Dinosaurs lived for an enormously long time — some 150 million years — before they died out about 64 million years ago. During their time on the Earth they dominated the land, while other reptile relatives were the dominant forms of life in the sea and in the air. Before the dinosaurs finally disappeared there were two mass extinctions when a large number of species died out. The dinosaurs survived, however, until the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Could dinosaurs have continued to evolve?
Until they mysteriously disappeared, more and more strange forms of dinosaur were still evolving. Some types disappeared and were replaced by newer forms. This rapid rate of change is in stark contrast to animals such as crocodiles, which hardly altered after the first ones appeared. There is no reason to suppose that dinosaur evolution would not have continued. It might eventually have led to a form of life just as intelligent as human beings.
How did climate change affect the dinosaurs’ extinction?
During the late Cretaceous Period, the world’s continents were drifting into new positions. This constant shifting within the crust led to a huge increase in volcanic activity. Volcanoes spewed out hot lava and gases, which could have built up in the atmosphere to such high levels that they affected dinosaurs and their plant food.