Did the Size of Dinosaurs Change over Time?

Does any know if a correlation exist between the size of dinosaurs and the time they existed? Did their their size relativly stay the same or change?

Good question Adrienne From what I know I would answer this with a negative (but other members might know better). There always were different sizes around and they stayed as they were until extinguished.

Let's see if this calls up a discussion

Hard to say! Based on the gaps in the fossil record, it would be very difficult to know what paths an animal's evolution took. However, when more specimens come to light, the more we'll know.


One thing I've learned is that Paleontology is NOT an exact science, but, rather, filled with speculation and theory, that can't really be distinguished from theory or fact. We know astonishingly little about the evolution of certain species, especially the Dinosauria.


Good question, though. Hope this helps....

Yeah, RL And I am also hoping this will evolve into a discussion more becomes clear - Even though not substantiated by evidence.

copper wrote:

Yeah, RL :) And I am also hoping this will evolve into a discussion more becomes clear - Even though not substantiated by evidence.

Uh..Copper? Can you repeat yourself in the second sentence, please? I can't understand what your trying to say.

Well, since there is no substantial evidence to the claim given above I would expect people start speculating and throwing in their own opinion and a lively discussion to evolve here

Good thinking!! Gaps in the fossil record tend to fire up one's imagination.

In the Triassic Period, when dinosaurs first evolved, they weren't very big. However, in the late Jurassic, the largest animals on land formed. The solution as to how they evolved this way is still missing in the fossil record. Although I do know one thing; the predators evolved big because their prey did. T. Rex was designed to hunt large hadrosaurs. I doubt the Late Triassic Coelophysis could take down a hadrosaur by itself like a Rex could. Coelophysis was designed to deal with prey of that time. I think the big herbivores evolved because all the "good stuff," so to speak, was in the trees. But I'm not sure. We will just have to wait for the fossil record to reveal the true answer.

Random Scientist Inc.

If we share a high percentage of DNA with dinosaurs but we have more than they had, that would mean that evolution took place and we are now the new dinosaurs. When We began thinking and started destroying nature is when they started calling us human. It's true that when people get really old, young people think senior citizens are some type of ancient breed and treat them as they know nothing of the new world. This has been going on for many generations. Sex has always driven our species and nothing has really changed. In the new world, a 47 dodge truck is ancient now. It belonged to an ancient civilization. When a 1983 car is already antique, I'm starting to feel older. I will keep looking for things older than I am to collect to keep me feeling young.