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Quiz about  Dinosaur Nomenclature
Quiz about  Dinosaur Nomenclature

Dinosaur Nomenclature Trivia Quiz


In this quiz I will give a dinosaur name, you must select the appropriate description based on the Greek or Latin roots of that name.

A multiple-choice quiz by chadgar25. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
chadgar25
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
219,948
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
802
Last 3 plays: Guest 216 (7/10), Guest 104 (6/10), Guest 97 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. The first Diplodocus fossil was found by Earl Douglass and Samuel W. Williston in 1877. Many Diplodocus fossils have been found, including a skin impression. What does 'Diplodocus' mean? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Deinonychus was a dromaeosaurid, whose intelligence (as measured by its relative brain to body weight) was the highest among the dinosaurs. What is the meaning of Deinonychus? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Corythosaurus was named by Barnum Brown in 1914 from a fossil found in Alberta, Canada. Fossils have been found in North America, including Montana, USA, and Alberta, Canada. Fossilized skin with a pebbly texture has been found. What does the name 'Corythosaurus' mean? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Another hadrosaur, Parasaurolophus, lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 76-65 million years ago, toward the end of the Mesozoic, the Age of Reptiles. What does the name, Parasaurolophus, mean? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Pachycephalosaurus was discovered in 1938 by William Winkley on the family ranch outside of Ekalaka, Montana, USA. It was named Pachycephalosaurus in 1943 by Barnum Brown and Erich M. Schlaikjer. What does the name of the herbivore, Pachycephalosaurus, mean? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Styracosaurus lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 77-70 million years ago. It was among the last of the dinosaur species to evolve before the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 65 million years ago. What does 'Styracosaurus' mean? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Ankylosaurus fossils have been found in the western USA (Montana) and Canada (Alberta). Two Ankylosaurus skulls and three partial skeletons (including armor and a tail club) have been found. Ankylosaurus was named by Barnum Brown in 1908. What does the name, 'Ankylosaurus', mean? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The plant-eating ornithopod, Hypsilophodon, was a very fast bi-pedal (two-legged) runner; its back legs were long. It had a stiffened tail that helped it balance when running. What does the name, 'Hypsilophodon', mean? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The Jurassic Park villian, Spinosaurus, was a huge meat-eating dinosaur that had a series of spines on its back. This enormous dinosaur lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 98 to 95 million years ago, in what is now Africa. What does the name, 'Spinosaurus', mean? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Finally, what is the root-meaning of one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered, 'Iguanodon'? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The first Diplodocus fossil was found by Earl Douglass and Samuel W. Williston in 1877. Many Diplodocus fossils have been found, including a skin impression. What does 'Diplodocus' mean?

Answer: Double Beamed

The prefix 'di' is a Greek word that means 'two'. The suffix 'docus' is from the Greek word dokos, meaning 'beam, bar, or shaft'. Diplodocus is so named because its neck and tail are so long.
2. Deinonychus was a dromaeosaurid, whose intelligence (as measured by its relative brain to body weight) was the highest among the dinosaurs. What is the meaning of Deinonychus?

Answer: Terrible Claw

Deinonychus, like all raptors, had a very large claw on each foot to bring down prey. The prefix 'deino' is from the Greek word 'deinos', which means 'fearfully great, or terrible'. The suffix 'nychus', is a Greek word meaning 'clawed'.
3. Corythosaurus was named by Barnum Brown in 1914 from a fossil found in Alberta, Canada. Fossils have been found in North America, including Montana, USA, and Alberta, Canada. Fossilized skin with a pebbly texture has been found. What does the name 'Corythosaurus' mean?

Answer: Helmet Lizard

It is named 'Helmet Lizard', the prefix 'coryth' is from the Greek word 'koryth', meaning 'helmet'. The suffix 'saurus,' is from the Greek word 'sauros', meaning 'lizard or reptile'.
4. Another hadrosaur, Parasaurolophus, lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 76-65 million years ago, toward the end of the Mesozoic, the Age of Reptiles. What does the name, Parasaurolophus, mean?

Answer: Crested Lizard

The answer lies in the Greek word 'lophus', which means 'crest or tuft'. Parasuarolophus had a large, tube-like, projection that jutted out the back of its head. The purpose was possibly to make loud, distinct, vocalizations.
5. Pachycephalosaurus was discovered in 1938 by William Winkley on the family ranch outside of Ekalaka, Montana, USA. It was named Pachycephalosaurus in 1943 by Barnum Brown and Erich M. Schlaikjer. What does the name of the herbivore, Pachycephalosaurus, mean?

Answer: Thick Headed Lizard

The prefix, 'pachy', is from the Greek word 'pachys', which means, 'thick'. 'Cephalo' is from the Greek word 'kephale', which means, 'head'. Pachycephalosaurus had a layer of 9-inch thick bone on its head. It is believed that pachys would head-butt each other for male dominance, much like rams do today.
6. Styracosaurus lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 77-70 million years ago. It was among the last of the dinosaur species to evolve before the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 65 million years ago. What does 'Styracosaurus' mean?

Answer: Spiked Lizard

This dinosaur is known for its features including one horn on its nose, and a bony shield with six spikes protecting its neck.
7. Ankylosaurus fossils have been found in the western USA (Montana) and Canada (Alberta). Two Ankylosaurus skulls and three partial skeletons (including armor and a tail club) have been found. Ankylosaurus was named by Barnum Brown in 1908. What does the name, 'Ankylosaurus', mean?

Answer: Stiff Lizard

Anklosaurus was built like a living tank. A thick, spiky, bony armor covered its head and back. At the end of its tail was a heavy club used for defense. The Greek word 'ankylos' means 'hook, joint, fused, stiff or bent', giving this dinosaur its name. It is believed that much like turtles, ankylosaurs were not the swiftest of animals.
8. The plant-eating ornithopod, Hypsilophodon, was a very fast bi-pedal (two-legged) runner; its back legs were long. It had a stiffened tail that helped it balance when running. What does the name, 'Hypsilophodon', mean?

Answer: High-ridged Tooth

The prefix 'hypsi' is from the Greek word 'hypsos', meaning 'high'. Lopho we have already learned to mean 'crest', and 'don' is from the Greek word 'odon', which means 'tooth'. Hypsilophodon was given its name because of its unusual teeth. They had a beak made of horn, cheek pouches and 28-30 self-sharpening cheek teeth in a small skull.
9. The Jurassic Park villian, Spinosaurus, was a huge meat-eating dinosaur that had a series of spines on its back. This enormous dinosaur lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 98 to 95 million years ago, in what is now Africa. What does the name, 'Spinosaurus', mean?

Answer: Spiny Lizard

No trickery here, the prefix 'spino' is the Latin word that means 'thorn, or backbone'.
10. Finally, what is the root-meaning of one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered, 'Iguanodon'?

Answer: Iguana tooth

As shown earlier, 'don' means tooth. The prefix 'iguano' is from the Arawak word 'iwana', which means 'iguana'. Iguanodon was a plant-eating dinosaur that had a conical spike on each thumb. When it was discovered, in 1825, it was noticed that the teeth were just like an iguanas', only larger.
Source: Author chadgar25

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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