Up: A few things about dinosaurs

Our vision of dinosaurs' lifestyles has got through much change during the last decades. Dinosaurs are now considered to be active, terrestrial animals rather than half-asleep, semi-aquatic reptiles. They are now recognised to have been able of fast running, to have had efficient feeding capabilities, and some evolved social behaviour (see also the discussion about warm-bloodedness allowing sustained activity).

• Moving discussing dinosaurs' common postures, running capabilities, briskness...

• Habitat. A summary of the discussions about the putative aquatic habitat of some dinosaurs (mainly sauropods and hadrosaurs), leading to the conclusion that they were probably terrestrial.

• Feeding describing the adaptations of lots of dinosaur groups to particular and efficient ways of feeding, showing that dinosaurs did not eat soft, aquatic plants.

• Behaviour showing social behaviour such as sexual displays, care to the young, structured herds, known from several dinosaurs.

Detailed table:

• Moving

  • Posture

    • Ceratopian gait

    • Sauropod necks

  • Running

• Habitat

  • The case for terrestrial sauropods

  • The case for terrestrial hadrosaurs

• Feeding

  • Collecting food

    • Sauropod trunks

  • Chewing

  • Digesting

• Behaviour

  • Herds

  • Social structure

  • Cares to the young

Intelligence

Up: A few things about dinosaurs