7 Dinosaur Mysteries We Haven't Fully Figured Out

Which of the following is NOT a method paleontologists use to study dinosaur behavior?

• Examining direct fossil evidence.

• Comparing them to living animals.

• Reanimating dinosaur rocks to observe them.

• Reconstructing skeletons using computer models.

What is a recent hypothesis regarding the Spinosaurus' sail, based on its similarity to a modern-day animal?

• It helped regulate body temperature like a radiator.

• It was used for stability and leverage in water, similar to a sailfish.

• It supported a camel-like hump of fat.

• It was primarily for attracting mates and intimidating rivals.

What is a hypothesis for the function of Stegosaurus' plates that suggests they helped manage body heat?

• They were used for sexual display to attract mates.

• They helped different species recognize each other.

• They contained blood vessels to help cool the dinosaur down.

• They were primarily for defense against predators.

Despite having very large claws, what type of diet do paleontologists generally believe Therizinosaurus had?

• Carnivore

• Herbivore

• Omnivore

• Scavenger

What was the most likely use for the large claws of the Therizinosaurus?

• Piercing prey

• Digging in the dirt

• Grasping vegetation

• Climbing trees

What feature of a dinosaur's eye can help scientists determine if it was active during the day or night?

• The color of the iris

• The size of the scleral ring

• The shape of the pupil

• The number of eyelids

What is the single opening found in archosaurs (like crocodiles and birds) used for urination, defecation, and transferring genetic material?

• Vent

• Cloaca

• Urethra

• Anus

What is the scientific method used to infer characteristics of extinct animals by studying their living relatives?

• Carbon dating

• Genetic sequencing

• Phylogenetic bracketing

• Fossil reconstruction