Dinosaur Dynasty

Cretaceous Period: 144 million to 65 million years ago

Throughout the Cretaceous, dinosaurs became more specialized, developing new features to suit their habitats. Then the Age of Dinosaurs ended with a bang, as a mass extinction killed off most dinosaurs. Today, birds are the only branch of the dinosaur family tree that remain.

Highlights include:

Sinosauropteryx (SEEN-oh-sawr-OP-ter-iks, meaning "Chinese dragon-feather") This important dinosaur was the first to be found with fossilized impressions of primitive feathers covering most of its body. Though scientists have determined this creature to be flightless, the feathers probably provided valuable insulation.
Caudipteryx (caw-DIP-ter-iks, meaning "tail feather") With long, real feathers on its tail and arms, this theropod has given scientists new insights into the evolution of feathers. Though its arm resembled a wing, this creature also could not fly.
Protoceratops (PRO-toe-SAIR-uh-tops, or "first horn-face") This dinosaur might have inspired the myth of the griffin, an animal said to be part eagle, part lion. It had a horny frill at the back of its skull, a beaked mouth, and may have traveled in herds.
Tsintaosaurus (CHING-DOW-SAWR-us, literally "Tsintao-region lizard") A prominent spike on its head—like the horn of the mythical unicorn—sets this duck-billed herbivore apart from hadrosaur relatives found in North America.

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