#Matildae

Read below for the answer, follow @biosomnium and visit www.teacherben.org to learn more about my online classes . . . . . Meet Daspletosaurus — whose name means “frightful lizard.” This apex predator lived around 77–74 million years ago in what is now Alberta and Montana. It measured about 8–9 meters (26–30 feet) long and weighed roughly 2.5 metric tons. With a deep, powerfully built skull and thick serrated teeth designed for puncture-and-hold bites, it likely preyed on ceratopsians and hadrosaurs in the lush coastal plains of Late Cretaceous North America. As a tyrannosaurid, it helps scientists understand how later giants like Tyrannosaurus evolved. Fossil evidence even suggests individuals may have interacted socially—multiple specimens have been found together, raising fascinating behavioral questions. Visit teacherben.org to learn more, and check out more of our classes and teachers at @creativecurriculumcoop! #Dinosaurs #Tyrannosauridae #Daspletosaurus

Read below for the answer, follow @biosomnium and visit www.teacherben.org to learn more about my online classes . . . . . Meet Ankylosaurus, one of the most heavily armored dinosaurs ever discovered. Living about 68–66 million years ago in what is now North America, Ankylosaurus magniventris was a quadrupedal herbivore covered in bony armor plates (osteoderms) embedded in its skin. Its wide, low body and leaf-shaped teeth were perfect for cropping low-growing vegetation. Its iconic tail club — formed by fused vertebrae and massive bony knobs — may have been used to defend against large predators like Tyrannosaurus. Biomechanical studies suggest the club could deliver powerful, bone-crushing blows. Slow? Probably. Vulnerable? Not even close. Visit teacherben.org to learn more, and check out more of our classes and teachers at @creativecurriculumcoop! 👇 #Dinosaurs #Ankylosaur #Ankylosaurus

Read below for the answer. Follow @biosomnium for more wildlife trivia from the past and present! . . . . . . . . . Stegosaurus ungulatus 🦕 One of the most iconic dinosaurs of the Late Jurassic, this plated herbivore lived about 155–150 million years ago in what is now western North America. Its double row of dermal plates may have helped with display, species recognition, or thermoregulation, while its four tail spikes—sometimes called a “thagomizer”—served as active defense against large theropods like Allosaurus. With a long, low head, a beaked mouth, and relatively simple teeth, it likely fed on ferns, cycads, and other low-growing vegetation in the Morrison ecosystem. Despite its small skull, it was a highly successful genus that spread across a vast floodplain environment. Visit teacherben.org to learn more, and check out more of our classes and teachers at @creativecurriculumcoop! #paleoart #paleontology #stegosaurus

Read below for the answer, follow @biosomnium and visit www.teacherben.org to learn more about my online classes . . . . . Meet Styracosaurus, a horned dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America, about 75 million years ago. Unlike its more famous cousin Triceratops, it had a single long nasal horn and six impressive spikes projecting from its frill. That elaborate headgear wasn’t just for show — it likely played a role in species recognition, mate choice, and possibly defense against large tyrannosaur predators. This ceratopsian walked on all fours, had a powerful beak for cropping low vegetation, and lived in herd-based communities along lush coastal plains. Its skull is one of the most visually striking in dinosaur evolution — a reminder that natural selection doesn’t just shape survival, it also shapes spectacle. Visit teacherben.org to learn more, and check out more of our classes and teachers at @creativecurriculumcoop! #paleontology #dinofacts #ceratopsian

Who’d you get? I’m a horseshoe crab! Stickers of all of these guys are available! — Art for science students and Paleontologists, The perfect gift for dinosaur enthusiasts or academic kids or lovers of cool art! Stickers sold on my etsy, message me if you’re looking for your favorite dinosaurs or other paleontology creatures! #stickerart #paleoart #paleontology #stickers #dinosaur

Read below for the answer, follow @biosomnium and visit www.teacherben.org to learn more about my online classes . . . . . This giant predator is one of the most famous dinosaurs ever discovered: Tyrannosaurus rex. Living at the very end of the Cretaceous Period about 66 million years ago, Tyrannosaurus rex was the apex predator of western North America. It could grow over 12 meters (40 ft) long, stand about 4 meters tall at the hips, and weigh 7–9 tons. Despite its tiny arms—each with just two fingers—its massive skull and bone-crushing teeth made it incredibly powerful. Bite-force estimates suggest it had one of the strongest bites of any land animal in Earth’s history. Fossils show it lived alongside famous dinosaurs like Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, and Edmontosaurus in warm floodplains near the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. Visit teacherben.org to learn more, and check out more of our classes and teachers at @creativecurriculumcoop! #dinosaurs #tyrannosaurus #trex

Read below for the answer, follow @biosomnium and visit www.teacherben.org to learn more about my online classes . . . . . . Answer: Postosuchus 🦴 This Late Triassic apex predator was a rauisuchian—part of the crocodile-line branch of archosaurs, not a dinosaur. Living around 228–202 million years ago, it roamed Pangaea’s hot, seasonally dry floodplains. With a massive skull, blade-like teeth, and upright hind limbs, it filled the top predator role before large theropod dinosaurs became dominant. Fossils are best known from Texas and the American Southwest. Visit teacherben.org to learn more, and check out more of our classes and teachers at @creativecurriculumcoop! 👉👇 #paleontology #triassic #archosaur

Read below for the answer. Follow @biosomnium for more wildlife trivia from the past and present! . . . . . . . . . Eoraptor Eoraptor is one of the earliest known dinosaurs, living about 231 million years ago during the Late Triassic. Fossils come from Argentina, where early dinosaurs were small, fast, and experimenting with new body plans. This animal was lightly built, bipedal, and had a long tail for balance. Its teeth show a mix of shapes, suggesting a generalist or omnivorous diet, rather than strict carnivory or herbivory. Eoraptor is important because it helps scientists understand what the earliest dinosaurs may have looked like before major groups like theropods and sauropodomorphs fully diverged. Learn to draw and understand early dinosaurs like this in my Visual Paleontology classes. 👉 teacherben.org #paleontology #dinosaurs #paleoart

Tess Gallagher et al. Have just posted an amazing study detailing their findings of Diplodocus skin impressions! Our understanding of sauropod coloration has just improved folks! #dinosaur #dino #prehistory #paleontology #fossil

follow for more Russell dino facts & art 😎 & wear his paleo art on tees at link in bio! (artfairapparel.com) #dinosaurs #dinos #science #paleontology

Australovenator wintonensis, known as the “Southern Hunter,” was a formidable megaraptoran predator that dominated the floodplains of what is now central Queensland, Australia, approximately 93–95 million years ago. Key Characteristics Size & Build: This bipedal carnivore was roughly 6 meters (20 feet) long and stood 2 meters tall at the hip. Its lightweight frame, weighing between 310 and 500 kg, led paleontologist Scott Hocknull to describe it as the “cheetah of its time” due to its likely agility and speed. Deadly Weaponry: Unlike many large theropods with small arms, Australovenator had large, flexible forelimbs equipped with three sharp, curved claws on each hand. The largest claws reached up to 30 cm (12 inches) and were used to grapple and restrain prey. Discovery & Significance: Nicknamed “Banjo” (after Australian poet Banjo Paterson), it is the most complete predatory dinosaur ever discovered in Australia. Its remains were found in the Winton Formation alongside fossils of the sauropod Diamantinasaurus. Evolutionary Mystery While initially thought to be a relative of Allosaurus (and featured as the “Polar Allosaur” in Walking with Dinosaurs), modern analysis places it within Megaraptora. There is ongoing scientific debate about whether this group is more closely related to tyrannosaurs or other large allosauroids.

Read below for the answer. Follow @biosomnium for more wildlife trivia from the past and present! . . . . . . . . . Answer: Eodromeus murphi Eodromeus was a small, lightly built dinosaur that lived about 231 million years ago during the Late Triassic in what is now Argentina. Its name means “dawn runner,” reflecting both its early position in dinosaur evolution and its long, slender legs adapted for speed. The skull was long and narrow, lined with sharp, blade-like teeth, indicating a carnivorous diet that likely included small vertebrates and invertebrates. Its forelimbs were proportionally long with grasping hands, while the hind limbs were built for rapid movement across open floodplains. Eodromeus is especially significant because it sits very close to the base of theropod dinosaurs, helping scientists reconstruct how later predatory dinosaurs evolved from small, agile ancestors. Learn to draw and study early dinosaurs like Eodromeus in my Visual Paleontology classes. 👉 teacherben.org 👉 @creativecurriculumcoop #paleontology #dinosaurs #paleoart