i

 

 

 

Dinosaurs: How big were the Dinosaurs

 

How big were the Dinosaurs?

 

Dinosaurs were the largest animals to ever walk the earth however, dinosaurs came in many shapes and sizes.

The largest dinosaurs were over 100 feet (30 m) long and up to 50 feet (15 m) tall such as Argentinosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Seismosaurus and Supersaurus. Some of the smallest dinosaurs, such as Compsognathus and Microraptor were about the size of a chicken.

 

Smallest Dinosaur

 

Small dinosaurs fossils are harder to find and are weathered away easily however, of all the dinosaur fossils found, the smallest are about the size of a chicken. These Dinosaurs include:

 

  • Compsognathus: Chicken-sized Theropod Dinosaur. Length: 3 feet (1 m). Weigth: about 1.8 – 7.7 lb (0.8 – 3.5 kg).
  • Microrapter: - Four winged Therapod Dinosaur. Length: 2.5 feet (77 cm).
  • Lesothasaurus: Fast running herbivore. Length: 3 feet (1 m).

compsognathus image

 

Pronounced: KOMP-SOW-NAY-thus

Name Means: "Pretty Jaw"

Length: 4 feet 6 in (1.4 m)

Height: 1 foot (0.3 m)

Weight: 6 pounds (3 kg)

Diet: Carnivore (Insects, Lizards, Meat)

Time: Late Jurassic

Habitat: Desert Island

Fossils Found: Europe

Compsognathus size comparison image

 

Tallest Dinosaur

 

The tallest of all the known Dinosaurs were the Brachiosaurid Sauropods. The Brachiosarids were gigantic herbivorous Dinosuars. Their most stricking feature, other than their shear size, was their long fore legs which were much longer than their hind legs. These sauropods are amongst the largest land animals known to have ever walked the Earth:

 

  • Brachiosaurus: Length: 85 feet (26 m); Height: 40 feet; Weight: Approx. 30-40 tons.
  • Sauroposeidon: Length: 112 feet (34 m); Height: 56 feet (17 m); Weight: Approx. 50-60 tons.

Brachiosaurus image

 

Pronounced: BRACK-ee-oh-SAW-rus

Name Means: "Arm Lizard"

Length: 82 feet (25 m)

Height: 40 feet (12 m)

Weight: 60 tons (54,500 kg)

Diet: Herbivore (Plants)

Time: Middle to Late Jurassic - 150 million years ago

Habitat: Open Woodland

Fossils Found: Africa, Southern Europe, Northern, Western North America

Brachiosaurus size comparison image

 

 

Longest Dinosaur

The longest dinosaurs were the sauropods, in particular the diplodocid sauropods such as Supersaurus and titanosaurid sauropods such as Argentinosaurus. These Dinosaurs had very long necks which were counterbalanced by huge tails. Some of the largest sauropods included:

 

  • Supersaurus: Length: 108-112 feet (33 - 34 m); Weight: Approx. 35 to 40 tons
  • Argentinosaurus: Length: 115-130 feet (35-40 m); Weight: Approx. 80-100 tons

 

Tags: How big were Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs size, where did Dinosaurs live, how tall are Dinosaurs, what does Dinosaur mean, Dinosaurs, Dinosaur facts

 

 

© 2012 science-resources.co.uk. All rights reserved | Design by W3layouts