DINOSAURS

Dinosaurs (Greek δεινόσαυρος, deinosauros) is the dominant vertebrates in terrestrial ecosystems for over 160 million years old, from Old Triassic period (about 230 million years ago) until the end of the Cretaceous period (around 65 million years ago), when many of them extinct in the Cretaceous extinction event-Tertiary. Ten thousands of bird species living today have been classified as dinosaurs.

The discovery of primitive birds in 1861 to guide the first Archeopteryx close kinship between dinosaurs and birds. Besides the existence of fossilized feather impressions, is very similar Archeopteryx small predatory dinosaur Compsognathus. Since then, research has identified the theropod dinosaurs most likely as a direct ancestor of birds, mostly birds paleontologist now considered as the only surviving dinosaurs, and some suggest that dinosaurs and birds should be grouped in a biology class. In addition to birds, crocodiles is another close relative of the dinosaurs that survived until now .. Like dinosaurs and birds, crocodiles are also members of the Archosauria, a group of reptiles which first appeared in a very old Perm period and dominated the middle Triassic period.

During the first half of the 20th century, many scientists believe dinosaurs community as a cold-blooded animals are dumb and slow. However, many studies conducted since the 1970s (called the renaissance of dinosaurs) have supported the view that dinosaurs were active animals with a high metabolism and adaptation to diverse social interactions. The resulting changes in scientific understanding of dinosaurs gradually filtered into the popular consciousness.

Since the first dinosaur fossil identified in the early nineteenth century, the framework is assembled dinosaurs became poluler performances in museums around the world. Dinosaurs became the world's cultural and continued popularity. They became the subject of best-selling books and films (most known for Jurassic Park), and new discoveries regularly expressed in the media The term "dinosaur" (English, dinosaur) proposed in 1842 by Sir Richard Owen and the Greek bersal δεινός (deinos) "terrible, strong, great" + σαῦρος (sauros) "lizard".

The term dinosaur is sometimes used informally to describe other prehistoric reptiles like Dimetrodon pelycosaurus, the winged pterosaurs, and ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaur and Mosasaurus, although none of these animals which are dinosaurs.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Subphylum: Vertebrata, Class: Sauropsida, Subclass: Diapsida, Infraclass: Archosauromorpha, Superorder: Dinosauria.