We all know Usain Bolt is fast—but did you know he could actually outrun a Tyrannosaurus rex? Scientists believe the T. rex could reach speeds of around 29 kilometers per hour, while Bolt has been clocked at a whopping 44 kilometers per hour.
So if it ever came down to a footrace, Bolt would have a pretty good chance of getting away!
The Fastest Dinosaur Was Even Quicker
Even though T. rex sounds scary, it wasn't the fastest dino. That title goes to a species like the Ornithomimus, which could run up to 60 kilometers per hour—about the same speed as a car on a city street!
Some Dinosaurs Lived for Centuries
Can you imagine living for 300 years? Some of the largest dinosaurs, like the giant sauropods, might have done just that. While many dinos lived about 75 years, these massive plant-eaters may have had lifespans that stretched over centuries, especially if they were cold-blooded. Scientists are still debating that part.
Dinosaurs Faced Two Mass Extinctions
Most of us know about the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, but that wasn't the first time dinos faced extinction. An earlier event happened 213 million years ago, at the end of the Triassic period. That first extinction cleared the way for dinosaurs to grow and dominate for the next 150 million years!
Some Dinosaurs Had Feathers
In the movies, dinosaurs are all scales and roars. But real dinosaurs? Many of them—especially theropods—had feathers! These weren't for flying, though. Instead, they likely helped with staying warm or impressing a potential mate. So next time you see a dino in a movie, try picturing it a little fluffier.
T. Rex and Stegosaurus Never Met
They may share the screen in movies, but T. rex and Stegosaurus never crossed paths in real life. The Stegosaurus lived during the Jurassic period, while T. rex didn't show up until the Cretaceous period, about 80 million years later.
Dinosaur Fleas Were Gigantic
Think today's fleas are annoying? Prehistoric fleas were ten times bigger, some as large as your hand! These ancient bugs had powerful claws and sharp mouthparts made for clinging to dinosaur skin and extracting blood. Not a pleasant picture, right?
The Largest Dino Egg Was Surprisingly Small
Dinosaurs were huge, but their eggs? Not so much. The biggest dinosaur egg ever found was about 48 centimeters long—around the size of a football. That's tiny compared to a full-grown Argentinosaurus, one of the largest dinos ever!
Argentinosaurus Was a True Giant
Speaking of size, the Argentinosaurus might have been the biggest land animal ever. It stretched about 40 meters long—even longer than a blue whale, which tops out at 30 meters. Though it wasn't as heavy, this dino still weighed in at around 70 tons. That's like 10 elephants put together!
The First Dinosaur Fossil Was Found in 1677
Before anyone knew what a dinosaur was, a fossil was uncovered in 1677 by an Oxford professor. It wasn't until over a century later that it was properly identified as Megalosaurus, making it the first dinosaur to be officially named. That discovery sparked the birth of paleontology as a science.
Some Dinosaurs Still Walk Among Us
It sounds crazy, but dinosaurs aren't totally gone. Birds are actually their modern-day descendants! They evolved from small, feathered theropods. So the next time you see a pigeon, just remember—you're looking at a distant cousin of the mighty T. rex.
Lykkers, isn't it amazing to think that birds are living dinosaurs? The more we learn about these ancient creatures, the more they surprise us. Which dino fact blew your mind the most? Let's keep exploring the wonders of our planet's past—who knows what else we'll discover!
5 Cool Facts About Dinosaurs You Should Know
Video by SciShow
