How has our view of what dinosaurs might have looked like changed through the years? How has this paralleled our knowledge of dinosaur biology? Are dinosaurs still believed to be cold-blooded or has that changed? Why has our view changed? Has the discovery of new dinosaur species added to the confusion or helped redefine it?
from Gerald J., age 16, Houston, Texas, USA; July 3, 2001

MIKE: Our ideas of what dinosaurs looked like is changing less rapidly than our ideas about dinosaur biology because we have more bones than skin to work with. Color does not preserve although we can get the body proportions correct. The one exception would be the feathered dinosaurs from China. Now we know that at least 7 groups of meat-eaters had feathers. The "warm versus cold" debate has died down somewhat and it is generally agreed that each of the 7 major groups of dinosaurs had their own degree of "warm" with theropods as the warmest. Although they were not as "warm" as living birds or mammals, they were the "warmest of the Mesozoic Era". New specimens always clear up a few questions - and then add more questions. The biggest questions is always "How can I get funding to go back into the field?????????????"