By Ronald J. Litwin, Robert E. Weems, and Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.

Few subjects in the Earth sciences are as fascinating to the public as dinosaurs. The study of dinosaurs stretches our imaginations, gives us new perspectives on time and space, and invites us to discover worlds very different from our modern Earth.

From a scientific viewpoint, however, the study of dinosaurs is important both for understanding the causes of past major extinctions of land animals and for understanding the changes in biological diversity caused by previous geological and climatic changes of the Earth. These changes are still occurring today. A wealth of new information about dinosaurs has been learned over the past 30 years, and science's old ideas of dinosaurs as slow, clumsy beasts have been totally turned around. This pamphlet contains answers to some frequently asked questions about dinosaurs, with current ideas and evidence to correct some long-lived popular misconceptions. Although much has been discovered recently about dinosaurs, there is still a great deal more to learn about our planet and its ancient inhabitants.

• When did the first dinosaurs appear on Earth?
• Are all fossil animals dinosaurs?
• Did people and dinosaurs live at the same time?
• Where did dinosaurs live?
• Did all the dinosaurs live together, and at the same time?
• How are dinosaurs named?
• What was the biggest dinosaur? What was the smallest?
• How many types of dinosaurs are known?
• Were dinosaurs warm-blooded?
• How long could a dinosaur live?
• What did dinosaurs eat?
• How fast could dinosaurs walk or run?
• Did dinosaurs communicate?
• Why did some dinosaurs grow so big?
• Which was the smartest dinosaur?
• What colors were dinosaurs?
• Were dinosaurs social animals?
• When did dinosaurs become extinct?
• Why did the dinosaurs die out?
• Where can I find more information about dinosaurs?

• About this publication