Dinosaurs

Dinosaur mounts in the fourth floor fossil halls. D. Finnin/© AMNH

Dinosaurs are a group of reptiles that first appeared about 245 million years ago. They dominated the planet until an extinction event wiped out a large swath of life on Earth about 66 million years ago. But now we know that the Age of Dinosaurs never ended. Instead, a group of dinosaurs gave rise to a new, small airborne form: birds.

Find out more from the American Museum of Natural History, home of the world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils.

Article Tyrannosaurus rex Seven questions about T. rex answered! Article Dinosaur Eggs Fossilized eggs have helped scientists understand how dinosaurs reproduced and cared for their young. Article The Dinosaurs on Display Plan your visit to see the Museum's dinosaurs, part of the largest fossil collection in the world. Article Dinosaur Bones Discover what scientists can learn by studying fossils and how these fossils are stored in the Museum’s collections. Article Dinosaur Facts Quick facts about dinosaurs! Find out what dinosaurs ate, how they may have behaved, what they may have looked like, and more. Video Dinosaurs and Fossils Videos Did dinosaurs really go extinct? How are fossils discovered? Watch these videos and more! Article Dinosaur Names Find out how dinosaurs get their names and the meanings of their Greek and Latin roots. Article Types of Dinosaurs Learn how many species have been discovered, and see photos and information about over 40 types of dinosaurs. Exhibit The Titanosaur This cast is of a 122-foot-long dinosaur that lived in forests of today’s Patagonia about 100 to 95 million years ago. Educator Materials PaleontOLogy Visit OLogy, the Museum's science website for kids, to find free dinosaur games and activities. Learn how to draw what a dinosaur... Collection Dinosaur Discoveries The 21st century is shaping up as a great time to be a paleontologist: here's the latest in our understanding of dinosaurs. Educator Materials Dinosaurs: Activities and Lesson Plans Resources to help students understand everything from basic dinosaur biology and evolution, to the tools and methods of modern paleontology.