Community Contributor

BuzzFeed

Do you know your Alectrosaurus from your Zuniceratops?

Are You Secretly A Paleontologist?

The Mesozoic Era lasted about 180 million years, and is divided into three periods, the Triassic, the Jurassic, and the Cretaceous.

Triassic - Jurassic - Cretaceous

What is the correct order of the Mesozoic era?

The Stegosaurus lived 150 million years ago, while the T-Rex lived only 65 million years ago. Practically yesterday.

TRUE

Humans are closer in time to the tyrannosaurus rex than the tyrannosaurus rex was to the stegosaurus. True or false?

Ornithopoda means "bird feet", referring to their characteristic three-toed feet. This clade was also characterized by having no armour and the development of a horny beak.

Ornithopods

Which of the five ornithiscian lineages includes iguanadons and hadrosaurs?

This includes decomposition, post-mortem transport, burial, compaction, and other chemical, biologic, or physical activity which affects the remains of the organism.

Taphonomy is the study of what happens to an organism after its death and until its discovery as a fossil.

Taphonomy is...

Dinosaurs that died in wetlends such as floodplains or on riverbanks were often buried by mud during a flood. This silt and mud remained above the skeleton, allowing it fossilize. Other environments did not protect the skeleton before it turned to dust, allowed microbes to decompose the skeleton, or did not allow the fossil to be buried at all.

Wetlands

What is the ideal landscape for a fossil to form?

A piscivore is a carnivorous animal which eats primarily fish. The other diets are carnivore (meat), herbivore (plants), omnivore (both), and insectivore (insects).

Fish

The teeth of a fossil indicate the animal's main diet. An elongated jaw with conical teeth suggests a piscivore which eats:

A coprolite is fossilized feces. The name is derived from the Greek words κόπρος (kopros, meaning "dung") and λίθος (lithos, meaning "stone").

Coprolite

Fossilized dinosaur droppings are known as

Adapted primarily for walking on two legs, but able to walk on four legs.

Mainly on two legs, but sometimes on four legs

How would a faculative quadriped walk?

A track or trail left behind by a living organism

What is an "ichnofossil"?

During winter, periods of slower growth due to reduced food supply mean fewer osteons are added to bone structures. Cyclically, this resembles tree trunks when the fossils are sliced thinly and creates rings that help determine the age at which a dinosaur died.

Lines of Arrested Growth

When studying dinosaurs, what are LAGs?

You still call diplodocus the "long neck" and tyrannosaurus rex the "sharp tooth", don't you? If you are a secret paleontologist, you are hiding it very well.

dinosaur amateur

You can tell the difference between a stegosaurus and a triceratops, but I bet you believe the dilophosaurus had a frill and spat poison, right? Don't give up your day job, dinosaurs are not your true calling.

casual dinosaur enthusiast

You love dinosaurs! You rolled your eyes at Indominus Rex, and you side-eyed the inclusion of the Mosasaurus - but at the heart of it, you are you really passionate about dinosaurs. With a bit more study, you could totally become a paleontologist!

dinosaur afficianado

Congratulations! You are totally a secret paleontologist! Or you are Jack Horner....?
"Sam Neill plays Alan Grant, and Alan Grant is supposed to be... me."
\- Jack Horner

secret paleontologist

About BuzzFeed Community

Community Brand Guidelines

BuzzFeed Community

Sorry, this content is <i>no longer</i> supported.

BuzzFeed Community Guidelines

BuzzFeed Community Leaderboard

BuzzFeed News has breaking stories and original reporting on politics, world news, social media, viral trends, health, science, technology, entertainment, and LGBTQ issues.

All the best animals on the internet. The snuggle is real.

BuzzFeed has breaking news, vital journalism, quizzes, videos, celeb news, Tasty food videos, recipes, DIY hacks, and all the trending buzz you’ll want to share with your friends. Copyright BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved.

BuzzFeed News | Breaking News | Original Reporting | News Analysis

Animal Pictures and Videos - Adorably from BuzzFeed

Name

Thanks for subscribing!

Stay up to date with our latest BuzzFeed video. Enter your email to subscribe!

Oops! Upload an image or add text to submit.

BuzzFeed has the hottest, most social content on the web. We feature breaking buzz and the kinds of things you'd want to pass along to your friends.

Are You Secretly A Paleontologist?

Share This Article