Dinosaurs are the largest known land animals and have been breeding on Earth for about 160 million years. They are distributed in different environments across the globe and have evolved over millions of years. This article will introduce some of the main dinosaur species, analyze their living environment and the reasons for their extinction.
Types and ages of dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are a group of extinct reptiles. They are divided into two categories: sauropods and theropods. Sauropods are characterized by long necks, long tails, and large bodies. The most famous sauropods were giraffe dinosaurs such as the Brussels giraffe, Argentinosaurus and Diplodocus.
Theropods were generally shorter than sauropods and had brains and ferocious teeth. The most famous theropod dinosaurs were Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptors. In addition to this, there are ceratopsian and ankylosaurs. Ceratops were decorated with horns and hooves , such as Triceratops and Ceratops. Ankylosaurs were covered with hard carapaces , like " Rysaurus " and " Ironosaurus " .
The Age of Dinosaurs can be divided into three periods: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. Dinosaurs first appeared in the Middle Triassic, about 245 million years ago. In the late Triassic, the earliest reptiles resembling theropods appeared. During the Jurassic period, theropods became more diverse and prosperous. The Cretaceous was the golden age and last period of dinosaurs. During this period, both sauropods and theropods flourished.
Dinosaur life and environment
The living environment of dinosaurs can be roughly divided into three types: land, air and water. Terrestrial dinosaurs survived in various ways: some ate plants, others fed on other animals. Air dinosaurs were primarily pterosaurs and, unlike modern birds, did not fly, but moved by gliding. Aquatic dinosaurs were mainly ancient fish and plesiosaurs, whose bodies were adapted to swim in the water.
The living environment of dinosaurs varies depending on the species. In the early days of the dinosaur era, the continents were unified and oceans and lakes covered much of the Earth's surface. There were a large number of carnivorous, bipeds from this period, such as Aleutian dragons and small mountain dragons, which could walk both on land and swim in water. In the middle of the Jurassic, the continent split into many small pieces. Many plant-eating dinosaurs emerged during this period, such as giraffe dinosaurs and stegosaurus, which were highly adaptable and could survive in a variety of environments. During the Cretaceous period, western North America was an important area for dinosaurs. During this period, dinosaur diversity reached its peak, including the famous Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.
Causes of the extinction of dinosaurs
Dinosaur extinction is a scientific conundrum. Some scholars believe that some supernova explosions, ongoing nuclear wars, and the effects of interstellar dust can lead to disaster, while others believe that it is due to factors such as temperature, climate, and species diversity on the Earth's surface.
Most widely known, a large meteorite that hit Earth in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula was one of the causes of the extinction of the dinosaurs. The meteorite, which is about 10 to 15 kilometers in diameter, released some chemicals, including carbon dioxide and sulfates, when it hit Earth, causing a sudden rise in global temperatures and a massive volcanic eruption. These environmental changes disrupted the dinosaurs' food chain and ecosystem, leading to their gradual extinction. More controversially, some scholars believe that other factors, such as tectonic changes in the Earth's crust, may have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
In general, dinosaurs are a very special and mysterious type of creature on Earth. During their time of prosperity, dinosaurs dominated many different ecosystems on Earth. Although they were extinct millions of years ago, they still leave an impression in people's hearts and are widely studied.