Throughout the past few weeks in class, we have been studying the presence, the evolution, and finally the dying out of dinosaurs. However, why the term “dinosaur?” Why did the scientists who first discovered evidence of giant creatures dominant in the Triassic period come up with this name?
The term "dinosaur" was coined in 1842 by Sir Richard Owen and derives from Greek words meaning "terrible, powerful, wondrous” and “lizard.” In the first half of the 20th century, most of the scientific community believed dinosaurs to have been sluggish, unintelligent cold-blooded animals. Most modern day research, however, has supported what has since become the scientific consensus view: that dinosaurs were active animals with elevated metabolisms and numerous adaptations for social interaction.
Since the first dinosaur fossils were recognized in the early nineteenth century, dinosaurs have become a part of popular culture. As a result, the word "dinosaur" has entered our every day language.
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