Dinosaurs were a diverse group of reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, which spanned from about 250 million to 65 million years ago. During this time, dinosaurs were the dominant land animals. Scientists have identified over 500 different species of dinosaur, ranging from the small crow-sized Compsognathus to the giant, long-necked Sauropods that weighed up to 80 tons.

Dinosaurs evolved from earlier reptilian ancestors and were the first vertebrates to walk on two legs. They had a variety of body shapes and sizes, from the long-necked Brachiosaurus to the heavily-armored Ankylosaurus. Dinosaurs were also equipped with a variety of defenses, from horns and spikes to body armor.

Most dinosaurs were herbivorous, eating plants and vegetation. However, some were carnivorous and ate other animals. Some of the most famous carnivorous dinosaurs were the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Velociraptor.

Dinosaurs were the dominant land animals for over 150 million years, until a catastrophic event wiped them out about 65 million years ago. Scientists still debate what caused their extinction, with theories ranging from a meteorite impact to climate change.

Despite their extinction