What are Dinosaurs?

The word "Dinosaur" literally means from Latin; Terrible Lizard. Finding a good scientific definition of a "Dinosaur" is difficult because they are often deliberately defined so as to exclude living animals. Including defining them as extinct, as is done at:
TheFreeDictionary.com and Reeman-Lynde GEOL3350.

The best available definition can found at: Dinosaur Definition [The Great Dinosaur Mystery].

What is known about dinosaurs is mainly from studying fossils. They are divided into two hip types Lizard Hip, and Bird Hip. Ironically birds are alleged to have evolved from the lizard hip, and not bird hip.

Types of Dinosaurs

Ankylosaurs

examples

Ankylosaurus

From: A Golden Exploring Earth Book: Dinosaurs.

Polacanthus

From: A Golden Exploring Earth Book: Dinosaurs.

Carnosaurs

example

Allosaurus

Allosaurus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ceratopians

example

Triceratops

Triceratops - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ceratopians

examples

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Tyrannosaurus rex - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Albertosaurus

Albertosaurus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sauropods

examples

Brachiosaurus

Palaeos Vertebrates 330.000 Sauropodomorpha Overview

Diplodocus

Palaeos Vertebrates 330.000 Sauropodomorpha Overview

Steogosaurians

examples

Stegosaurus

Stegosaurus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reptiles associated with
but not considered dinosaurs.

Pterodactyl

Rhamphorhynchus

http://www.palaeos.com/vertebrates/Units/Unit300/300.100.html

Rhamphorhynchus is a type of Pterodactyl. Note the flange on the end of the tail.

Plesiosaur

Plesiosaur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plesiosaur is one of several aquatic reptiles associated with dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Definition [The Great Dinosaur Mystery]