Book 5, Question 1
Giant Dinos! Why Were Some Dinosaurs So Huge?
Some plant-eating dinosaurs, called sauropods, were among the biggest animals ever to walk on land. Scientists think lots of plants to eat, hollow air-filled spaces inside their bones that kept them lighter, and strong pillar-like legs all helped them grow so big. New fossils keep changing the guesses, which is what makes dinosaur science so exciting!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 5
More fun facts
- Sauropods, the long-necked plant-eaters, were the largest animals ever to walk on Earth.
- Apatosaurus and Brontosaurus were sauropods.
- Sauropods swallowed huge amounts of food without chewing, which may have helped them grow so big.
- Their bones were light for their size, which helped them carry their giant bodies.
- Their long necks let them reach lots of different foods.
- Some early giants, like Ingentia prima from Argentina, weighed 7 to 10 metric tons and grew in seasonal spurts.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, Science News Explores
Questions kids ask
Is any animal today as big as the biggest dinosaurs?
Only whales come close. No land animal today is anywhere near the size of the giant sauropods.