Our Dinosaurs | Dinoscapes

TYRANNOSAURUS REX

This late Cretaceous dinosaur was a ferocious predator with excellent eyesight. Its short, muscular forearms helped secure its prey, and its strong teeth could pierce other dinosaurs' body armor during battle. The Tyrannosaurus rex was as long as a school bus!

TRICERATOPS

The Triceratops likely used its solid-bone neck frill and two long, pointed horns to defend itself from predators. The neck frill might have been used to attract mates, as well. This dinosaur belonged to a group of plant-eating dinosaurs called ceratopsians. Its' horns could grow up to 4 feet in length!

COELOPHYSIS

This Latter Triassic dinosaur belonged to a group of meat-eating dinosaurs known as theropods. It moved primarily on its hind legs, using its long tail and slender, flexible neck for balance. It was one of the earliest dinosaurs to have a chicken-like 'wishbone'. Hundreds of well-preserved skeletons have been found at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.

SUCHOMIMUS

This Cretaceous-period dinosaur is a genus of large theropod dinosaurs, a group that had jaws adapted for hunting fish. However, these dinosaurs bodies' were not especially adept in water. Their teeth were used for grasping rather than slicing, allowing them to resist twisting forces exerted by their prey.

PARASAUROLOPHUS

The Parasaurolophus belonged to the plant-eating, long-beaked hadrosaur family. Its skull- including its distinctive crest- could reach 6.5 feet in length. It had very strong legs and would use all four when foraging for food, but most likely ran on only its rear legs.

STEGOSAURUS

This plant-eating dinosaur likely used its spiked tail for defense. The rows of diamond-shaped plates along the spine of its back were probably not armor or defense-related. However, the Stegosaurus could pump the plates with blood, and scientists believe this may have helped the dinosaur to regulate its body temperature.

BRACHIOSAURUS

This sauropod (four-legged, plant-eating, long-necked dinosaur with blunt teeth) ate pine trees and tree ferns, pulling the needles and leaves off with its spoon-shaped teeth. Its long front legs worked together with its angled back and tail to balance its long neck.

ANKYLOSAURUS

The Ankylosaurus was covered in bony armor plating from its head to its tail- much like the skin of a crocodile. The spikes, or 'scutes' on its back may have been able to break the teeth of attacking dinosaurs. Its underbelly was its most vulnerable region.