'Comsognathus' is made up of the Greek words 'kompsos' (elegant, refined, dainty) and 'gnathos' (jaw). This dinosaur was as large as a turkey, bipedal and carnivorous. The two well preserved fossils that have been found of this dinosaur, were located in Germany (89 cm long) in the 1850s and France (125 cm long in the 1970s.The only recognised species of this dinosaur, is known as Compsognathus longipes.
2. Ankylosaurus
Answer: Fused Lizard
Ankylosaurus is from the Greek 'ankylos' (stiffening, fused) and 'sauros' (lizard). Ankylosaurus was alive at the end of the Cretaceous period. It was a large quadrupedal, armoured dinosaur approximately six metres in length and weighing roughly six tonnes. Two horns pointing backwards on the head and two horns just below these pointing backwards and down.
The jaws were covered in a beak and it had a club at the end of its tail.
3. Diplodocus
Answer: Double Beam
Diplodocus is from the Greek 'diplos'(double) and 'dokos'(beam). The dinosaur was so named due to double beam chevron bones found on the underside of the tail. These bones are found in other species in our world today such as lizards, kangaroos and manatees.
These bones protect the nerves and blood vessels when the animal rests its weight on the tail. This dinosaur lived at the end of the Jurassic period and is one of the largest dinosaurs, reaching up to 25 metres. They were quadrupedal with long necks and tails.
4. Velociraptor
Answer: Swift Seizer
The name Velociraptor translated from latin means 'swift seizer'. This dinosaur lived towards the end of the Cretaceous period. Approximately the size of a turkey, this carnivorous dinosaur was bipedal and feathered. Many of the fossils found for this dinosaur have been found in Mongolia. With serrated teeth and a prominent sickle shaped claw on each foot larger than the other claws, this was a formidable beast despite its comparatively diminutive size.
5. Protoceratops
Answer: First Horned Face
Protoceratops is from the Greek 'proto'(first), 'cerat'(horn) and '-ops'(face). This dinosaur is from Mongolia as well. Sheep sized, herbivorous and quadrupedal, the Protoceratops is from the Upper Cretaceous Period. It differs from its better known cousin, Triceratops, in that it has no horns. It does have a similar neck frill however.
6. Brontosaurus
Answer: Thunder Lizard
Brontosaurus is from the Greek 'bronte'(thunder) and 'sauros'(lizard). This dinosaur was a quadrupedal herbivore, over 20 metres long and weighing as much as 15 tonnes. Its neck was uniquely adapted to its size, having paired spines and weight saving air sacs.
In addition, the Brontosaurus differs from other sauropods like Diplodocus, in that its ribs were loosely articulated, not fused as in other species.
7. Troodon
Answer: Wounding Tooth
The name Troodon is derived from Greek and the dinosaur was so named because its teeth differed from other small carnivorous dinosaurs. Each tooth has serrations oriented towards the apex of the tooth. There are indications suggesting that Troodon was actually omnivorous. Standing less than a metre tall, these bipedal bird-like dinosaurs were found in the Cretaceous Period. Compared to their body mass, Troodon had some of the largest brains in the dinosaur kingdom.
8. Psittacosaurus
Answer: Parrot Lizard
Psittacosaurus is from the Greek 'psittakós' (parrot) and 'sauros'(lizard). A ceratopsian such as Triceratops and Protoceratops, this species had neither horns nor neck frill. Both upper and lower jaws have a pronounced beak which gives this dinosaur its parrot-like appearance. A bipedal herbivore, this dinosaur was found in the Early Cretaceous Period in Mongolia, Siberia and China.
9. Carnotaurus
Answer: Meat-eating Bull
Carnotaurus is derived from Latin, 'carnis'(flesh) and 'taurus'(bull) and named as such for its horns. From the Late Cretaceous Period, a single full skeleton was unearthed in Argentina in 1984. Standing a mere nine metres tall, this bipedal dinosaur is similar in characteristics to the T-Rex, excepting the thick horns above its eyes and significantly smaller head as well as having much smaller forelimbs.
10. Archaeopteryx
Answer: Ancient Feather
Archaeopteryx is from the Greek 'archaīos'(ancient) and 'ptéryx'(feather, wing). This dinosaur is the transition between feather non-avian dinosaurs and modern birds. Found in the Late Jurassic Period in Germany, it only reached the size of a magpie. It had broad wings, sharp teeth, fingers with claws and a bony tail. The first complete fossil was found in 1861.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
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