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Dinosaurs

Mounted Triceratops fossil skeleton. Fossil specimens of Triceratops (above), Stegosaurus, and other plant-eating dinosaurs can be found in the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs on the fourth floor.
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 Dinosaur Bones Discover what scientists can learn by studying fossils and how these fossils are stored in the Museum’s collections. Article Dinosaur Eggs Fossilized eggs have helped scientists understand how dinosaurs reproduced and cared for their young. 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. Article Dinosaur Names Find out how dinosaurs get their names and the meanings of their Greek and Latin roots. Video Dinosaurs and Fossils Videos Did dinosaurs really go extinct? How are fossils discovered? Watch these videos and more! Article Types of Dinosaurs Check out a list of images and info for over 40 kinds of dinosaurs, and find out how many different types have been discovered. Article Tyrannosaurus rex Discover one of the largest and most fearsome carnivores of all time in this media-rich feature about Tyrannosaurus rex. Exhibit The Titanosaur In January 2016, the Museum added another must-see exhibit to its world-famous fossil halls: a cast of a 122-foot-long dinosaur. 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 Get the latest news on everything from dinosaur feathers, to extinction, to how modern bird brains are shedding light on ancient... 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.