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Dino Mysteries

To solve mysteries about long-dead dinosaurs, scientists are studying clues that might surprise you!

February 13, 2023

As You Read: Add the correct label—land, sea, or air—to each mystery.

Courtesy of Victoria Arbour

Victoria Arbour

It’s been millions of years since dinosaurs stomped, splashed, and soared around Earth. But paleontologists like Victoria Arbour still have many questions about them.

How do these scientists find answers when dinos are long gone? Arbour told Scholastic News that they often compare dinosaur remains to animals today.

Keep reading for three examples of what Arbour means.

It’s been millions of years since dinosaurs stomped, splashed, and soared around Earth. But paleontologists like Victoria Arbour still have many questions about them.

Dinos are long gone. So how do these scientists find answers? Arbour told Scholastic News that they often compare dinosaur remains to animals today.

Keep reading for three examples of what Arbour means.

Mystery #1: Was the largest meat-eating dino able to hunt underwater?

The largest known dino carnivore, or meat eater, lived around 100 million years ago. It is called Spinosaurus (spy-noh-SAWR-uhs). From its fossils, paleontologists know this giant reptile could grow up to 60 feet long! The experts wondered whether a dino that huge could hunt animals both on land and under the sea.

To find out, they compared the dino with different living animals. For example, they learned it had bones similar to those of penguins, which swim and hunt deep underwater. From this, some scientists think that Spinosaurus may have been able to hunt underwater too.

The largest known dino carnivore, or meat eater, lived about 100 million years ago. It is called Spinosaurus (spy-noh-SAWR-uhs). Paleontologists studied fossils of this giant reptile. They figured out that it could grow up to 60 feet long! The experts wondered about this huge dino. Could it hunt animals both on land and under the sea?

To find out, they compared the dino with different living animals. For example, they learned it had bones similar to those of penguins. And penguins can swim and hunt deep underwater. From this, some scientists think that Spinosaurus may have been able to hunt underwater too.

Mystery #2: What did the ankylosaur use its powerful tail for?

The ankylosaur (ANG-kuh-lo-sawr) lived about 80 million years ago. This tank-like dino had armor, or protective skin, and a powerful tail it could swing like a club.

For years, scientists thought it used its tail to fight other types of dinos. But after studying marks on fossils, experts wondered if it used its tail to fight other ankylosaurs!

To find answers, Arbour studied living animals like deer. Deer use their antlers against other deer to protect things like territory. That’s an area that an animal claims as its own. Arbour thinks ankylosaurs used their tails for similar reasons. The dinos swung them hard enough to break through other ankylosaurs’ armor. Ouch!

The ankylosaur (ANG-kuh-lo-sawr) lived about 80 million years ago. This tank-like dino had armor, or protective skin. It also had a powerful tail it could swing like a club.

For years, scientists thought it used its tail to fight other types of dinos. But they studied the marks on fossils. The experts wondered if the dino used its tail to fight other ankylosaurs!

To find answers, Arbour studied living animals like deer. Deer use their antlers against other deer. They do this to protect their territory. That’s an area that an animal claims as its own. Arbour thinks ankylosaurs used their tails for similar reasons. The dinos swung them hard. They were strong enough to break through other ankylosaurs’ armor. Ouch!

Mystery #3: Could this dino fly?

About 160 million years ago, a tiny dinosaur called Ambopteryx (am-BOP-tuh-riks) lived high in the trees. It had thin wings with no feathers. Experts wondered if the little dino could fly. To find out, they started with its fossils.

They compared what they found with living animals like bats. They concluded Ambopteryx couldn’t really fly. It could only glide short distances. This finding is helping scientists learn how modern animals started to fly.

“Paleontologists can’t travel back in time to watch dinos,” says Arbour. “We have to look at what we do have—usually bones—and compare them to similar living animals.”

About 160 million years ago, a tiny dinosaur called Ambopteryx (am-BOP-tuh-riks) lived high in trees. It had thin wings. But its wings had no feathers. Experts wondered if the little dino could fly. To find out, they started with its fossils.

They compared what they found with living animals like bats. They concluded that Ambopteryx couldn’t really fly. It could only glide short distances. This finding is helping scientists learn how modern animals started to fly.

“Paleontologists can’t travel back in time to watch dinos,” says Arbour. “We have to look at what we do have—usually bones—and compare them to similar living animals.”

In what way do scientists think Spinosaurus may have been similar to a penguin?
What do many scientists think ankylosaurs used their tails for?
Based on the article, what are some tasks a paleontologist might do?

In what way do scientists think Spinosaurus may have been similar to a penguin?
What do many scientists think ankylosaurs used their tails for?
Based on the article, what are some tasks a paleontologist might do?