Close your eyes. Imagine the Earth millions of years ago. Giant reptiles ruled the planet. Now join TFK as we travel back in time. Let’s explore the world of dinosaurs!

This is a Tyrannosaurus rex. It was one of the largest dinosaurs. It was a meat eater. It had sharp claws and teeth. It preyed
                                
                                    
                                    
                                
                                
								
									prey
                                    
                                    PETER LILLIE/GETTY IMAGES
                                    
										to hunt and kill for food 
										(verb)
                                    
                                    The birds preyed on small insects.
                                
                             on other animals. 

Diplodocus
The Diplodocus was long. It was about the length of two school buses. It ate plants. Its long neck helped it reach leaves.

Heterodontosaurus
Other plant-eating dinos stood tall on two feet. This dino’s fingers helped it grasp
                                
                                    
                                    
                                
                                
								
									grasp
                                    
                                    BALLYSCANLON/GETTY IMAGES
                                    
										to take and hold 
										(verb)
                                    
                                    The mother grasped her child's hand. 
                                
                             food. It ate from treetops. It may have eaten small animals too. 

Triceratops
The Triceratops traveled in herds
                                
                                    
                                    
                                
                                
								
									herd
                                    
                                    CHARLIE SUMMERS—MINDEN PICTURES
                                    
										a large group of animals
										(noun)
                                    
                                    Buffalo migrate in herds.
                                
                            . The dinosaur looked for plants to eat. Triceratops had three horns. (Tri means “three.”) Horns helped it defend itself from predators
                                
                                    
                                    
                                
                                
								
									predator
                                    
                                    ANDREY NEKRASOV/BARCROFT MEDIA/BARCROFT MEDIA—GETTY IMAGES 
                                    
										an animal that kills and eats other animals to survive
										(noun)
                                    
                                    The great white shark is a fierce predator. 
                                
                            .

These are paleontologists. They are scientists. They help us learn about life long ago. They study the fossils of dinosaurs and plants.

Did You Know?

The word dinosaur means “terrible lizard.” It comes from the Greek language.
						
				
				
				
				


