NORTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S

DINOSAURSGEOL 106

Instructor: Dr. Tom Braziunas

Slides by: Dr. Jerry D. Harris

NORTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S

DINOSAURS

The Study of Dinosaurs

branch of paleontology= study of ancient life usually involves fossils

The Study of Dinosaurs

branch of paleontology= study of ancient life

Paleontology combines many other sciences

paleontology

chemistry

geology biology

physics

astronomy

The Study of Dinosaurs

very few paleontologists study dinosaurs most study other fossil organisms

What Is A Dinosaur? dinosaur = member of a very

specific group of animals that: has very specific anatomical

characteristics lived during a very particular period of

time

VERY FEW FOSSILS ARE OF DINOSAURS.

What Is A Dinosaur? Just because something is a fossil DOES

NOT mean it’s a dinosaur!!! Just because an organism is extinct

DOES NOT mean it’s a dinosaur!!! Just because an organism’s name ends

in “-saurus” DOES NOT mean it’s a

dinosaur!!! Just because an organism lived during a

particular period of time DOES NOT mean it’s a dinosaur!!!

Just because an organism appears in a book/pack of toys called “Dinosaurs” DOES NOT mean it’s a dinosaur!!!

What Is A Dinosaur?Quiz

What Is A Dinosaur?Quiz

What Is A Dinosaur?Quiz

What Is A Dinosaur?Quiz

What Is A Dinosaur?Quiz

What Is A Dinosaur? Are dinosaurs extinct?

YES NO

What Is A Dinosaur? BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS!

i.e., birds are descended from dinosaurs

MAMMALS

wha

les

cow

s

hum

ans

DINOSAURSbi

rds

Tyra

nnos

auru

s

Tric

erat

ops

What Is A Dinosaur? BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS!

i.e., birds are descended from dinosaurs

DINOSAURS

bird

s

Tyra

nnos

auru

s

Tric

erat

ops

birds = avian

dinosaurs

non-avian dinosaurs =

dinosaurs that aren’t birds

DINOSAURSbi

rds

Tyra

nnos

auru

s

Tric

erat

ops

Paleontologists at work…

Slide show by Tom Braziunas