When a dinosaur bone was first described in 1676, it was thought to belong to an elephant or perhaps some kind of giant. More than a century later, scientists realized that such fossils were the remnants of a creature called megalosaurs. They were portrayed as stocky, overgrown lizards. Then, in 1842, leading anatomist Richard Owen recognized the megalosaurs as part of a whole new group of animals, which he called dinosaurs, or "dire lizards."
Since then, about 700 different types of dinosaurs have been described, and new ones have been found every month. Our understanding of them has also changed radically. The dinosaurs we know today are very different from the ones you read about in books as a child.
Myth # 1: all dinosaurs were big
The word "dinosaur" usually conjures up the image of a giant, and of course many of them were really big. Tyrannosaurus, for example, was 12 meters long and weighed 5 tons. Most likely, he was not even the largest of the carnivores. But herbivorous sauropods grew to titanic proportions. The huge Argentinosaurus is known only for a few bones found, but its size is estimated to be 30 meters in length and weighs 80 tons. He was larger than any mammal on earth, with the possible exception of some whales. But the dinosaurs were truly unique. No other group of land animals before or after them has been able to reach this size.
But not all dinosaurs were giants. The horned dinosaur protoceratops was about the size of a sheep. The Veloceraptor was the size of a golden retriever. In the famous Jurassic Park movie, they were made much larger to make the plot more gruesome. In recent years, many small species have been discovered, no larger than a cat, rabbit or quail. These smaller species were probably more common than the giants. Most likely, the fact is that the massive bones of the Tyrannosaurus are better preserved and easier to find.
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Myth # 2: all dinosaurs were scaly
When dinosaurs were first discovered, it seemed clear that they had something to do with crocodiles and lizards, and therefore must be scaly. And many dinosaurs did fit that idea. But in the 1970s, paleontologists suggested that some of them may have been feathered, like their bird relatives.
Although considered fake at the time, a small carnivorous dinosaur was discovered in 1997 that was not covered in scales. Since then, feathers have been found on herbivorous ornithopods, fanged generodontosaurs, and many carnivorous species, including tyrannosaurids. This means that the T-Rex was most likely covered in feathers, not scales.
Myth # 3: all dinosaurs were green or brown
Early concepts of dinosaurs were based on a solid coloration, which included depressing shades of gray, green, and brown. If the Mesozoic era really was so boring, it should come as no surprise that everyone died out. But in reality, their color was brighter, even flashy. Researchers have identified traces of melanin on dinosaur feathers. The same pigment gives color to scales, bird feathers and our hair. Analyzes show that dinosaurs came in a wide variety of colors, including black, white, and ginger. Some ornithopods even boasted the iridescent sheen of their feathers.
In addition, some dinosaurs had patterns of spots and stripes, light bellies and dark backs. This coloration likely served as camouflage to help the dinosaurs hide from predators or prey. But bright colors and conspicuous patterns could also serve to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
Myth 4: dinosaurs were bad parents
Most reptiles simply bury their eggs and leave, preferring that the offspring take care of themselves. However, this behavior is very risky. A sea turtle, for example, has to lay thousands of eggs for only a few to survive. Previously, scientists believed that dinosaurs used the same principle of handling offspring. But now we know that these are myths.
Living relatives of dinosaurs - birds and crocodiles - guard both eggs and cubs. This suggests that dinosaurs did the same. And now there is evidence. During an expedition to the Gobi Desert, scientists found a dinosaur on top of a clutch of eggs. It was assumed that he died during the attack on the nest. This species was named Oviraptor, ie "the one who steals eggs." However, several more skeletons were later found on top of a clutch of eggs. It turned out that the oviraptor did not eat the eggs, he guarded them.
Myth 5: dinosaurs were doomed to extinction
The extinction of dinosaurs has long been attributed to their inability to adapt to changing conditions. In fact, they lived for over 100 million years, and their remains have been found in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Antarctica.
While some argue that their species was in decline, the fossils show that dinosaurs remained widespread and diverse until 66 million years ago, when an asteroid hit Earth (in what is now Mexico). Debris from the collision rose into the sky and blocked the sun, plunging the world into darkness. The extinction of the dinosaurs was not an intentional plan of nature. It has become a cosmic accident. If the asteroid deviated by only fractions of a degree, dinosaurs, not humans, would still rule the planet.
Myth 6: all dinosaurs are extinct
The asteroid destroyed many species of dinosaurs, and the rest disappeared later. But some of the little feathered dinosaurs probably managed to survive. They were direct descendants of their carnivorous cousins. These feathered relatives not only survived, but also flourished, growing into tens of thousands of bird species.