Millions of years ago, these giants of the ancient world - the dinosaurs ruled the planet.Only in the XIX century, scientists engaged in the study of their remains.Issues related to the ancient reptiles, there were many.One of them is: "What is a dinosaur?" - Is still not completely understood.Too big gap of time separates modern man and these amazing animals to speak with confidence about their appearance.
ancient giant planets
dinosaurs appeared (photo and description of some of them can be seen in our article) about 230 million years ago.Time of occurrence of these creatures is the Late Triassic period, the heyday of the Jurassic of came in, and the disappearance occurred in the late Cretaceous period.Over millions of years of existence of the dinosaurs settled across the Earth.Their remains were found even in Antarctica.
dinosaur species
Today, scientists know more than a thousand species of ancient reptiles.They are divided into predators, herbivores, water and flying dinosaurs.This diversity gives rise to serious difficulties, as is usually in the hands of scientists to determine the type of an ancient animal is at best only a few bones.
As researchers to recreate the look of ancient dinosaurs?
dinosaur species description can be found everywhere - in encyclopedias of the ancient world of our planet, scientific papers and books for children.A large number of films, documentaries and children's cartoons dedicated to the giants of the past.If you ask anyone, it quite accurately describe the look of ancient dinosaurs.How do we know how to look like dinosaurs?Photos and videos of them, of course, it is impossible to get, because there are millions of years ago.The answer lies in the remains of these reptiles.Today, they found more than a hundred thousand.This includes not only bones, but also the eggs of dinosaurs, their excrement, fossilized footprints and body.
From the fragments of the skeleton, scientists and restore the appearance of pangolins.How to look for dinosaur bones?Outwardly they differ from modern animals remains its size and degree of preservation.Unfortunately, the discovery of a skeleton - an incredible rarity.Most often, scientists have to determine what it looks like a dinosaur, based on scattered remains.
Where to find dinosaur bones?
On Earth, there are many places where you can find the remains of the ancient giants.In the Canadian province of Alberta found more than a thousand of these valuable finds.These were the remains of dinosaurs-tsentrozavrov.In Argentina, in the province of Chubut, it was found the bones of seven titanosaurs.In Mexico in 2014 in one of the desert were discovered the bones of 14 dinosaurs.A large number of dinosaur remains in the Chinese province of Shandong.Here it was found the bones of large theropods - carnivores ancient dinosaurs Tyrannosaurus and Ankylosaurus.
How is the process of restoring the external appearance of ancient dinosaurs?
dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.The soft tissues in the meantime turned into ashes and bones of fossils.Since the XIX century that looks like a dinosaur, we have learned a lot more, but now there is no assurance whether the scientists restore their appearance.
This work is laborious and time-consuming.First you need to gather from fragments found the skeleton.If you are missing any parts, they should be restored.Then proceed to the artists.According to the skull and skeleton, they recreate the body and skin of a lizard.To apply this technique, which is employed in forensic science.How does the skin of a dinosaur, we found out thanks to fossils, which clearly shows its texture and pattern.It was waterproof and consisted of dry flakes.On the found fingerprints are clearly visible areas of hard and elastic skin folds.Some species of ancient reptiles are protected with armor.These include ankylosaurs.
One of the problems of determining looks like a dinosaur, is to find out the color of the skin.While paleontologists can not reliably answer the question.Therefore, the basis for the reconstruction of the image of the lizard take modern animals and birds.So, the artist Tyler Killor that on the instructions of the scientists restored the image of the dinosaur rugops, took a sample of the color of bird feathers kitoglava.
But even the most carefully recreated dinosaur appearance may change.Modern technology and recent discoveries in paleontology provide new data about ancient giants.
What is a dinosaur: general description
ancient reptiles were divided into two large orders: Saurischia and Ornithischia.The latter were sauropod (plant-eaters).Saurischia dinosaurs were divided into two groups: theropods (carnivores) and sauropods.They are representatives of big dinosaurs with massive bodies and long necks: Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus).Each of the units as a two-legged dinosaurs presented lizards, and those who walked on four legs.
carnivorous dinosaurs in most cases moved on two legs.
Argued that all dinosaurs were huge growth.This is not true.Among them were as real giants (seysmozavr, Spinosaurus), and the small size of the lizards (Compsognathus, Heterodontosaurus).
Dinosaurs - one of the most amazing wildlife of our planet in the past.They combined the features of several now separate groups of modern animals: crocodiles, lizards, birds and mammals.
brings them together with a crocodile skin and dentition.The skull at them such as lizards, and the structure of the tubular bones of dinosaurs have in common with mammals.The structure of the pelvis and hind limbs brings ancient reptiles to birds.
Most of the dinosaurs moved on the hind legs, placed vertically, resting on the toes when walking.This method of movement makes them more active.
Regarding the structure of the internal organs among scientists still have disagreements.What were they now can not be determined, therefore, the basis is the anatomy of birds and lizards.A little more is known about the brain of the ancient reptiles.Found allow the whole skull with a high degree of probability, that the structure of the brain, he was like modern lizards.
Difficulties are elucidation and color of skin.Perhaps some dinosaurs had skin khaki.Some might have a bright color on the example of modern lizards.
According to recent studies, a number of ancient dinosaurs had feathers.
It's not just the well-known Archaeopteryx, and Microraptor, Caudipteryx and others.
looks amazing: the most famous and unusual dinosaurs
Among the ancient reptiles are very interesting person whose appearance is unusual.Suchomimus - a huge predator - the narrow mouth like a crocodile, and the first finger claw on its front legs reach a length of more than 30 centimeters.
Carnotaurus had horns.They have this predator, likely played a role unmarked.
Gripozavr had a beak and about 800 teeth.He was a herbivore or predator is still unknown.
Tyrannosaurus Rex - a dinosaur, the disclosure of which is always of great interest.This is one of the largest predators of the past, the appearance and size of which look eerily.
He was bipedal, had a massive head that balances big tail.Feature Tyrannosaurus rex is that the powerful hind legs, he had very small forelimbs with two fingers.Due to the fact that among the 30 skeletons found this predator few survived completely, scientists were able to carefully examine its structure, biology and biomechanics.
Conclusion
history of amazing giant millions of years ago inhabited the earth, are still not fully understood.The new findings and more accurate methods of research may discover many secrets lifestyle, appearance and physiology of dinosaurs.
