An interactive dinosaur presentation for kids
Move through nine prehistoric animals with the arrow buttons, keyboard arrows, or a swipe on mobile. Explore when each animal lived on the Mesozoic timeline, compare its known fossil range, reveal more facts, hear its name, or try a quick challenge.
20 Amazing Dinosaur Facts
The age of dinosaurs
Start with deep time, enormous bodies, powerful hunters, and the feathered family tree that still surrounds us today.
- 160 million years on Earth. Dinosaurs lived on Earth for over 160 million years, much longer than humans have existed.
- A bone-crushing bite. Tyrannosaurus rex had one of the strongest bites of any land animal ever, powerful enough to crush bone.
- Some dinosaurs had feathers. Fossils show that many meat-eating dinosaurs were covered partly or completely in feathers.
- Birds are living dinosaurs. Modern birds evolved from a group of small, feathered dinosaurs called theropods.
- Longer than a basketball court. Giant sauropods such as Argentinosaurus may have reached more than 100 feet long.
Bodies built to amaze
Dinosaurs came in radically different sizes and carried horns, plates, feathers, claws, and even stomach stones.
- Not all dinosaurs were huge. Some dinosaurs were about the size of a chicken.
- Triceratops had three horns. Along with its horns, Triceratops had a large bony frill that may have helped with defense and attracting mates.
- A surprisingly small brain. Stegosaurus had a brain about the size of a small lime, even though its body could grow around 30 feet long.
- Velociraptors were turkey-sized. Real Velociraptors were much smaller than the ones shown in movies—roughly the size of a large turkey.
- Some swallowed rocks on purpose. These stones, called gastroliths, may have helped grind up food inside their stomachs.
Growing up prehistoric
Eggs, nests, family care, sounds, armor, and speed reveal dinosaurs as active animals—not slow movie monsters.
- Dinosaurs laid eggs. Scientists have discovered fossilized dinosaur eggs, nests, and even embryos.
- Some parents cared for their babies. Fossil nests suggest certain dinosaur species protected and possibly fed their young.
- Ankylosaurus carried a tail club. Its powerful club could be swung at attacking predators.
- A crest that may have trumpeted. Parasaurolophus had a long, hollow crest on its head that may have helped it make deep, trumpet-like sounds.
- Some could run surprisingly fast. Smaller two-legged dinosaurs may have reached speeds of around 25 to 30 miles per hour.
Fossils, extinction, and discovery
Learn where dinosaurs lived, which famous prehistoric reptiles were not dinosaurs, and why the story is still unfolding.
- Dinosaurs lived on every continent. Their fossils have been found around the world, including Antarctica.
- Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs. They were flying reptiles that lived during the same time as dinosaurs.
- Marine reptiles were not dinosaurs either. Ocean swimmers such as Mosasaurus were marine reptiles. Dinosaurs were primarily land animals.
- An asteroid changed life on Earth. A giant asteroid struck Earth about 66 million years ago, contributing to the extinction of all non-bird dinosaurs.
- New dinosaurs are still being discovered. Paleontologists identify previously unknown dinosaur species from fossils found around the world every year.
Keep exploring fun facts
Travel from prehistoric Earth to butterflies, planets, and surprising science discoveries.