additionally, dinosaur dodos were found in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia (James, 1999, pp. 176-211). It was believed that dinosaur's dodos had existed for millions of years.

The age of dinosaurs is primarily determined by the geological column, which uses the rocks and fossils found alongside them to date them. Classification of dinosaurs is challenging due to their traits, which change as they evolve from their origins. Dinosaurs are a type of vertebrate.

Dinosaurs, birds, and mammals all had an upright posture and did not splay their legs outward like lizards and salamanders. Unlike other reptiles, dinosaurs

rarely dragged their tail on the ground, as can be seen from their tracks. Therefore, studying birds and mammals can offer valuable insights into understanding how dinosaurs moved. Dinosaurs lived a lifestyle that closely resembled that of advanced mammals.

Both providing parental attention to their immature ones and constructing nests like birds, some small dinosaurs were also capable of flight. The non-avian dinosaurs had varying speeds of movement, with some walking at a slower pace and others able to move faster. While some argue that dinosaurs had an intermediate physiology between ecothermy and endothermy, others consider them to be solely endothermic like birds. Additionally, lizards play a role in identifying dinosaur characteristics.

According to Benton (2004), dinosaurs were thought to be inertial homeotherms, despite being poikilothermic animals. They regulated their body temperatures by growing larger. By examining the preserved footprints, scientists could determine the speed at which dinosaurs moved.

The dinosaurs, known for their incredible speed, could reach a maximum velocity of about 12 meters per second or roughly 27 miles per hour. These remarkable creatures inhabited different habitats on Earth as long as the conditions were favorable in accordance with their evolutionary past.

Dinosaurs flourished in countries with plentiful food, like plants, and favorable climates. They specifically preferred cool and moist climates that encouraged plant growth. The age of rock formations can be determined by examining dinosaur fossils found within them.

This procedure is typically performed on sedimentary stones, which are created from layers called strata, formed from deposits containing animal remains. In America, dinosaur fossils were commonly utilized to determine the age of rocks, while rocks were also used to date fossil age. Dinosaur fossils are discovered in

sedimentary stones in nearly every region worldwide. However, the dating of rocks through fossils and fossils through rocks has often been contested, commonly referred to as circular reasoning. The geologic column assumes uniformity, but this assumption has been disproven due to the potential for misplaced fossils.

Polystrate dodos are losing their beds. In particular, there have been instances where ancient beds are situated above young stone beds. (James, 1999, pp. 176-211) In certain cases, evidence has shown that human dodos coexisted with dinosaur dodos, indicating that adult males were possibly contributing to the extinction of dinosaurs.

The presence of dinosaurs is significant in stone dating since they are found throughout the United States. This makes it easier to determine the age of sedimentary stones as well as compare the ages of the fossils using these stones.

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