Dino-mite terms

Allosaurus

Any of various carnivorous dinosaurs of the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous Periods, similar to but smaller than the tyrannosaur.

Anchisaurus

Was a primitive, plant-eating dinosaur.

Apatosaurus

A very large herbivorous dinosaur of the genus Apatosaurus (formerly Brontosaurus) of the late Jurassic Period, having a long neck and tail, and a relatively small head.

Archaeopteryx

A transitional form between birds and reptiles, and is the earliest known bird. Lately, scientists have realized that it bears even more resemblance to its ancestors, the Maniraptora, than to modern birds, providing a strong phylogenetic link between the two groups. It is one of the most important fossils ever discovered. Unlike all living birds, Archaeopteryx had a full set of teeth, a rather flat sternum (breastbone), a long, bony tail, gastralia (belly ribs), and three claws on the wing which could have been used to grasp prey (or maybe trees). However, its feathers, wings, furcula (wishbone) and reduced "fingers" are all characteristics of modern birds.

Brachiosaurus

Any of various massive, herbaceous sauropod dinosaurs of the genus Brachiosaurus of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods, having a long flexible neck, nostrils above the eyes, and forelegs that were much longer than the hind legs.

Carnivorous

Flesh-eating or predatory.

Ceratosaurus

Primitive medium-sized theropod; swift-running bipedal carnivorous dinosaur having grasping hands with sharp claws and a short horn between the nostrils.

Coelurosaurs

The clade containing all theropods more closely related to birds than to carnosaurs. Some diagnostic characteristics of coelurosaurs include elongated arms and well-developed hinge-like ankles (possible rotation of the ankle is reduced, which is helpful during locomotion). These features may have been lost or modified on later coelurosaurs.

Conifers

Any of various, mostly needle-leaved or scale-leaved, chiefly evergreen, cone-bearing gymnospermous trees or shrubs, such as pines, spruces and firs.

Cycads

An ancient group of seed plants with a crown of large compound leaves and a stout trunk.

Diplodocus

A very large herbivorous dinosaur of the genus Diplodocus that existed during the Jurassic Period.

Fabrosaurus

A very early ornithopod; a small, fast, bipedal plant-eater.

Frond

The leaf of a fern.

Hypsognathus

One of the later members of the family Procolophonidae, with broad cheek teeth suitable for grinding plants. The spikes around its head were probably a defense against predators such as Coelophysis.

Lesothosaurus

A small, early, lightly built dinosaur. It was an herbivore (plant-eater) and a fast, agile runner.

Ornithopod

Any of various large ornithischian dinosaurs of the suborder Ornithopoda, including the hadrosaurs.

Pangea

A hypothetical supercontinent that included all the landmasses of the Earth before the Triassic Period.

Prosauropod

A group of closely related dinosaurs with long necks and tails. All prosauropod dinosaurs have a very unique foot with twisted first digit bearing a tremendously large claw.

Sauropods

Any of various large semiaquatic saurischian dinosaurs of the suborder Sauropoda, of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Thecodonts

Any of various extinct, primitive archosaurs of the order Thecodontia of the late Permian and Triassic Periods, having teeth in sockets and probably ancestors of the dinosaurs.

Theropod

Any of various large, carnivorous saurischian dinosaurs of the suborder Theropoda of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods, characterized by bipedal locomotion, large jaws and short forelimbs.

Triassic Period

From 230 million to 190 million years ago; dinosaurs, marine reptiles, volcanic activity.