Dinosaurs for Kids 10 Amazing Prehistoric Giants

This is Tyrannosaurus Rex or T-Rex. T-Rex, the king of dinosaurs. The Tyrannosaurus Rex or T-Rex is one of the most famous dinosaurs of all time. Its name means tyrant lizard king, and it truly lived up to that title. This mighty predator was about 40 ft long and could stand as tall as school bus. T-Rex had giant head filled with sharp teeth. each the size of banana. Its bite was so powerful it could crush bones in seconds. Even though its arms were small, its legs were strong and fast, helping it chase prey like triceratops. Did you know T-Rex had an amazing sense of smell? Scientists think it could sniff out animals from miles away. No wonder it was one of the top hunters of the Cretaceous period around 68 to 66 million years ago. This is Brachiosaurus. Brachiosaurus, the gentle giant. Brachiosaurus was one of the tallest dinosaurs ever. It had long neck that stretched up to 30 feet high, almost as tall as four-story building. Unlike many dinosaurs, its front legs were longer than its back legs, making its neck rise like giraffe's. This giant planteater loved munching on leaves from the tallest trees. With its huge size, about 85 ft long and 80 tons, few predators dared to mess with it. Even though it was massive, Brachiosaurus was gentle dinosaur, living in herds and using its height to reach tasty treetop snacks. This is velociaptor, the clever hunter. Velociraptor may look big in the movies, but in real life, it was only about the size of turkey. Don't let that fool you. This small dinosaur was one of the smartest hunters. It had sharp claws shaped like sickles on each foot, which it used to grab prey. Velociaptors likely hunted in packs, working together to bring down larger animals. Here's the coolest part. Velociraptors had feathers. They couldn't fly, but their feathers helped keep them warm. They lived about 75 million years ago and proved that even small dinosaurs could be fierce. This is Stegosaurus, the armored dinosaur. Stegosaurus looked like walking fortress. It had large bony plates along its back and spiky tail called thagamizer. Scientists think it used the tail to protect itself from predators like Allosaurus. Stegosaurus was about 30 feet long but had brain the size of walnut. Even though its brain was tiny, it didn't need much brain power to munch on plants and swing its tail when threatened. Its back plates may have helped with body temperature or even made it look scarier to predators with its unique armor. Stegosaurus was one of the most interesting dinosaurs of the Jurassic period. This is Triceratops, the threehorned wonder. Triceratops was planteating dinosaur with head that looked like knight's shield. It had three sharp horns, two above its eyes and one on its nose. Its huge bony frill on the back of its head made it look extra powerful. Even though it ate plants, Triceratops could defend itself against T-Rex and other predators. With horns up to 3 ft long, it could charge like rhinoceros. Triceratops lived in herds, which gave them safety in numbers. Scientists think they may have also used their horns to fight each other, showing who was strongest. This is Spinosaurus, the sailbacked giant. Spinosaurus was one of the largest meat eating dinosaurs, even bigger than T-Rex. It grew up to 50 to 60 ft long and had strange sail on its back made of tall bones covered in skin. Scientists think the sail might have been used to attract mates or regulate body temperature. Unlike most predators, Spinosaurus loved the water. It had long crocodilelike jaws and sharp teeth, perfect for catching fish. With its webbed feet and paddle-like tail, it was strong swimmer. Imagine dinosaur that was part T-Rex, part crocodile. That's Spinosaurus. This is an Ankallosaurus. Ankallosaurus, the living tank. Ankalosaurus was built like dinosaur tank. Its body was covered in thick armor plates, and it had giant club on its tail that could smash predator's bones in one swing. This planteating dinosaur was about 25 to 30 feet long and lived around 70 million years ago. Predators like T-Rex probably thought twice before attacking one. Ankallosaurus was slowm moving but tough. With armor, spikes, and heavy tail, it was one of the safest dinosaurs to be. This is an Allosaurus. Allosaurus. The Jurassic hunter. Before T-Rex, the top predator was Allosaurus. It lived during the Jurassic period and grew about 30 to 40 ft long. Its name means different lizard because of its unique bones. Allosaurus had sharp teeth and claws, perfect for hunting Stegosaurus and other planteaters. Scientists believe it hunted in groups, making it even more dangerous. With its strong legs, it could run fast and leap at prey, using its jaws to deliver powerful bite. Allosaurus was truly the T-Rex of its time. This is Pterannodon, the sky ruler. Even though it wasn't dinosaur, it was terasaur. Pteranodon is too cool to leave out. It had wingspan of up to 30 feet, making it one of the largest flying reptiles ever. It had long toothless beak and mostly ate fish. Diving into the water like modern seabirds. The crest on its head may have helped with balance during flight. Imagine looking up and seeing giant bird-like reptile soaring through the skies. That was the world of the dinosaurs.