Dinosaurs are the superstars of prehistoric times — big, mysterious, and extinct. But did you know there’s a lot more to these ancient creatures than just teeth, bones, tails, or skulls that are unearthed? Whether you’re a curious kid or a grown-up dino fan, this blog brings you ten amazing dinosaur facts that will blow your mind and fuel your imagination.

And if you’re really into dinosaurs, stick around until the end — we’ve got some din surprises from our collection that will bring these prehistoric creatures right into your home, school, or park!

1. Not All Dinosaurs Were Giant Monsters

When most people think of dinosaurs, they imagine towering giants like the Tyrannosaurus rex. But in reality, many dinosaurs were smaller than a chicken! Like Compsognathus, they could easily sit on your lap — if they weren’t running away first. Dinosaurs came in a wide range of shapes and sizes. The smallest ones weighed just a few pounds, while others, like Argentinosaurus, tipped the scales at over 70 tons and stretched longer than a blue whale.

Fun Fact: The word dinosaur means “terrible lizard” and was coined in 1842 by a British scientist named Sir Richard Owen.

2. Dinosaurs Lived Everywhere — Even Antarctica!

Have you ever thought that dinosaurs only lived in jungles? Fossils have been found on every continent, even in places that are icy and cold today. That includes Antarctica. Bones of long-necked sauropods and ankylosaurs have been discovered. During most of the Mesozoic, Earth’s climate was significantly warmer, and polar ice caps likely did not exist. This allowed dinosaurs to inhabit regions near the poles, including Antarctica, which was then covered in forests rather than ice. This global spread proves dinosaurs were incredibly adaptable. Whether it was a dense forest or a windswept plain, there was a dinosaur that called it home.

At MyDinosaurs, we recreate these notable species with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that appear to have just walked out of the Mesozoic Era — perfect for museums, parks, and exhibitions.

3. Birds Are Actually Dinosaurs!

Yep, you read that right — birds are living dinosaurs. They evolved from a group of two-legged meat-eating dinos called theropods (the same family as the T. rex). That means when you see a pigeon in the park or a chicken at the farm, you’re technically looking at a modern dinosaur. Feathers, hollow bones, and even nesting behaviors all link today’s birds to their dinosaur ancestors.

4. Dinosaurs Swallowed Stones to Digest Their Food

Some plant-eating dinosaurs didn’t have grinding teeth. So, what did they do? They swallowed rocks! These stones, called gastroliths, sat in the dinosaur’s stomach and helped crush and grind tough plant matter — much like how birds today use grit to help with digestion. Imagine needing a handful of pebbles just to eat your salad!

5. Some Dinosaurs Were Super Fast

Dinosaurs like Ornithomimus could run up to 60 km/h (about 37 mph), which is pretty impressive for a creature without Nikes. But no dinosaur was faster than today’s cheetah, which can hit speeds of 70–75 mph in short bursts. Still, dinosaur speed varied widely. While predators needed speed to chase prey, slow-moving giants like Stegosaurus relied on their size and spiked tails for protection.

In general, smaller, bipedal theropods and ornithomimosaurs were among the fastest due to their lightweight builds, long legs, and balanced tails. Large theropods like Tyrannosaurus rex were probably slower, limited to walking quickly rather than actual running. Here is a fun extended reading: Top 10 Fastest Dinosaurs Ever Lived on Earth

6. Dinosaurs Ruled for Over 150 Million Years

Dinosaurs first appeared around 245 million years ago and dominated Earth until about 66 million years ago. That’s roughly 150 million years — way longer than humans have been around!

Their time was split into three major periods:

• Triassic: 

Most Triassic dinosaurs were relatively small predators or herbivores, although some early relatives of sauropods had already grown to impressive sizes of over 9 meters by the Late Triassic. Here is a list of dinosaurs from the Triassic:

Herrerasaurus (carnivorous theropod), Eoraptor (early theropod), Coelophysis (small carnivorous theropod), Plateosaurus (early herbivorous sauropodomorph), Melanorosaurus (large early sauropodomorph).

• Jurassic

Dinosaurs from the Jurassic period, which lasted approximately from 201 to 145 million years ago, span the Early, Middle, and Late Jurassic epochs and include a diverse group of species. Many famous Jurassic dinosaurs have been discovered in the Morrison Formation of the western United States, which serves as a rich source of fossils for Late Jurassic species. The Jurassic period features a blend of both large herbivores, such as the sauropods, and formidable carnivores, including Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus, which define the era’s iconic dinosaur fauna. Here is a list of dinosaurs from the Jurassic:

Allosaurus: A large bipedal theropod apex predator found mainly in North America.

Apatosaurus and Brontosaurus: Large sauropods from North America, with recent research again differentiating these two genera.

Brachiosaurus and Camarasaurus: Giant sauropods distinguished by their unique body structures, common in North America.

Stegosaurus: A well-known plated dinosaur famous for its distinctive back plates and tail spikes.

Diplodocus: A long-necked, long-tailed sauropod capable of rearing up on hind legs to reach high vegetation.

• Cretaceous

Each period saw different types of dinosaurs and environmental changes. For example, the armor-plated Stegosaurus lived in the Jurassic, while the mighty T. rex ruled during the Cretaceous — millions of years apart.

Tyrannosaurus rex: One of the largest terrestrial carnivores

Triceratops: Famous for three horns and frill

Iguanodon: One of the first discovered dinosaurs

Parasaurolophus: Known for its unique cranial crest

Ankylosaurus: Known for its clubbed tail

7. Fossils Tell Us Everything We Know About Dinosaurs

Because dinosaurs are extinct (except for birds), scientists rely on fossils — bones, teeth, footprints, and even poop — to learn about them. Each fossil is like a time machine, giving us clues about what dinosaurs looked like, how they moved, and what they ate. For example, sharp, serrated teeth suggest a meat-eating diet, while flat grinding teeth show a love for plants. Some fossils even show signs of feathers!

We bring these discoveries to life with museum displays and educational kits, including dinosaur fossil casts and even dinosaur puppets for interactive learning.

Dinosaur Casts by MyDinosaurs>>

8. Some Dinosaurs Had Long, Tongue-Twisting Names

The longest dinosaur name ever? Say hello to Micropachycephalosaurus (try saying that five times fast). It means “tiny thick-headed lizard” and is one of the smallest dinosaurs ever discovered. It has 23 letters and nine syllables. Its name means “small, thick-headed lizard” and is pronounced “mike-row-pak-ee-keff-ah-loh-sore-us”. Other dinosaurs with notably long names include Carcharodontosaurus (19 letters), dubbed the “shark tooth lizard,” and Archaeornithomimus (18 letters), which means “ancient bird mimic”. These names often derive from Greek or Latin roots that describe features such as appearance, teeth, or behavior. On the other hand, some had short and snappy names like Yi — which means “wing” in Chinese and is one of the shortest dinosaur names ever.

Naming a new dinosaur species is a serious job for paleontologists. It often reflects what the dinosaur looked like, where it was found, or who discovered it.

9. Dinosaurs Had Feathers Before Birds Took Flight

Feathers didn’t start with birds — they began with dinosaurs! Many theropods had feathers long before flight evolved. These feathers may have helped with insulation, display (think dinosaur fashion shows), or even to attract mates. Fossils found in China show clear impressions of feathered dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Anchiornis. Scientists believe feathers were one of the key evolutionary steps that led to birds. If you want to see these creatures in action, our dinosaur costumes and feathered animatronic models are a hit at live performances, theme parks, and educational events.

Feathered Velociraptor Animatronic by MyDinosaurs>>

10. The Dinosaur Extinction Was a Real Catastrophe

About 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid hit the Earth near what is now Mexico. The impact caused wildfires, earthquakes, and a dust cloud that blocked sunlight for months. This led to a dramatic drop in temperature, killing off plants and the animals that depended on them — including the dinosaurs. But not all was lost. Some small creatures survived, and from one lineage of small, feathered dinosaurs, birds eventually emerged. Even though the big guys are gone, the world of dinosaurs lives on — in fossils, museums, movies, and in the hearts of dinosaur fans everywhere.

Bring Dinosaurs to Life with MyDinosaurs.com!

Dinosaurs may be history, but that doesn’t mean they can’t walk, roar, and thrill today! At MyDinosaurs, we specialize in making dinosaurs come alive. Our products are crafted with high-quality materials and cutting-edge technology, making them ideal for museums, theme parks, events, and dinosaur enthusiasts.

A Life-size 30m long Diplodocus Appeared on A Dinosaur Exhibition By MyDinosaurs>>

Dinosaurs were more than just movie monsters — they were real animals that walked (and ran and flew) across Earth for millions of years. Whether it’s learning their names, exploring their diets, or discovering how they lived, the world of dinosaurs is packed with excitement and mystery. We hope this dinosaur facts blog will help you and your kids learn more about these prehistoric creatures.