Dinosaurs: Carnivores Reading Comprehension Lesson

The Age of Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs were the dominant creatures on the planet from about 200 million years ago. When the dinosaurs walked the Earth, there were no people living on the planet yet. These gigantic creatures became extinct about 65 million years ago — most scientists believe a massive asteroid impact triggered a chain of events that made the Earth too cold and dark for dinosaurs to survive. Dinosaurs were by far the biggest creatures to walk the Earth.

Dinosaurs had four legs, but not all of them walked on all four. Some dinosaurs walked on two legs, the way a kangaroo or a person does. These two-legged dinosaurs could run faster than four-legged ones. The ones that walked on four legs were generally the largest and heaviest — plant-eating giants like the Brachiosaurus. Dinosaurs first appeared in the Triassic period and reached their greatest size and variety during the Jurassic period.

Scientists divide dinosaurs into two main groups based on what they ate: carnivores (meat-eaters) and herbivores (plant-eaters). There were also omnivores, which ate both plants and animals. Carnivorous dinosaurs were usually the predators — the hunters of the prehistoric world. They were often fast, had sharp claws and teeth, and excellent vision for tracking prey.

Famous Carnivores: T-Rex, Pteranodon, and Velociraptor

The most famous carnivorous dinosaur is the Tyrannosaurus Rex, or T-Rex. The T-Rex walked on its powerful hind legs — its front arms were surprisingly small and short, but its legs were enormous. The T-Rex had three toes on each foot with large claws, and its teeth were up to seven inches long. It is estimated to have weighed between 11,000 and 15,500 pounds. Despite its size, the T-Rex was likely a fast runner for short bursts and used its size to intimidate other predators as well as to hunt.

The Pteranodon was one of the largest flying dinosaurs that ever existed. It had a bony crest across the back of its head and a pointed beak without teeth. The Pteranodon was known for catching and eating fish with its beak, swooping down over ancient seas much like a pelican today. Its wingspan could reach up to 20 feet — wider than a small airplane. Though it is often grouped with dinosaurs, the Pteranodon was technically a flying reptile, not a true dinosaur.

The Velociraptor was a smaller but highly intelligent and dangerous carnivore. Velociraptors are thought to have hunted in packs, using teamwork to bring down prey much larger than themselves. They had a distinctive sickle-shaped claw on each foot that they used to slash at prey. Recent fossil evidence suggests that Velociraptors were covered in feathers, making them one of the closest relatives of modern birds. The discovery of feathered dinosaurs has changed how scientists think about the connection between dinosaurs and birds.

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