Lesson 1: Appearance and Anatomy Flashcards
What is paleontology?
Palaeontology is the scientific study of prehistoric life based on fossils. It includes studying dinosaurs, ancient plants, marine organisms, and other prehistoric creatures.
What is a fossil?
A fossil is any preserved evidence of a prehistoric organism. This can include bones, footprints, eggshells, coprolites (fossilized poop), and even impressions of skin or feathers.
Why are bones the most common type of dinosaur fossil?
Bones contain minerals that prevent them from decaying as quickly as soft tissues. This makes them more likely to be preserved over millions of years.
What are coprolites?
Coprolites are fossilized feces that provide insight into the diet and digestion of prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs.
What types of fossil evidence, besides bones, help scientists study dinosaurs?
Footprints – Reveal movement patterns and behavior.
Eggshells – Provide clues about reproduction.
Skin impressions – Show skin texture and possible scales or feathers.
Feather impressions – Indicate some dinosaurs were feathered.
Were all dinosaurs large?
No. While some dinosaurs, like sauropods, were enormous, many were small, such as Microraptor and Fruitadens, which were about the size of a house cat.
How does pop culture exaggerate dinosaur sizes?
Movies like Jurassic Park depict Velociraptor as human-sized, but in reality, it was about the size of a turkey.
What were some of the largest dinosaurs?
Argentinosaurus – Possibly the largest land animal ever.
Brachiosaurus – Tall with long front legs.
Diplodocus – Had an extremely long tail and neck.
What were some of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs?
Microraptor – About 1 meter long.
Fruitadens – Weighed less than 1 kilogram.
What are the four main functions of bones in animals?
Support – Resist gravity and maintain structure.
Muscle attachment – Allow movement by acting as anchor points.
Protection – Shield vital organs (e.g., skull protects the brain).
Mineral storage – Store calcium and other minerals for later use.
What are vertebrates?
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone (vertebral column). Dinosaurs, humans, fish, birds, and reptiles are all vertebrates.
What is a vertebral column?
A series of interlocking vertebrae that protect the spinal cord and support an animal’s body.
What are the four types of vertebrae in dinosaurs?
Cervical vertebrae – Found in the neck, support the head.
Dorsal vertebrae – Found in the back, connect to the ribs.
Sacral vertebrae – Found in the hips, fused for stability.
Caudal vertebrae – Found in the tail, provide balance.
What are the two major dinosaur groups based on hip structure?
Saurischians (Lizard-hipped dinosaurs) – Forward-facing pubis (e.g., Theropods & Sauropods).
Ornithischians (Bird-hipped dinosaurs) – Backward-facing pubis (e.g., Triceratops, Stegosaurus).
Are birds ornithischians?
No. Despite the name ‘bird-hipped,’ modern birds evolved from Saurischians, specifically Theropods.
What are the two major groups of Saurischian dinosaurs?
Theropods – Bipedal, mostly carnivorous (e.g., T. rex, Velociraptor).
Sauropodomorphs – Long-necked herbivores (e.g., Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus).
What are some characteristics of Theropods?
Bipedal (walked on two legs).
Sharp, serrated teeth for meat-eating.
Some had feathers (e.g., Yutyrannus).
Birds evolved from them.
How were Sauropods adapted for their size?
Column-like legs for weight support.
Long necks for reaching tall plants.
Hollow vertebrae to reduce weight.
What are the five major groups of Ornithischians?
Ornithopods – Duck-billed dinosaurs (e.g., Iguanodon).
Pachycephalosaurs – Thick-headed dinosaurs.
Ceratopsians – Horned dinosaurs (e.g., Triceratops).
Stegosaurs – Plated dinosaurs (e.g., Stegosaurus).
Ankylosaurs – Armored dinosaurs (e.g., Ankylosaurus).
What made Triceratops unique?
Had three large horns.
A frill that may have been used for defense or display.
Strong, parrot-like beak.
What is keratin, and why is it important for dinosaurs?
Keratin is a tough protein found in scales, feathers, claws, and beaks. Some dinosaurs had keratin-covered scales and feathers.
What was the first feathered dinosaur discovered?
Sinosauropteryx (found in China, 1996).
How do scientists determine the color of feathered dinosaurs?
By analyzing melanosomes, tiny pigment-containing structures in fossilized feathers.
What color was Microraptor?
Glossy black with an iridescent shine.
