6 things you read about dinosaurs when you were young, but are no longer true

Not all dinosaurs are big.

When dinosaur bones were first found in 1676, it was mistakenly thought of from an elephant, or perhaps more imaginative than a giant. More than a century later, scientists have learned that it is not that, it is creatures like lizards, dwarf and fat.

Until 1842, the top anatomist Richard Owen then recorded that specimens must come from a whole new species. He named them dinosaurs ( "Dinosauria" which means "terrible lizards" ).

Since then, about 700 different dinosaurs have been discovered. The speed of research on dinosaurs can sometimes be updated monthly. Our perception of dinosaurs, therefore, also changes constantly. Now, if you reread a childhood book about dinosaurs, perhaps everything has become much more strange.

Let's see what used to be written inside that is not right now:

1. Being a dinosaur must be great

The name "dinosaur" itself suggests people think of the image of a giant creature. In fact, it is true that many dinosaurs are very large. For example, a tyrant dinosaur (Tyrannosaurus rex) is about 12 meters long and weighs more than 5 tons. It is about the size of an elephant. Even so, it has not made it the largest predator ever existed.

Not all dinosaurs are big.

The giants of Argentinosauru s can reach 30 meters in length and 80 tons in weight. It is larger than any mammal that lives and once existed on the planet, including the largest whales.

Dinosaurs hold the record in the largest terrestrial animal category. No one has lived before them and until now can grow to such a huge size.

However, not all dinosaurs are big . Protoceratop , horned dinosaurs are only as big as a sheep. Velociraptor , looks like tall birds running on the ground. But they only stand to the level of human thighs.

In recent years, we have constantly discovered many new small dinosaurs. For example, the carnivorous Hesperonychus is about the size of a cat. Tianyulong eat grass just like a rabbit. Parvicursors eat insects even as small as a quail. All of them are still classified as dinosaurs.

Moreover, sometimes small dinosaurs are much more crowded than giant species. However, we know more about tyrannical dinosaurs because their bones are bigger and have survived longer than other small dinosaurs.

2. Dinosaurs all have their scales

Tyrannosaurus can also possess a whole body of fur, not scales.

The first time dinosaurs were discovered, we believe that this creature must have relatives with crocodiles and lizards. If so, perhaps they also have scales on their skin. And indeed this is true for many species including: duckbill dinosaurs (Duckbill), dinosaurs (Horned), lizard-legged dinosaurs (Sauropods) and armored dinosaurs (Armor).

However, in the 1970s, some paleontologists began to wonder if some dinosaurs could have feathers, like their other relatives, birds. At that time, this hypothesis was only considered baseless speculation.

Until 1997, a small carnivorous dinosaur like the Sinosauropteryx was discovered, with evidence that it was covered with feathers and not scales. Since then, fur has continued to be discovered in plant-eating dinosaurs, carnivorous Heterodontosaurus and Tyrannosauridae . Surprisingly, tyrant dinosaurs can also possess an all-encrusted hair, not scales.

3. Dinosaurs that are not green are also gray-brown

The dinosaurs may have been much nicer, even more colorful.

The first depicting images of dinosaurs were built, showing that they were large loaves with three colors: green, gray and brown. Reality indicates that the middle age may not be so boring. The dinosaurs may have been much nicer, even more colorful.

Studies of scales, skin and dinosaur hair have found traces of melanin , which are present in lizard scales, birds' feathers and our hair. Analysis shows that dinosaurs have appeared in many different colors, including black, white, and red. Some species even own iridescent feathers.

Besides, many dinosaurs have their bodies with white spots and stripes, under the belly and black on their backs. Some dinosaurs have camouflage patterns to evade predators or wait for their prey. Others may have bright colors to attract mates, like a peacock's tail.

4. Dinosaurs are irresponsible parents

Like their close relatives today, birds and crocodiles, dinosaurs protect eggs and young children.

Today, most reptiles only lay their eggs in the sand and leave, leaving their children to take care of themselves. This form of reproduction has a high risk nature. Thus, a sea turtle must lay thousands of eggs in its life, and may have a few connected children.

Dinosaurs have been evaluated as such irresponsible parents, laying off children and leaving them. But today, we know how to blame the dinosaurs. Like their close relatives today, birds and crocodiles, dinosaurs protect eggs and young children.

In the Gobi desert, scientists have found traces of an egg nest and there is a dinosaur on it. They assumed that this dinosaur died when attacking the nest. Therefore, they are named Oviraptor , meaning "egg thief".

But later, more and more Oviraptor models were found, a dinosaur above an egg drive. It turns out, it's the dinosaur eggs. Oviraptor is hatching eggs before dying, not stealing them.

5. The extinction of dinosaurs

This cause belongs to something called destiny, rather than a predetermined dying death.

Long ago, the dinosaur extinction was blamed on itself, because it could not adapt to the fluctuations of the Earth environment. But the reality is that this creature has dominated the planet and developed skin shape for 100 million years. Their fossils are found everywhere from North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and even Antarctica.

Even if there is a decline, fossils show that dinosaurs still rule the Earth until 66 million years ago. And then, an asteroid suddenly collided with the Earth, in a place in present-day Mexico. The dust generated by the impact bounced around the atmosphere and pushed the planet into darkness.

Dinosaurs began to disappear from there. But this cause belongs to something called fate, rather than a predetermined dying death. It was a cosmic accident . If the other asteroid's trajectory deviates a bit, perhaps just a fraction of a degree, perhaps the dinosaurs still dominate the planet. We were also not here to talk about their past.

6. All dinosaurs are extinct

Small feathered dinosaurs have survived and evolved into today's birds.

As mentioned, an asteroid has made dinosaurs unable to rule the Earth. The tyrannical dinosaurs, Triceratop are completely extinct. But perhaps a few have survived.

They are small dinosaurs with feathers. Surviving the great extinction, these dinosaurs evolved into one of the present 10,000 bird species, on our planet.