Dinosaur
Experts Checklist
Answers will vary depending upon which dinosaurs were selected. Refer
to background information or resources
to confirm answers.
Exhibit Investigation
A.
What are fossils?
The remains of plants or animals that lived long ago.
B.
What types of things become fossilized?
Bones, teeth, skin impressions, tracks, dung, embryos, eggs, plants, shells,
and feathers have all been fossilized.
(And Willo shows that in very rare
cases, internal organs may be preserved.)
C.
In what ways did dinosaurs communicate? For what purpose? Did they make
noise?
Some dinosaurs may have used their enlarged nasal crests to make calls
to attract mates, warn rivals, or identify other members of their species.
Similar functions may have been served by features such as the frills
and horns of ceratopsians.
D.
Did dinosaurs care for their young? How do we know?
There is evidence that some did. An Oviraptor skeleton was discovered
crouched upon a clutch of eggs in the Gobi desert, and paleontologists
have suggested that the dinosaur was killed trying to shelter its nest
from a sandslide. Hadrosaur (duckbilled dinosaur) chicks in various stages
of development have been discovered in proximity to nests, suggesting
that their parents may have cared for them for some time. Footprints of
huge plant-eaters show that the young were protected by the herd.
E.
Did dinosaurs fight? How do we know?
Predator/prey interactions between dinosaurs can be inferred from dinosaur
morphology (e.g. sharp teeth, large, front-pointing eyes, and fearsome
claws on predators, armor on plant-eaters), tooth marks on bones, trackways,
and one remarkable case of a Velociraptor and a Protoceratops
found locked in battle, apparently overcome by a sandslide as they struggled.
Some dinosaurs may well have fought with rivals of the same species.
Describe
conditions during the Triassic time period. (Size and position of continents,
seas, climate, plants, dinosaurs and other animals)
a. Geography— Single land mass, Pangea
b. Climate— Warm, dry
c. Plants— Cycads, ferns; no flowers or deciduous trees
d.
Dinosaurs— First dinosaurs at 228MYA; legs carried underneath their
bodies instead of out to the sides. Genera included Eoraptor, Herrerasaurus,
Plateosaurus.
e. Other animals— First large land animals: crocodile-like reptiles,
dicynodonts. First flying reptiles (pterosaurs), first mammals, first
giant sea creatures.
Describe
conditions during the Jurassic time period. (Size and position of continents,
seas, climate, plants, dinosaurs and other animals)
a. Geography— Two large continents--Laurasia, Gondwana
b. Climate— Warm but varied climate
c. Plants— Conifers, cycads, ferns
d. Dinosaurs— Diversify and become the dominant land animals. Genera
included Allosaurus, Dilophosaurus.
e. Other animals— Archaeopteryx and other proto-birds appear.
Describe
conditions during the Cretaceous time period. (Size and position of continents,
seas, climate, plants, dinosaurs and other animals)
a. Geography— Resembled today's, but sea levels were higher.
b. Climate— Warmer than today, but ranged from hot to cool.
c. Plants— Flowering plants evolve
d. Dinosaurs— Most lived on fertile floodplains in warm regions,
some lived in deserts and polar regions. Genera included Giganotosaurus,
Thescelosaurus, Triceratops.
e. Other animals— Turtles and modern insects appear.
A.
Many animals became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous time.
What caused the extinction?
Theories abound, but the two major contenders are:
- A large asteroid impact
- Increased volcanic activity/climatic change
Please see the resources for further information.
B.
Movie versions of several dinosaurs are presented, some with 'real-life'
counterparts. Choose one of these dinosaurs and compare the movie version
with the real-life version. (Stegosaurus,
Compsognathus, Velociraptor)
Tell what was similar and what was different.
Why do you think changes were made for the movie version?
Answers will vary depending on dinosaurs chosen, but may include: technical
considerations, cost of production, or to create a more exciting presentation.
 Post-visit Activities |
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 Vocabulary |
The Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park: The Lost World was produced by Dinosaur Exhibitions, LLC, under the direction of "Dino" Don Lessem, and in partnership with Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment. The exhibition was designed by Museum Design Associates. Jurassic Park and Lost World are trademarks of Universal City Studios and Amblin Entertainment.
Teachers Guide materials developed by San Diego Natural History Museum and used by permission. Some activities adapted or developed by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
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