The Dinosaurs are coming, the Dinosaurs are coming ! ! !

The Louisville Zoo once again will have the Dinosaurs this summer, April 1 thru July.  I'm going to give you a Sneak preview of which Dinosaurs will be here.

 Meet Alioramus.  This dinosaur is about 11 feet tall and weighs about 1500 pounds.  This was one of the last Tyrannosaurus species to have lived.  He was a little smaller than some of his cousins, and therefore hunted smaller prey.  He lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 73 million years ago.

Meet Amargasaurus.  This guy was about 12 feet tall and would weigh between 2-4 tons.  He was a herbivore and lived in the early Cretaceous period, about 130 million years

This is Coelolphysis.  He is one of the earliest known Dinosaurs.  About 4 feet tall and 100 pounds, for their size they were vicious pack hunters.  He lived in the late Triassic period, about 200 million years ago.

And Compsognathus.  This little guys was about 2 feet tall and weighed about 8 pounds.  He had a large brain compared to his size and was speedy.  He was about the size of a large chicken or small Turkey.  He lived in the late Jurassic period, about 155 million years ago.

Deltadromeus.  He as about 8 feet tall and weighed 3 tons.  There is still much that needs to be found out about this guy, having just been discovered in 1995.  As with many dinosaurs, only small bone fragments or teeth have been discovered and the experts build a complete dinosaur out of these fragments.  The shape of the skull is only a guess from the teeth that have been found.  He lived in the late Cretaceous period, around 73 million years ago.

Edmontosaurus.  As you can see from the illustration, he's pretty good size.  He was about 20 feet tall and weighed in nearly 4 tons.  He mostly walked on all fours, but raising up on hind legs for burst of speed to avoid predators.  He as a herbivore and lived  in the late Cretaceous period, about 65 million years ago.

Megalosaurus.  As this name 'Mega' indicates, he was pretty big.  He as about 12 feet tall and weighed about 1 ton.  A carnivore with dagger-like teeth, he was an opportunistic hunter that also scavenged for food.  He lived in the Jurassic period, about 180 million years ago.

The Ornithomimus.  The name means 'bird like', and he does resemble the modern ostrich.  He as about 10 feet tall and could weigh up to 350 pounds.  He was an omnivore, and used his tail as a counterbalance as his speed kept him out of danger.  Had no teeth in his beak like mouth, and probably fed on plants, small animals, or raided other dinosaur nest's.  Lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago.

                           The Pachycephalosaurus.  He as about 10 feet tall and weighed 2 tons.  His most prominent characteristic is his domed shaped, 10 inch thick skull.  This was thought to be used for courting or combat, much like the mountain sheep butting heads today. Or, possibly against predators.  He lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 66-68 million years ago.

The Suchomimus. Thought to be about 16 feet tall but weight is unknown.  The shape of the jaw suggests catching of slippery prey, such as fish. Teeth are more adapted to catching prey than killing it.  He lived in the Cretaceous period, about 120 million years ago.

 

The Triceratops.  Probably one of the most recognizable dinosaurs.  Very large, about 10 feet tall but weighing around 7 tons.  This dinosaur was believed to have moved around in large herds, much like the buffalo of the western plains, and migrated over long distances.  He lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago.

And, who could have Dinosaurs without the Tyrannosaurus, the T-Rex!  He was 20-23 feet tall and weighed in at over 8 tons.  Long, sharp teeth, strong jaws, could run at speed up to 30 mph. The ultimate predator.  It is believed most of his kills came from ambush.  He lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago.

The only record of these creatures that lived in the past are what is found in the ground as fossils.  It's estimated that fossils found of dinosaurs species is less than 1 percent of those that actually lived millions of years ago. We have no way of knowing if they lived unless we find a fossil.  Also, as I mentioned earlier, often only a tooth or fragment of bone is found, and from this they build an entire dinosaur.  At least, what they would think it looked like.  Also, the skin coverings, especially the color, they have no idea.  Only educated guesses.

Come to the Zoo this summer and see the Dinosaurs.  I was told most of them will be actual size.