Dinosaur fossils: where to find them, age and interesting facts

Dinosaur fossils have been found on all continents of the world, except Antarctica. Most of them are found in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Here are some of the most famous finds:

North America: Morrison Formation (USA), Hell Creek Formation (USA), Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada)

Europe: Solnhofen Limestone Formation (Germany), Wealden Formation (England), Tendaguru Formation (Tanzania)

Asia: Yixian Formation (China), Nemegt Formation (Mongolia), Barun Goyot Formation (Mongolia)

Africa: Kem Kem Formation (Morocco), Elrhaz Formation (Niger), Tendaguru Formation (Tanzania)

Age of finds:

Dinosaur fossils date back to the Mesozoic era, which is divided into three periods: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. The oldest dinosaur fossils, dated to the Triassic period, are about 230 million years old. The youngest, from the Cretaceous period, are about 66 million years old.

Why are they so interesting:

Dinosaur fossils give us an idea of life on Earth in the Mesozoic era. They help us understand how dinosaurs evolved, how they lived, and why they became extinct.

Here are some of the reasons why dinosaur fossil finds are so interesting:

They give us an idea of dinosaurs: Their size, shape, body structure, way of life.

They help us understand evolution: How dinosaurs evolved from early forms to later, more advanced ones.

They give us an idea of the ecosystems of the Mesozoic: What plants and animals lived together with the dinosaurs.

They help us understand the extinction of the dinosaurs: What happened to the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

Interesting findings - The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History