So Many Dinos! Why Did So Many Kinds Exist?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why did so many kinds of dinosaurs exist?

The Big Idea

Dinosaurs had a very long time and many different places to live. There were many jobs to do, too, like eating leaves, hunting, or digging. Horns, armor, feathers, and long necks all worked well in different places.

Time Passes

Step one: lots of time passes. Dinosaurs lived for about 165 million years. That is enough time for small changes in bodies to add up. Each new group could try new things. Some tries worked, and some did not.

Places Differ

Step two: places are different. A wet forest, a sandy coast, and a dry plain each have their own plants and weather. Animals that fit the place did best. They had more babies, too.

Jobs and Bodies

Step three: jobs shape bodies. A long neck can reach high leaves. Armor can help against a hunter. Sharp teeth can help catch food. Helpful features became common over time.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at diversity! Here is a long neck. Here are horns. This one has feathers. And this little one is a small hunter.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! More than 1,000 dinosaur kinds have been named, and new ones are still found. A new name needs a real fossil and a careful science paper. Sometimes two names turn out to be the same animal. T. Rex never met Stegosaurus. They lived millions of years apart.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Why does a long stretch of time help make more kinds? Why could T. Rex and Stegosaurus never share a picnic? What job might armor do that speed does not? Draw your own dinosaur, and give it a job.

Outro

A long parade of dinosaurs walked the Earth, and each one had its own story. Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!