Advertisement.
EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site.
As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.
Click here to learn more.
(Already a member? Click here.)
Old Questions
Questions from March 1999
Q: What is the height of the tallest dinosaur known?
from ser, gt, ny, USA; March 31, 1999
A: Ultrasauros was about 52 feet (15 m) tall; it may be a large Brachiosaurus.
Q: what is the newest dinosaur to be discovered
from ser, gt, ny, USA; March 31, 1999
A: For paleontology news, click here.
Q: What is the smartest dinosaur?
How does the dinosaur's nervous system work?
from M.C., Short Hills, NJ, USA; March 30, 1999
A: The dromaeosaurid dinosaurs were probably the smartest. For more information on this topic, click here.
Q: Was there any kinds of flying, or swiming Dinosaurs?
from S.T.M., Ocean City, Maryland, USA; March 30, 1999
A: No. There were many flying reptiles during the Mesozoic Era, called Pterosaurs. Also, there were many swimming reptiles, like Mosasaurs, Nothosaurs, and Plesiosaurs.
Q: DID SOME DINOSAURS HAVE SAILS ON THEIR BODIES AND WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES?
from Russell E, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; March 30, 1999
A: Yes. Spinosaurus and Ouranosaurus are two examples.
Q: Did meat eaters eat other meat eaters?
from Matthew D., Corona, CA, USA; March 30, 1999
A: Probably, since this happens all the time in nature.
Q: what era did dinosaurs live in?
from s.v.g., Everett, Washington, USA; March 30, 1999
A: The Mesozoic Era. The dinosaurs live roughly 228 million to 65 million years ago.
Q: What were the enemies of the Dinosaurs?
from Helena P., Detroit, MI, USA; March 31, 1999
A: The larger predators from the Mesozoic Era were: Pterosaurs (flying reptiles), crocodilians, Mosasaurs, Nothosaurs, and Plesiosaurs.
Q: My Dad and I have been searching for information and pictures of the Varanosaurus. Your help is appreciated. Thank-you.
from Mitch B, Mission, B.C. , Canada; March 29, 1999
A: For information on Varanosaurus, click here.
Q: is there such thing as an omnivorous dinosar
from m.b, okc, ok, USA; March 29, 1999
A: Yes. Oviraptor, for example, was an omnivore. For more information on dinosaur diets, click here.
Q: Which of these five carniverous dinosaurs is the longest?.Tyrannosaurus Rex, Gigantosaurus, Spinosaurus, Allosaurus, Ceratosaurus.
from Glenn, Port St Mary, Isle of Man, USA; March 29, 1999
A: Giganotosaurus. For more information on Giganotosaurus, click here
Q: WHEN DID THE OURANOSAURUS COME EXTINCT.
from Louise B., Harrisburg, S.D., USA; March 28, 1999
A: Ouranosaurus went extinct about 110 million years ago. For more information on Ouranosaurus, click here.
Q: I am in second grade. I am doing a report on the Dimetrodon. What were the enemies of the Dimetrodon? How did the Dimetrodon protect itself from its enemies?
from Zack H, Norman, OH, USA; March 27, 1999
A: Dimetrodon was probably at the top of the food chain during the Permian period. For protection from other hungry pelycosaurs, Dimetrodon had large, sharp teeth. Also, it was probably a fast runner, and running is great protection. For more information on Dimetrodon, click here.
Q: I have been searching for information on the Ornithosuchus. The card given to me by my science teacher says they were believed to be carnivorous, but all info I find says they ate plants, etc. I also have to show their habitat but also can't find anything. I've searched everywhere! PLEASE HELP
from Frank D., Ashland, MA, USA; March 28, 1999
A: Ornithosuchus was a carnivore. For more information on Ornithosuchus, click here.
Q: I heard in school that the largest fossil of a dinosaur foot was 100 yards. My dad said this is not right. What is the answer?
Thank you,
Randy
from Randy E., Pittsburgh, PA, USA; March 27, 1999
A: Your dad is right. The largest dinosaur footprints are about the size of a bathtub; these are probably from large sauropods.
Q: What kind of teeth did the dinosaurs have?
from Charlie, Kearny, NJ, USA; March 26, 1999
A: Different dinosaurs had different teeth. Most meat-eaters had sharp teeth designed for tearing flesh. Most plant-eaters had blunter teeth that worked like lawn mowers. For more information on dinosaur teeth, click here.
Q: could you define what a sauros is? If you could I will be thankful
from Shane R., conway, sc, USA; March 26, 1999
A: Sauros is the Greek word for lizard (although dinosaurs aren't lizards they were once though to be).
Q: Did birds originate from dinosaurs?
from tara z., cloquet, mn, USA; March 26, 1999
A: Yes.
Q: What were there real colors?
from David F., taneyville, mo, USA; March 26, 1999
A: No one knows
Q: TELL ME ABOUT SOME INSTINCTS OF DINOSAURS HOW DID DINOSAURS COMMUNICATE AND REPRODUCE
from CAITLIN C., Tallahassee, FL, USA; March 26, 1999
A: No one knows.
Q: out of all the dinosaurs discoverd to date,which is the most deadly predator.
from Dean B., Hong Kong, China; March 26, 1999
A: The most deadly were the large, highly intelligent, fast-moving, advanced theropods with huge claws and sharp teeth. A dinosaur like Utahraptor would qualify.
Q: What dinosaur was discovered in the year 1900?
from Andrew U and Chris T., Mespotamia, Ohio, USA; March 29, 1999
A: Proiguanodon was named in 1900. For more information on Proiguanodon, click here.
Q: My son is doing a report and I Think the teacher or my son wrote it down wrong. Do you have any info on Thalassomedon or a Archituethis. Thank you
from Joseph B., Morganton, North Carolina, USA; March 25, 1999
A: I've added Architeuthis (the giant squid) and Thalassomedon (a plesiosaur, a marine reptile from the Mesozoic Era) to the "Dino and Paleontology Dictionary."
Q: I can't find any good info on struthiomimus dinosaurs and it not easy to find!!
from Mark H., Topsham, ME, USA; March 25, 1999
A: For information on Struthiomimus, click here.
Q: Where was the Archaeopteryx fossil found?
from danielle, px, az, USA; March 25, 1999
A: In Germany. For more details about Archaeopteryx, click here.
Q: how do dinosaurs breed?
from dug t, canberra, melba, Australia; March 25, 1999
A: No one knows.
Q: How many babies did the Triceratop have?Who were their predators?
from Mary C., Burbank, CA, USA; March 25, 1999
A: T. rex preyed upon Triceratops. There is no fossil evidence about Triceratops babies.
Q: On what continent have feathered dinosaurs been found?
from ?; March 24, 1999
A: Many feathered dinosaurs, like Caudipteryx, have been found in China. For more information about these finds, click here.
Q: is a teradactyl a plant or meat eater?
from phillip g., columbia, md, USA; March 24, 1999
A: A meat-eater. For more information on Pterodactyl, click here.
Q: I am doing a report for school. I need information on Anatosaurus.
from Nikki L., Laredo, TX, USA; March 22, 1999
A: Anatosaurus is an obsolete name for Edmontosaurus. For information on Edmontosaurus, a plant-eating, duck-billed dinosaur (a bird-hipped or ornithischian dinosaur), click here.
Q: Need info on crocodilians ancestors.
from Gordon L., Rome, GA, USA; March 22, 1999
A: For some extinct crocodilians, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Q: In which museum may an example of Kentrosaurus be found?
from Gabriela H., Stafford, Texas, USA; March 22, 1999
A: There is a Kentrosaurus in the Institute and Museum for Geology and Paleontology at the University of Tübingen, in Tübingen, Germany. For more information on Kentrosaurus, click here.
Q: In which museum may an example of Procompsognathus be found?
from Gabriela H., Stafford, Texas, USA; March 22, 1999
A: There is a partial Procompsognathus at the State Museum for Natural History in Stuttgart, Germany. For information on Procompsognathus, click here.
Q: Did the Procompsognathus live in herd, in packs, or alone?
from Peter F., Texas, USA; March 22, 1999
A: This is unknown. Only one incomplete Procompsognathus fossil has been found (in Germany), so there is no evidence of packs of this small predator.
Q: 1. What climate did Ornithomimus live in? 2. What were some plants living in the Cretaceous period? 3. What was its habitat? 4. In what museum can I find it?
from Anna M., Stafford, Texas, USA; March 22, 1999
A: There's an Ornithomimus at the Royal Ontario Museum in Ontario, Canada. For the climate and some plants that lived during the Cretaceous, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page. For more information on Ornithomimus, click here.
Q: Are there fossils on the moon?
from Jessica; March 22, 1999
A: None have been found yet. If there ever was life on the moon, we may find them someday. Since some ice was just discovered on the moon, this may not be too far-fetched.
Q: Is the pterodactyl a dinosaur?
from Daniel G, Livonia, MI, USA; March 22, 1999
A: No, but they are closely related.
Q: I am doing a report of the Anatosaurus (Trachodon). I was wondering if you could give me as much information as possible about its looks, ways of birth,and please tell me if it was lizard-hipped or bird-hipped, and anything else by April 14 1999 or sooner.
from Monica L, ?; March 22, 1999
A: For information on Anatosaurus=Edmontosaurus, click here. For information on Trachodon, click here.
Q: How can u tell the difference between meat and plant eater? Canu give me like four to five for both? Appreciate if u do....
from Pita U., Bloomington, Indiana, USA; March 22, 1999
A: For a page on dinosaurs' diets, click here.
Q: In Jurassic Park there is a dinosaur which has a frill and spits poison, did this really have a frill and spit poison?
from Matthew t, hindhead, Surrey, England; March 21, 1999
A: That was Dilophosaurus, which had two crests on its head. There is no fossil evidence about spitting of any kind. For more information about Dilophosaurus, click here.
Q: How did Dimetrodon become extinct? Please get back to me asap. PLEASE
from BU, Atlantic, PA, USA; March 21, 1999
A: Dimetrodon went extinct during the huge Permisn mass extinction. For more information on Dimetrodon, click here.
Q: What types of plants and animals lived during the Jurassic Period
from Erica K, Castro Valley, California, USA; March 21, 1999
A: Conifers, horsetails, cycads, seed ferns, gingkos. etc.. Flowering plants (like grasses) hadn't evolved yet. For more information about life during the Jurassic period, click here.
Q: give me ten facts about brachiosaurus fossils
from Jess n, pembroke pines, florida, USA; March 21, 1999
A: For a page about Brachiosaurus, click here.
Q: Did dinosaurs evolve into any animals other than birds?
from Kristen D, Georgia, USA; March 21, 1999
A: No
Q: were there insects during cretaceous perid?
from boris g, brooklyn, new york, USA; March 21, 1999
A: Yes.
Q: What is the smallest meat eater ever found?
from jared h., arvada, co, USA; March 19, 1999
A: Compsognathus.
Q: can you tell me all about saber tooth tigers
from issy c, allentown, pa, USA; March 19, 1999
A: For a page on the saber-toothed tiger, click here.
Q: Are dinosaur teeth really big?
from Doom M., Sylvester, GA, USA; March 19, 1999
A: Big dinosaurs had big teeth; small dinosaurs had small teeth. A few dinosaurs, like Oviraptor had no teeth at all. Large sauropods, like Diplodocus had pencil-shaped teeth that were about 40 inches (100 cm) long, including the root. About 2.25 inches (60 cm) of tooth was exposed outside the gums. The chicken-sized Compsognathus had very small teeth.
Q: i would like to know alot of information about the ankylosarus
from Jenna O., North Royalton, Ohio, USA; March 19, 1999
A: For an information sheet on Ankylosaurus, click here.
Q: When did T. rex roam the Earth?
from Evany S., Jacksonville, FL, USA; March 19, 1999
A: During the late Cretaceous period, about 68 million to 65 million years ago. For more information about T. rex, click here.
Q: In the movie Jurassic Park The Lost World the humans outran the T-Rex, is this possible? In the same movie a velociraptor was digging slower than a human despite its long sharp claws, is this true?
from Lily P., Austin, TX, USA; March 18, 1999
A: Probably not. Jurassic Park was great movie but it took a lot of liberties with the facts. Velociraptor could probably dig faster than us, T. rex could probably run faster than us, etc. Also, it made Velociraptor much bigger than it actually was, and Dilophosaurus probably didn't spit poison. There were many other factual liberties taken in the movie.
Q: When was the last mass extinction period?
from stacy m., milwaukee, WI, USA; March 18, 1999
A: The last mass extinction was the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) extinction, which happened 65 million years ago. About half of all life forms died out, including the dinosaurs 
, pterosaurs
, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, ammonites, many families of fishes, clams, snails, sponges, sea urchins and many others.
For more information on mass extinctions, click here.
Q: I am doing a report on Spinosaurus, I would like to know more about Ernst Von R. Stromer who discovered it.
from katie g, El Paso, Texas, USA; March 18, 1999
A: For a page on important fossil hunters, click here. For a page on Spinosaurus, click here.
Q: Hi! I have to do a presenation for my biology calss, and i need information on barosaurus. I can't find any information on it, such as their scientific name, its internal/external description, where, when, and by whom was it first discovered. If you can help me, it'll be great. Thanks!
from Joy L., San Salvador, El Salvador; March 18, 1999
A: For this information about Barosaurus, click here.
Q: absolute age dating of fossil is possible using what technology?
from stacy m, milwaukee, mi, USA; March 18, 1999
A: Radio-isotope dating. For information on this topic, click here.
Q: WHAT IS A MAMMOUTH
from ?; March 18, 1999
A: Mammoths were huge, elephant-like mammals that lived during the last ice age. For an information sheet on mammoths, click here.
Q: How did the Plateosaurus defend itself and what animals did it attack or what animals might have attacked it?
from Nickolaus P., Mobile, AL, USA; March 18, 1999
A: Plateosaurus had short claws on its front and rear limbs, and weak, leaf-shaped teeth. These paltry defenses were probably not very effective against large predators, which had bigger claws, sharper teeth, and were stronger overall. Its best defense was to run away.
Plateosaurus lived during the late Triassic period in what is now Europe. For more information on Plateosaurus, click here.
Q: How fast did the T-Rex run?
from Herchmer Community School, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; March 16, 1999
A: For a page on how T. rex's running, click here.
Q: Is a Pteranodon a dinosaur?
from Melody P., Thomasville, NC, USA; March 15, 1999
A: No; Pteranodon was a closely-related reptile.
Q: What does the Mesosaurus brazilenis have to do with continental drift???????????????????????
from LaTisha S, Cambridge, Ohio, USA; March 14, 1999
A: Fossils of Mesosaurus (one of the first marine reptiles, even older than the dinosaurs) were found in both South America and South Africa. These finds, plus the study of sedimentation and the fossil plant Glossopteris in these southern continents led Alexander duToit, a South African scientist, to bolster the idea of the past existence of a supercontinent in the southern hemisphere, Eduard Suess's Gondwanaland. This lent further support to A. Wegener's Continental Drift Theory.
Other fossils, like the animals Cynognathus and Lystrosaurus, also bolstered the theory.
Q: Were there any flying dinosaurs?
from Patrick H., Abilene, TX, USA; March 14, 1999
A: No, but there were other flying retptiles, the Pterosaurs, like Pteranodon, many Pterodactyloids, Rhamphorhynchus, and Quetzalcoatlus.
Q: Good Morning! I am trying to find out how many teeth the Edmontosauras has. Please help. Thank you.
from Rene G, ?; March 14, 1999
A: It had from many hundreds to over a thousand cheek teeth (in the back of its mouth) but none in the beak (the front of the mouth). For more information about Edmontosaurus, click here.
Q: Do dinosaurs snore?
from Alexandra R., Brandon, Manitoba, Canada; March 14, 1999
A: No one knows.
Q: How big were the dinosaurs?
from Kaitlyn S., Jacksonville, Florida, USA; March 13, 1999
A: They ranged from the size of a chicken (Compsognathus) to bigger than a house (large sauropods like Argentinosaurus, Ultrasauros, Brachiosaurus, and others)
Q: How many dinosaurs have been discovered?
from Colton, Moscow, ID, USA; March 12, 1999
A: There are almost 500 described dinosaur genera. Every few months (sometimes weeks), a new species is unearthed (for recent finds, see Dino News). Paleontologists have varying estimates of how many dinosaur genera there were; estimates range from about 1,000 to over 10,000.
Q: Which dinosaur fossil was found first, when and how?
from Dan F., Sag Harbor, New York, USA; March 12, 1999
A: For a page on the first dinosaur discoveries, click here.
Q: Will you find some information on Brontosaurus?
from ?; March 11, 1999
A: It's under Apatosaurus, the new name for Brontosaurus. For an information sheet on Apatosaurus/Brontosaurus, click here.
Q: Huge flying lizards lived during the time of the dinosaurs. What were they called?
from ??, USA; March 10, 1999
A: Pterosaurs. For information about these flying reptile, click here.
Q: what is the newest dinosaur fosil found?
from ??; March 9, 1999
A: There are new dinosaur fossils found all the time. For recent discoveries see the section on "Dinosaur News."
Q: Which is the most dangerous dinosaur.
from Kristina M., Stockholm, Sweden; March 9, 1999
A: The large raptors and other large, advanced theropods were probably the most dangerous because they were fast, smart, had HUGE claws, many sharp teeth, and ate meat. Dinosaurs like Megaraptor, Utahraptor, T. rex, Giganotosaurus, Carcharadontosaurus and Velociraptor were among the most dangerous dinosaurs yet discovered.
Q: Is it true that there are two kind of Dinosaurs.One a bird hip one and I forget the other one
from Mckinley B, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA; March 9, 1999
A: The other is lizard-hipped (saurischian). For more information on these categories, click here.
Q: In your index of dinosaurs, you have highlighted some that are not dinosaurs. If they're not dinosaurs, why are they on the list and what is it that distinguishes from dinosaurs? For example, if Stegoceras is not a dinosaur, what is it?
from Joanne D., Easton, MA, USA; March 8, 1999
A: The non-dinosaurs are on the list because so many people have written and asked for information about those animals (and they usually ask for information about that "dinosaur ," not realizing that it isn't actually a dinosaur).
Some, like the pterosaurs are closely related to dinosaurs; the main distinguishing feature is the leg stance (dinosaurs legs are upright, pterosaur legs are sprawling, like most other reptiles). Others, like the Dimetrodon, are frequently confused with dinosaurs, but they are not even closely related. By the way, Stegoceras is a dinosaur.
I lost 2 dinosaur questions this morning, March 8, 1999. If you wrote then, please write again!
Q: Can you tell me where I can find more information
from m.b., Dupage, IL, USA; March 7, 1999
A: On what topic?
Q: Do dinosaurs have a sense of smell or taste?
from cody t., USA; March 7, 1999
A: There is no direct physical evidence in the fossils record about either the dinosaurs' sense of smell or taste. Dinosaurs that hunted may have used a sense of smell to help in the hunt (as many modern-day predators do), or they may have relied upon their sense of sight. The sense of taste was probably used to avoid poisoning which was probably useful for both herbivores and carnivores.
Q: How many teeth did Saltopus have?
from ??; March 7, 1999
A: This tiny meat-eater had dozens of sharp teeth (I can't find any references to the exact number, but it did have a lot). For more information on Saltopus, click here.
Q: Were there any dinosaurs that were classified as omnivores? I know that there were carnivores nad herbivores, but I am not sure of any that ate both meat and plants.
from Christopher S., San Antonio, Texas, USA; March 5, 1999
A: Yes, there were onminorous dinosaurs, like Ornithomimus. For more information in dinosaur diets, click here.
Q: Will be attending Russian Dinosaur Exhibit in Kansas City, MO. Need information on two very rare dinosaurs:
(1) Sharovipteryx (only one in world per brochure), and
(2) Estemmenosuchus (only two in world per brochure).
Thank you very much. Enjoyed very much browsing your web site.
from Betty H., Rolla, MO, USA; March 5, 1999
A: Thanks! For information on Sharovipteryx (a gliding pre-plesiosaur), click here. For Estemmenosuchus, click here.
Q: WHEN DID PEOPLE DISCOVER DINOSAURS.
from David L., Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; March 4, 1999
A: See my page on the first dinosaur fossil discoveries.
Q: What does Apatosaurus look like?.
from MR, Philadelphia, PA, USA; March 4, 1999
A: For a page on Apatosaurus, click here.
Q: What does a valosaraptor look like?.
from ricky k., buffalo, NY, USA; March 4, 1999
A: For a page on Velociraptor, click here.
Q: How much did the Rhamphorhynchus weigh?
from M.B., Ohio, USA; March 2, 1999
A: I've never seen a weight estimate for any Rhamphorhynchus species. Most were about the size of a modern-day crow, and probably had a similar weight (but some were larger, like R. longiceps, which had a wingspan of about 5 ft.=1.75 m). For more info in Rhamphorhynchus, click here.
Q: What is the phonetic pronunciation of Quetzalcoatlus?
from Kevin W., Fairview Oark, Ohio, USA; March 2, 1999
A: Quetzalcoatlus is pronounced ket-zol-ko-AT-lus (with the emphasis on the "AT" syllable).
Q: Did any dino eat plants and meat?
from Karrah B., Knoxville, TN, USA; March 2, 1999
A: Yes. Ornithomimus was probably an omnivore (eating plants and meat). For more on dinosaur diets, click here.
Q: how long would a dinosaur live?
from matthew t., Sandy, Utah, USA; March 1, 1999
A: See the page on dinosaur life spans.
Q: I am in the second grade. I need information on the Psittacosaurus. Can you help? Thank you.
from Shelby S., Skagway, AK, USA; March 1, 1999
A: Click here for an entry on Psittacosaurus in the "Dino Dictionary."
Q: Need a source of information on a Mamenchisaurus
from Albert C., Detroit, MI, USA; March 1, 1999
A: Click here for an entry in the "Dino Dictionary."
Q: In science we are doing a report on how to date dinosaur fossils. Could you maybe give us some feedback on how this is done? Your answer would be greatly appreciated. P.S. Do you know any other dinosaur sites we can go to to get more information???
from Angela H. and Amy K., Smithton, Missouri, USA; March 1, 1999
A: For a page on dating fossils, click here. For even more info, click on the links on that page.
Return to the top of the page.
Enchanted Learning®
Over 35,000 Web Pages
Sample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below
Click to read our Privacy Policy
Enchanted Learning Search
|
Search the Enchanted Learning website for:
|
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Copyright ©1999-2018
EnchantedLearning.com ------ How to cite a web page
