Dinosaurs were a diverse group of reptiles that dominated Earth during the Mesozoic Era, which spanned from about 245 to 66 million years ago. Here's a quick overview of what makes them so fascinating: 🦖 What Are Dinosaurs? - Dinosaurs are part of the clade Dinosauria, first named by British naturalist Sir Richard Owen in 1842. - The name comes from Greek: deinos (terrible) and sauros (lizard), meaning "terrible lizard". - They are classified into two main groups based on hip structure: - Saurischia ("lizard-hipped"): includes theropods (like Tyrannosaurus rex) and sauropodomorphs (like Brachiosaurus). - Ornithischia ("bird-hipped"): includes herbivores like Triceratops and Stegosaurus. 🕰️ When Did Dinosaurs Live? - Dinosaurs first appeared in the Late Triassic period, around 233 million years ago. - They thrived through the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. - Most non-avian dinosaurs went extinct about 66 million years ago, likely due to a massive asteroid impact and volcanic activity. 🌍 Where Were Dinosaurs Found? - Fossils have been discovered on all seven continents, showing that dinosaurs were widespread across the globe. 🐦 Are Birds Dinosaurs? - Yes! Birds are considered modern avian dinosaurs, having evolved from small theropod ancestors. So technically, dinosaurs are not entirely extinct. 🧠 Fun Facts - The smallest known dinosaur, Microraptor, was about the size of a crow. - The weirdest? Possibly Pegomastax, which looked like a cross between a parrot and a porcupine. - There are over 700 known extinct dinosaur species, with new ones still being discovered.