Why Were Dinosaurs So Much Bigger Than Animals Today?

[Locutus]

Not every dinosaur was gigantic, but the ones that were were absolute behemoths. So, why did they get so much bigger than animals that walk the land today?

Image: The sizes of some of Mongolia's common dinosaurs in comparison to a person, including the adorably petite Velociraptor. / Conty


Matthew Carrano, the curator for the Museum of Natural History's Dinosauria, explains his thoughts on how dinos attained their size — and why the real question might be not why dinosaurs were so big, but why are we so small?:


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Why Were Dinosaurs So Much Bigger Than Animals Today?


Ask A Paleontologist All Your Questions About Dinosaurs!

 

[Blackleaf]

None of them were as big as the blue whale.

 

[Sal]

I read it but I don't get why ability to rapidly reproduce via eggs would lead to a bigger body size.

 

[Blackleaf]

It's actually a misconception that dinosaurs were really big. Most land dinosaurs weren't. Even T-rex weighed the same as a modern African bull elephant.

Some herbivorous dinosaurs, like diplodocus, were huge because they needed to reach the leaves on the tall trees.

 

[Sal]

I used to be a raptor...I was small and fast...

pppppfffffffftttttt see me go

 

[Kreskin]

I used to be a raptor...I was small and fast...

pppppfffffffftttttt see me go

Didn't you find it a challenge going to the paint for rebounds?

 

[Sal]

Didn't you find it a challenge going to the paint for rebounds?

lmao...I did, but it's the speed eh, I was just a blur...