Prehistoric reptiles: Dinosaurs were a diverse group of reptiles that existed before written history.
Time period: They lived during the Mesozoic Era, which includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Diversity: They came in many shapes and sizes, with some being very small and others enormous. Some walked on two legs, while others walked on four.
Diet: Some dinosaurs were carnivores (meat-eaters), while others were herbivores (plant-eaters).
Physical features: They had different physical characteristics, such as scales, plates, horns, or feathers.
Extinction: All non-avian dinosaurs went extinct approximately 66 million years ago, likely due to a catastrophic event like an asteroid impact or widespread volcanic activity.
Modern-day relatives: Modern birds are considered a type of dinosaur because they evolved from a common ancestor with non-avian dinosaurs.
Evidence: Fossils are the primary evidence scientists use to learn about dinosaurs.