DINOSAURS

Dinosauria is a large group of extinct reptiles. Most Theropod dinosaurs were small creatures that you would see hopping around through the woods searching for things to eat. The largest dinosaurs, known as Sauropods towered as high as 30 Ft 10 (M) tall and were over 100 Ft (90 M) from head to tail. Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus were tough, bulky reptiles, typically armed with spikes and clubs that they used to smash and gore enemies. The Ornithischians were big, gentle herbivores that could shift between quadrupedal and bipedal postures.

Dinosaurs have many characteristics that divide them from other reptiles. The pelvic (hip) bone of a dinosaur is shaped so that the ischium, ilium and pubis were connected at the top, allowing the legs to point straight down, rather than the sprawled posture of most lizards. The vertebrae have backward facing projections unlike other reptiles. Behind the eye there is a forward pointing fossa.