7 Dinosaurs We All Need to Understand Better

Dinosaurs were once thought to be big and fearsome creatures, but our understanding of them has changed over time. As we learn more about them, we realize how incorrect our early assumptions were.

Here are seven significant ways our understanding of dinosaurs has evolved…

1. Tyrannosaurus Rex

In 1902, paleontologist Barnum Brown discovered a massive pile of bones in Hell Creek, Montana. These bones belonged to a muscular animal that walked on its hind legs and stood several meters tall. Its skull and jaws portrayed a formidable predator.

The discovery was exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History in 1905, astounding the audience. This monster was called Tyrannosaurus Rex, known as one of the largest and most powerful carnivorous animals to have ever lived on Earth.

Further studies have revealed that T. rex had a large brain, keen senses, and likely had some feathers on its body.

Cast of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on display in the main gallery of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Oxford, UK – Image credit: Alamy

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2. Iguanodon

In 1822, Gideon Mantell presented fossilized teeth found in Sussex to the Royal Society. These teeth were later recognized as belonging to a dinosaur called Iguanodon. This dinosaur roamed the earth with its spiked hands for self-defense.

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3. Dryptosaurus

Black and white sketch of a dinosaur. — Dryptosaurus as imagined in 1869 – Image courtesy of Alamy

Discovered in the late 1800s in New Jersey, Dryptosaurus was the first well-preserved carnivorous dinosaur skeleton known in North America. It was originally named “Laelaps” but later renamed Dryptosaurus, showcasing its speed, ferocity, and tenacity.

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4. Elasmosaurus

A rough sketch of a mysterious sea creature. — Early studies of Elasmosaurus fossils led some to imagine it was a giant sea snake-turtle hybrid – Image credit: Alamy

Elasmosaurus, named in the 1860s, had the longest neck of any animal that ever lived. Its skeleton baffled paleontologists for years until a more complete understanding was reached.

5. Stegosaurus

When Stegosaurus bones were first found in the 1870s, they were thought to belong to a strange aquatic creature due to the large vertical plates on its back. Later discoveries revealed a different picture, with some suggesting the plates were for display or thermoregulation.

A sketch comparing a stegosaurus to a human. — Previous depictions of Stegosaurus were unclear on the plate – Image credit: Alamy

6. Ichthyosaur

Mary Anning’s discovery of Ichthyosaur fossils in 1811 led to the recognition of these creatures as extinct aquatic reptiles. This marked an important milestone in paleontological understanding.

A painting with lots of dinosaurs. — Painting “Duria Antiquior” by Henri de la Beche – Image courtesy of Alamy

7. Pterosaur

In 1784, the first Pterosaur fossil was discovered, leading to the recognition of these creatures as flying reptiles. They were not dinosaurs but were closely related and the first bony animals to evolve powered flight.