Question

4 How many types of dinosaurs were there?​

Answer 1

Estimates vary, but in terms of extinct non-avian dinosaurs, about 300 valid genera and roughly 700 valid species have been discovered and named. However, given that the fossil record is incomplete, in the sense that scientists have yet to discover fossils of other kinds of dinosaurs that no doubt existed, these numbers do not reflect the true diversity of extinct dinosaurs.

Answer 2

It's estimated that there were over 1,000 different species of dinosaurs that existed during the Mesozoic Era, which spanned approximately 180 million years. These dinosaurs came in various shapes and sizes, and they can be broadly categorized into two main groups:

1. Saurischia: This group includes the "lizard-hipped" dinosaurs and is further divided into two subgroups:

   • Theropods: These were typically bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs. Famous examples include Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor.
   • Sauropodomorphs: These were long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus.

2. Ornithischia: This group includes the "bird-hipped" dinosaurs, although they were not closely related to modern birds. Ornithischians were primarily herbivorous and had diverse body shapes and adaptations. Examples include Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and Ankylosaurus.

Within these two main groups, there were numerous families, genera, and species of dinosaurs, each with its own unique characteristics and adaptations. So, while there were over 1,000 known dinosaur species, this number may continue to change as new discoveries are made in the field of paleontology.