Dinosaurs ruled the earth from
approximately 252 million to 66 million years ago


What are dinosaurs?


Dinosaurs are a group of reptiles that dominated the land for over 140 million years. They are defined by their anatomy, with straight backs perpendicular to their bodies. Their legs were also positioned under their bodies (rather than on either side like lizards), which better supported their weight.

Unlike what many movies portray, not all extinct reptiles from that time period are dinosaurs. Non-dinosaur reptiles include pterosaurs (extinct flying reptiles) and marine reptiles.

Main characteristics of dinosaurs include:


triceratops skeleton t-rex skull



When Dinosaurs Lived


Triassic Period (252 to 201 million years ago)

Climate: Relatively hot and dry, covered in large deserts. Polar ice caps did not exist.

Well known Triassic dinos:

Jurassic Period (201 - 145 million years ago)

Climate: Temperatures fell slightly. Rainfall increased as a result of large seas appearing between land masses as pangea split in two.

Well known Jurassic dinos:

Cretaceous Period (145 to 66 million years ago)

Climate: Varied upon land masses as continents spread to what we see today.

Well known Cretaceous dinos:

time period visual