Did Dinos Dance? And Other Behavior Questions

What is one of the main challenges paleontologists face when interpreting dinosaur behavior from fossils?

• Determining the exact age of the fossils

• Identifying the species of dinosaurs

• Understanding the diet of dinosaurs

• Interpreting social behaviors from fossilized remains

What is tephonomy, and how does it help paleontologists?

• The study of dinosaur anatomy

• The study of dinosaur diets

• The study of how ancient life becomes buried and fossilized

• The study of dinosaur migration patterns

What evidence suggests that some dinosaurs moved in herds?

• Fossilized nests

• Trackways showing parallel movement

• Dinosaur eggs found in isolation

• Fossilized footprints in different layers

What evidence supports the idea of parental care in dinosaurs?

• Dinosaur bones found in isolation

• Fossilized footprints of adult dinosaurs

• Fossilized eggs found alone

• Adult dinosaurs found with young in nests

What does the presence of communal nesting sites suggest about dinosaur behavior?

• Dinosaurs migrated frequently

• Dinosaurs were solitary creatures

• Dinosaurs were primarily carnivorous

• Dinosaurs engaged in communal nesting

What are some features that might have been used for dinosaur courtship displays?

• Long tails and large feet

• Horns, head crests, and feathers

• Thick skin and scales

• Sharp teeth and claws

What is a challenge in determining the purpose of dinosaur physical structures?

• They could serve multiple functions

• They are identical in all species

• They are only found in fossils

• They are always used for defense

What is a debated behavior of Dinonychus based on fossil evidence?

• Flying in groups

• Pack hunting like wolves

• Building complex nests

• Swimming long distances

What modern-day animals are compared to Dinonychus in terms of hunting behavior?

• Lions and tigers

• Wolves and foxes

• Eagles and hawks

• Nile crocodiles and Komodo dragons

What evidence challenges the idea of pack hunting in Dinonychus?

• Absence of trackways

• Lack of fossilized nests

• No evidence of social interaction

• Different diets between adults and juveniles