Evolution of Dinosaurs in 10 Minutes

Dinosaurs evolved from a group of reptiles called archosaurs over a period of about 240 million years. The first dinosaurs appeared in the Triassic period, and they quickly diversified into a wide range of shapes and sizes. Some of the most famous dinosaurs include the Tyrannosaurus rex, the Triceratops, and the Stegosaurus.

Triassic Period (245-208 million years ago)
The Triassic period was a time of great change on Earth. The continents were still drifting apart, and the climate was becoming more arid. These changes created new opportunities for reptiles to evolve.One group of reptiles, called archosaurs, was particularly successful. Archosaurs had several features that gave them an advantage over other reptiles, including a more efficient respiratory system and a stronger skeleton.Some of the most important Triassic archosaurs include:

Herrerasaurus: Herrerasaurus was one of the earliest known dinosaurs. It was a bipedal carnivore with a long tail and sharp teeth.Eoraptor: Eoraptor was another early dinosaur. It was smaller than Herrerasaurus and had a more generalized diet.Plateosaurus: Plateosaurus was a large herbivorous dinosaur with a long neck and tail. It was one of the most common dinosaurs of the Triassic period.Jurassic Period (208-146 million years ago)
By the Jurassic period, dinosaurs had become the dominant land animals on Earth. They had diversified into a wide range of shapes and sizes, from the tiny Compsognathus to the massive Brachiosaurus.