Exploring the mysteries of Dinosaur Evolution

Evolution of Life

PrestosuchusNational Museum of Nature and Science

HerrerasaurusNational Museum of Nature and Science

Evolution of Saurischian DinosaoursNational Museum of Nature and Science

Evolution of Saurischian Dinosaurs

Saurischians diverged into Sauropodomorpha and Theropoda. The Sauropodomorpha evolved into herbivorous, quadrupedal dinosaurs which included the largest ever terrestrial animals. 

Tyrannosaurus rexNational Museum of Nature and Science

CitipatiNational Museum of Nature and Science

DeinonychusNational Museum of Nature and Science

Evolution of Ornithischian DinaosaursNational Museum of Nature and Science

Evolution of Ornithischian Dinaosaurs

Ornithischian dinosaurs were  all herbivorous and originally bipedal. Some remained bipedal, others became secondarily quadrupedal. Some developed bony armor around the body and the end of the tail. Others sported horns on the face, and spike and plates on the back of the skull.

Triceratops (Mounted skeleton)National Museum of Nature and Science

Triceratops (Original specimen)National Museum of Nature and Science

Hypacrosaurus, From the collection of: National Museum of Nature and Science
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Hypacrosaurus, From the collection of: National Museum of Nature and Science
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PachycephalosaurusNational Museum of Nature and Science

PachycephalosaurusNational Museum of Nature and Science

Stegosaurus and ScolowaurusNational Museum of Nature and Science

The last day of the mesozoicNational Museum of Nature and Science

The last day of the mesozoic

An asteroid collided with Earth some 66 million years ago, creating a vast firestorm enveloping North America that was followed by a drastic worldwide drop in temperature. Related environmental changes brought about a rapid mass extinction of many forms of life across the globe. This included most dinosaur species, but a branch that we call birds survived and continues to evolve today.

KpgNational Museum of Nature and Science

K/Pg

 The K/Pg boundary layer is heavily enriched in iridium and also contains shocked quartz crystals, physical evidence of the asteroid impact. There is a dramatic increase of fern spores directly above the boundary layer, indicating that ferns quickly resettled terrain devastated by the catastrophe ahead of other plant life. We do not find any articulated non-avian dinosaur specimens above the boundary. 

Credits: Story

This exhibition is based on Global Gallery B1F : Evolution of Life -Exploring the Mysteries of Dinosaur Evolution

Photo : NAKAJIMA Yusuke

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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