dinosaurer

Dinosaurer is a collective term for a diverse group of reptiles that first appeared during the Triassic period, approximately 231 million years ago, and were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, through the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The name "dinosaur" comes from the Greek words deinos (terrible) and sauros (lizard). While many dinosaurs were indeed massive, the group also included small, bird-like creatures.

Dinosaurs are defined by a set of anatomical characteristics, most notably a specific hip structure that allowed them to walk with an upright stance, rather than a sprawling gait common in other reptiles. This upright posture contributed to their efficiency in locomotion and dominance on land. They inhabited all continents, diversifying into a vast array of forms and ecological niches, from herbivores like Triceratops to carnivores like Tyrannosaurus rex.

The vast majority of dinosaur species became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 66 million years ago, in an event commonly attributed to a massive asteroid impact. However, birds are now widely recognized by paleontologists as direct descendants of a specific lineage of theropod dinosaurs, meaning that dinosaurs, in a sense, are still alive today. Paleontological research continues to uncover new species and refine our understanding of these fascinating creatures through fossil discoveries and scientific analysis.