Dinosaur Fossil Discovery

QUESTION: What was the most famous dinosaur fossil discovery?

ANSWER:

Paleontologists have categorized over 700 genera which they classify as dinosaur. Many of these hold a place in the popular imagination. By far the most well known fossil discovery is the Tyrannosaurus Rex, not so much for the circumstances of its discovery but more for ferociousness of its form. The T. Rex is celebrated as the ultimate hunter.

Other famous dinosaur fossil discoveries include the sauropods -- the Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus among others -- which with their long necks, long tails, and ginormous bodies were the largest land animals ever to roam the Earth.

The Stegosaurus is another well known dinosaur with huge plates on its back and spikes on its tail. It also has the distinction of being hailed as the dumbest dinosaur with its walnut sized brain.

Like the Stegosaurus, Triceratops is known for its distinct features which include three horns and a large bony frill. It was featured along with a T. Rex, an Apatosaurus, a Stegosaurus and two lesser known dinosaurs (a Saurolophus and a Pteranodon) in the popular children’s cartoon A Land Before Time.

The Velociraptor was relatively unknown until the Jurassic Park movies brought it to the public’s attention. Now it is celebrated along with the T. Rex for its prowess as a hunter.