🧬 Dinosaur evolution

Dinosaurs did not appear out of nowhere. They evolved from earlier reptiles that lived before them, slowly changing over millions of years. Early dinosaurs were small and walked on two legs, and only later did some branches grow into giants, armoured tanks and long-necked titans.

Over their vast reign, dinosaurs had a huge amount of time to change and spread into every corner of the land. Different groups adapted to different lives: some to eating high leaves, some to hunting, some to armour or speed. Filling so many different roles led to an incredible variety of dinosaurs.

Birds evolved from a group of small, feathered, meat-eating dinosaurs over millions of years. Little by little, their arms turned into wings, their bones grew lighter and hollow, and their feathers became better for gliding and then for flapping. Step by tiny step, ground-running dinosaurs became the birds of today.

Dinosaurs show us that life on Earth is always changing, over spans of time far longer than we can easily imagine. They ruled for ages, then a sudden disaster reshaped the whole living world, yet life carried on in new forms. Their story reminds us how amazing, tough and surprising life can be.