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Quizzes > Science

Dinosaur Quiz: Test Your Prehistoric Knowledge

Quick, free dinosaur knowledge quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Chris RoaneUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art dinosaurs on sky blue background with quiz prompt to test your prehistoric dino knowledge

This dinosaur quiz helps you test your knowledge of prehistoric giants, from T. rex to long-necked sauropods, and see where you stand. Want tougher questions? Try our hard dinosaur trivia, or explore your inner dino with a dinosaur personality quiz; you can also start with a what dinosaur am i quiz.

During which period did Tyrannosaurus rex live?
Triassic
Jurassic
Permian
Cretaceous
Tyrannosaurus rex existed in the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 to 66 million years ago. It did not live in the Jurassic or Triassic periods, which were earlier, nor in the Permian, which preceded dinosaurs altogether. The Cretaceous period was the final segment of the Mesozoic Era, featuring many famous dinosaur species. .
What does the term "dinosaur" literally mean?
Ancient reptile
Terrible lizard
Giant beast
Fierce dragon
The word "dinosaur" comes from the Greek words deinos (meaning "terrible") and sauros (meaning "lizard"). Sir Richard Owen coined the term in 1842 to describe these giant reptiles. Despite the name, scientists now know dinosaurs are more closely related to birds than to modern lizards. .
Which of these is often cited as the smallest known dinosaur?
Velociraptor
Compsognathus
Troodon
Microraptor
Compsognathus was a small bipedal carnivorous dinosaur that measured about 1 meter in length, making it one of the smallest known non-avian dinosaurs. Microraptor and Troodon were also small but not quite as diminutive. Velociraptor was larger, about the size of a turkey. .
Which sauropod dinosaur is famous for its extremely long neck and tail?
Stegosaurus
Diplodocus
Triceratops
Ankylosaurus
Diplodocus is one of the most iconic sauropods known for its extraordinarily long neck and whip-like tail, reaching lengths over 25 meters. Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus had armored bodies, and Triceratops was a horned dinosaur with a frill, none of which had such extended necks. Diplodocus fossils have been found in the Morrison Formation of North America. .
Which dinosaur had three prominent facial horns?
Pachycephalosaurus
Parasaurolophus
Triceratops
Stegosaurus
Triceratops is known for its three facial horns - two above the eyes and one on the nose - and a large bony frill at the back of its skull. Stegosaurus had plates on its back and spikes on its tail, while Pachycephalosaurus had a thick domed skull. Parasaurolophus featured a long, backward-curving crest rather than horns. .
Velociraptor was similar in size to which modern animal?
A large dog
A cat
A rabbit
A turkey
Contrary to their portrayal in movies, Velociraptors were roughly the size of a large turkey, standing about 0.5 meters tall at the hip and measuring around 2 meters in length. They weighed approximately 15 - 20 kg, making them much smaller than a human. This discovery came from numerous fossil finds in Mongolia. .
Which major group of dinosaurs did birds evolve from?
Ornithopods
Sauropods
Theropods
Ceratopsians
Birds evolved from a subgroup of theropod dinosaurs known as maniraptoran theropods. This lineage included small, often feathered species that developed flight capabilities. Evidence includes fossilized feathers and skeletal similarities. .
What era is commonly referred to as the "Age of Dinosaurs"?
Mesozoic
Cenozoic
Proterozoic
Paleozoic
The Mesozoic Era, spanning from about 252 to 66 million years ago, is known as the Age of Dinosaurs. It comprises three periods: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. Dinosaurs dominated terrestrial ecosystems throughout this era. .
Which feature distinguishes Spinosaurus from other large theropods?
A sail-like structure on its back
A bulky clubbed tail
Feathered wings
A pair of large horns
Spinosaurus had a distinctive sail formed by elongated neural spines on its vertebrae. This sail likely played roles in display, thermoregulation, or storage of fat. No other large theropod featured such a pronounced sail. .
Which dinosaur's name means "roof lizard"?
Pachycephalosaurus
Oviraptor
Ankylosaurus
Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus is derived from the Greek stegos (meaning "roof") and sauros (meaning "lizard"). It refers to the dinosaur's distinctive back plates. The other options have different name origins, such as "fused lizard" for Ankylosaurus. .
During which period did the first true dinosaurs appear?
Late Triassic
Early Cretaceous
Late Permian
Early Jurassic
The earliest true dinosaurs emerged in the Late Triassic, around 230 million years ago. They then diversified throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Permian precedes the Triassic and lacks true dinosaurs, while Cretaceous comes much later. .
Which dinosaur had an armored body with bony plates and a clubbed tail?
Parasaurolophus
Stegosaurus
Ankylosaurus
Triceratops
Ankylosaurus had extensive body armor made of osteoderms and a large, bony club at the end of its tail used for defense. Stegosaurus had plates and spikes but no tail club. Triceratops and Parasaurolophus lacked body armor and tail clubs. .
What is the scientific study of dinosaurs and other prehistoric life called?
Anthropology
Archaeology
Paleontology
Geology
Paleontology is the scientific field that studies fossils and ancient life forms, including dinosaurs. Geology focuses on Earth's physical structure and substances, archaeology on human history, and anthropology on human societies. Paleontologists use fossils to reconstruct past ecosystems. .
Which dinosaur had a long, backward-curving crest on its head used for vocalization?
Brachiosaurus
Parasaurolophus
Allosaurus
Triceratops
Parasaurolophus had a distinctive hollow crest extending from its skull, which likely acted as a resonating chamber for producing low-frequency sounds. Triceratops and Brachiosaurus lacked such crests, and Allosaurus was a carnivore without head crests. .
Which sauropod is known for having longer forelimbs than hindlimbs, giving it a sloped back?
Apatosaurus
Diplodocus
Brachiosaurus
Camarasaurus
Brachiosaurus had forelimbs that were longer than its hindlimbs, resulting in a distinctive sloping back and elevated shoulders. Diplodocus and Apatosaurus had limbs of more equal length, giving them a more horizontal posture. .
On which continent were the first recognized dinosaur fossils described?
Asia
North America
Africa
South America
North America yielded some of the earliest formal dinosaur descriptions in the mid-19th century, including discoveries by Joseph Leidy. Earlier fossils were often misidentified. Europe also produced early finds, but North American specimens became central to classifying dinosaurs. .
Which feathered dinosaur genus was among the first described from Liaoning, China?
Caudipteryx
Sinosauropteryx
Archaeopteryx
Microraptor
Sinosauropteryx was one of the first non-avian dinosaurs discovered with evidence of simple filamentous feathers in Liaoning Province. Archaeopteryx fossils come from Germany, and Microraptor was described later. The find revolutionized our understanding of feather evolution. .
The mass extinction event that ended the Cretaceous period is widely linked to what cause?
Chicxulub asteroid impact
Global climate cooling
Massive volcanic eruptions
Gradual sea level rise
Evidence strongly supports that a massive asteroid impact at Chicxulub in present-day Mexico triggered the end-Cretaceous mass extinction 66 million years ago. Iridium layers worldwide and the Chicxulub crater are key indicators. Volcanism also played a role, but the asteroid is the primary driver. .
Which dinosaur belongs to the Pachycephalosauria clade?
Pachycephalosaurus
Styracosaurus
Triceratops
Centrosaurus
Pachycephalosaurus is the most famous pachycephalosaur, known for its thick, domed skull used possibly in head-butting. Triceratops, Centrosaurus, and Styracosaurus are ceratopsians characterized by horns and frills. Pachycephalosaurs are a distinct group of dome-headed herbivores. .
Which dating method do paleontologists use to determine the age of dinosaur fossils by radioactive decay?
Radiometric dating
Stratigraphy
Carbon-14 dating
Dendrochronology
Radiometric dating measures the decay of radioactive isotopes in rocks surrounding fossils to yield absolute ages in millions of years. Carbon-14 dating is ineffective for specimens older than ~50,000 years. Stratigraphy provides relative dating, while dendrochronology is tree-ring analysis. .
Which ornithopod dinosaur had a distinctive sunburst pattern on its back and included "sun" in its name?
Psittacosaurus
Montanoceratops
Eoraptor
Ouranosaurus
Ouranosaurus, whose name means "brave lizard" but is associated with its sail-like back spines, is often tied to the word "ouranos" (sky or sun). It had tall neural spines that formed a ridge or sail. Psittacosaurus and Montanoceratops are different ornithischians, and Eoraptor is a basal saurischian. .
Velociraptor's name translates to what?
Swift seizer
Swift runner
Fierce hunter
Sharp claw
Velociraptor means "swift seizer" from the Latin velox (swift) and raptor (seizer or plunderer). The name reflects its presumed agility and predatory behavior. It was named by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1924 based on fossils found in Mongolia. .
Which of these dinosaurs lived earliest in geological time?
Triceratops
Stegosaurus
Eoraptor
Tyrannosaurus rex
Eoraptor is one of the earliest known dinosaurs, living in the Late Triassic around 231 million years ago. Stegosaurus and Triceratops appeared in the Jurassic and Late Cretaceous respectively, while Tyrannosaurus rex lived in the very Late Cretaceous. Eoraptor helps trace the origin of dinosaurs. .
Recent studies suggest Spinosaurus was semiaquatic. Which anatomical feature supports this view?
Extended nasal crests
Elongated feathers
Dense limb bones
Enlarged forelimb claws
Spinosaurus exhibits unusually dense and compact limb bones that increase its overall buoyancy control, a trait shared with modern aquatic animals. This adaptation, along with its paddle-like tail, indicates it spent significant time in water. Earlier reconstructions based on fragmentary remains missed this evidence. .
Within dinosaur classification, to which precise clade do modern birds belong?
Maniraptora
Ornithischia
Theropoda
Saurischia
Modern birds are nested within the clade Maniraptora, a subgroup of coelurosaurian theropods. This group includes dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Oviraptor that share key skeletal features with birds. Maniraptora is characterized by features such as a semi-lunate carpal bone in the wrist. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Master dinosaur trivia questions -

    Develop strategies to confidently answer a wide range of dinosaur trivia questions, enhancing your T. rex to Triceratops knowledge.

  2. Recall key dinosaur facts -

    Memorize essential details about famous dinosaurs, including their physical traits, habitats, and historical eras.

  3. Identify distinguishing dinosaur features -

    Spot unique characteristics that differentiate major dinosaur groups, such as crests, horns, and teeth structures.

  4. Differentiate dietary habits -

    Analyze and categorize dinosaurs based on their feeding behaviors, distinguishing herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

  5. Analyze quiz questions about dinosaurs -

    Break down tricky quiz questions on dinosaurs to understand common pitfalls and sharpen your paleontology prowess.

  6. Apply knowledge to future dino tests -

    Use your newfound dino expertise to tackle any dinosaur test or quiz with enhanced confidence and accuracy.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Geologic Periods: Triassic, Jurassic & Cretaceous -

    These three periods spanned roughly 251 - 66 million years ago, each lasting around 50 million years as defined by the International Commission on Stratigraphy. Remember the mnemonic "T - J - C" to recall their order quickly. Great for tackling dinosaur trivia questions on when famous species lived.

  2. Hip Structure: Saurischia vs Ornithischia -

    The two major dinosaur orders are defined by hip bones: Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") with a forward-pointing pubis and Ornithischia ("bird-hipped") with a backward-pointing pubis. First outlined by Harry Seeley in 1888, this distinction underpins many modern phylogenies. Dino test pros should master it to sort sauropods and ceratopsians in a snap.

  3. Feathers & Flight Origins -

    Fossil discoveries like Archaeopteryx and quill knobs on Velociraptor ulnae show that many theropods sported feathers, reshaping our view of dinosaur appearance. Studies in journals such as Nature reveal multiple independent evolutions of feathers across Theropoda. This fact often pops up in quiz questions about dinosaurs' link to modern birds.

  4. Estimating Weight: Limb Bone Scaling -

    Paleontologists use equations like Campione & Evans (2012)'s mass (kg)=0.00016×(femur circumference mm)^2.73 to estimate dinosaur weight from limb fossils, validated against living mammals. This method yields surprisingly accurate mass estimates for giants like Argentinosaurus. Keep it in your toolkit for any size-related dino test question.

  5. K - Pg Extinction Event -

    The Cretaceous - Paleogene boundary (~66 Ma) marks the mass extinction that ended non-avian dinosaurs, linked to the Chicxulub impact and a global iridium spike in marine sediments. The Alvarez hypothesis, published in Science (1980), remains the leading explanation, supported by crater dating and shocked quartz analysis. This event is a staple in quiz questions on dinosaurs' demise.

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