28+ Dinosaur Facts for Kids (Plus Mastodon Facts!)
- spencer655
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Explore the ancient world of the giants with these amazing dinosaur facts for kids! Whether you're teaching a classroom lesson, planning a fun science day, or just curious about T. rex and its friends, these facts will amaze young dino lovers of all ages.
Dinosaur Facts for Kids
Kids love dinosaurs because they’re massive, mysterious, and exciting to imagine. These dinosaur facts for kids turn that excitement into learning—perfect for science class, bedtime trivia, or weekend fun.
1. Some dinosaurs had super long tails
Some tails were over 45 feet long and helped with balance or defense.
2. The name “dinosaur” was inspired by their size and power
Although it means “terrible lizard,” dinosaurs aren’t lizards—they’re a distinct group of reptiles.
3. Some dinosaurs had feathers
Not all dinosaurs were scaly—some had feathers and were closely related to birds.
4. The biggest dinosaur may have weighed more than a Boeing 737
Argentinosaurus could weigh over 100 tons and reach lengths over 100 feet.
5. Some dinosaurs were tiny and fast
Dinosaurs like Parvicursor were no bigger than a housecat and could run quickly.
6. Many dinosaurs ate only plants
Sauropods and ornithischians like Stegosaurus dined on leaves, ferns, and fruit.
7. T. rex had an ultra-powerful bite
It could chomp through bone with a force of more than 12,000 pounds.
8. Dinosaur eggs came in all shapes and sizes
Some were round, others oval—and the largest found is nearly a foot long.
9. Fossils show evidence that some dinosaurs traveled in groups
Like today’s zebras or elephants, they may have moved in herds.
10. Stegosaurus had a brain the size of a lime
Despite its massive body, its brain was unusually small for its size.
11. Chickens share ancestry with T. rex
Genetic studies show birds like chickens are modern relatives of some meat-eating dinosaurs.
12. Some dinosaurs had crests, spikes, or horns
These features may have helped with defense, attracting mates, or scaring predators.
13. Velociraptors were much smaller than in the movies
Real velociraptors were about the size of turkeys and covered in feathers.
14. Triceratops had a bony frill and three sharp horns
Its skull made up nearly a third of its body length.
15. Some dinosaurs were speedy sprinters
Ornithomimids (“ostrich-mimic” dinosaurs) may have run up to 40–50 mph.
16. Fossils have been discovered in deserts, mountains—even ice
Antarctica, which is now frozen, once hosted lush forests and dinosaurs.
17. Dinosaurs had advanced breathing systems
Air sacs connected to their lungs made them highly efficient breathers.
18. Some dinosaurs likely paddled through rivers
New fossil evidence suggests certain species swam short distances.
19. Brachiosaurus could lift its head 40 feet in the air
It used its long neck to reach the highest trees.
20. Fossils suggest some dinosaurs were brightly colored
Melanin traces in fossilized feathers hint at reds, blacks, and iridescent hues.
21. A massive asteroid likely triggered their extinction
This impact caused climate changes that ended the age of dinosaurs.
22. Long-necked dinosaurs may have lived for a century
Their slow metabolisms and large size helped them live long lives.
23. Fossil hunters are called paleontologists
They study bones, footprints, and ancient ecosystems to learn about dinosaurs.
24. Dinosaurs have inspired generations of science fiction
From Godzilla to Jurassic Park, they continue to spark our imagination.
25. Over 1,000 dinosaur species have been named
And scientists believe there are many more yet to be discovered.
26. Some dinosaurs had armor plates
Ankylosaurs were covered in bony plates and even had clubbed tails for protection.
27. Dinosaurs didn’t all live at the same time
T. rex and Stegosaurus lived millions of years apart—closer to humans and T. rex than T. rex and Stegosaurus.
28. The first dinosaur fossil was discovered over 200 years ago
In the early 1800s, people began finding giant bones they couldn’t explain—leading to the birth of paleontology.
Bonus: 3 Mastodon Facts
Mastodons are not the same as mammoths.
Though they’re often confused, mastodons belonged to a different genus (Mammut) than mammoths (Mammuthus). Mastodons had shorter, stockier builds and blunt, conical teeth adapted for chewing leaves and twigs, while mammoths had flat, ridged molars better suited for grazing.
They roamed North and Central America for millions of years.
Mastodons first appeared around 5 million years ago and survived until about 10,000 years ago. Fossils have been found from Alaska to central Mexico, showing they were highly adaptable to forested environments.
Humans likely played a role in their extinction.
While climate change at the end of the last Ice Age reduced mastodon habitat, evidence from butchering sites suggests early human hunting contributed significantly to their decline — particularly as humans spread across the Americas.
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