Die Dinosaurs have fascinated mankind for centuries. Prehistoric reptiles Reptiles dominated the earth for over 160 million years before they became extinct around 66 million years ago. They lived in the Mesozoic Era from the Upper Triassic (235-230 million years ago) to the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary (66 million years ago).
Their diversity and adaptability made them the dominant terrestrial vertebrates of their time.

Dinosaurs were found in all habitats - on land, in water and in the air. From the tiny Compsognathus (dwarf dinosaurs) to the gigantic sauropods such as Brachiosaurus, dinosaurs showed an astonishing diversity in size and shape. Dinosaurs are divided into two main groups: the Saurischia and the Ornithischia . This classification is based on the structure of their pelvis. The Saurischia include the carnivorous Theropods and the long-necked Sauropods , while the Ornithischia include various herbivorous species such as Stegosaurus and Triceratops.

The Theropods, to which the famous T. rex belongs, were mostly bipedal carnivores. They ranged from small, bird-like creatures to the largest land predators that ever existed. Interestingly, birds, the only dinosaurs still alive today, also evolved from this group.
Sauropods were the largest land animals ever to walk the earth. With their long necks and tails, columnar legs and massive bodies, some species could reach lengths of over 30 metres and weights of more than 70 tonnes. They were herbivores and played an important role in Mesozoic ecosystems.
The Ornithischia included a variety of herbivorous dinosaurs, including the armoured Ankylosauria, the horned Ceratopsia and the Hadrosauridae or ‘duck-billed dinosaurs’. This group showed remarkable adaptations to their herbivorous lifestyle, such as specialised teeth and digestive systems.

Recent research has revolutionised our understanding of dinosaur life. We now know that many species lived in herds, had complex social structures and cared for their offspring. Some dinosaurs, such as the Maiasaura, even built nests and raised their young, much like modern birds.
The discovery of feathers in many theropods, including some large predatory dinosaurs, has drastically changed our image of these creatures. It is thought that feathers were originally used for thermal insulation before being adapted for flight.
This supports the theory that birds are direct descendants of theropods.

The end of dinosaur domination came about 66 million years ago when a massive asteroid impact led to dramatic global climate changes. This event, known as the Cretaceous-Palaeogene extinction, wiped out about 75% of all plant and animal species, including most dinosaurs. Only a small group of theropods survived and evolved into today's birds.

New discoveries are constantly expanding our knowledge. Only recently, fossils of a giant Titanosaur were found in Patagonia, which may have been the largest land animal that ever lived. Such finds show that there is still much to discover in the world of dinosaur research.
The world's largest dinosaur fossil sites are located in Morocco, particularly in the Sahara desert