Dinosaurs, once thought to be sluggish, dumb creatures, are now viewed as active and intelligent. There are very few similarities between our modern concept and the one proposed in the early days of paleontology. This is due to the work of many paleontologists and constantly improving technology. The media has led to more exposure of fossil discoveries and brought forth more public interest. Technology will continue to enhance paleontology in the future. Another key element in the changing view is the increasing evidence that the dinosaurs’ closest relatives were in fact, birds. The first reported dinosaur fossils were discovered in 1676, but it is likely that the dragons of mythology were inspired by dinosaur fossils.

In 1842, Richard Owens, an English anatomist coined the name Dinosauria meaning “terrible lizards” to describe an extinct group of reptiles. From there he and other scientists began to show the world their perception of what a dinosaur looked like. They were portrayed as large quadrupeds and are amusing for modern paleontologists to observe. The public gained interest in these extinct animals, and soon paleontologists began making their own theories about the behavior of dinosaurs. In the late 1800s, two major paleontologists would make huge contributions to science. Edward Cope and Othneil C. Marsh would wage a “bone war” with each other. Each wanted to discover and name the most species of new dinosaur. Each claimed to be better than the other. Some of their finds include popular dinosaurs such as Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and Apatosaurus. In all they would discover and name around 150 new species of dinosaur.

Dinosaurs would still be viewed as simply large reptiles until the discovery of Deinonychus in 1964. Named by John Ostrom, Deinonychus was believed to be agile and birdlike. Close observation of the bone structure revealed a startling correlation with birds. This led him to speculate that dinosaurs were ancestors of modern birds. Following Ostrom, other paleontologists such as Bob Bakker would contribute to a new perspective of dinosaurs. He would soon illustrate Deinonychus in a way the public had never seen. He would write the book, “Dinosaur Heresies,” which depicted his belief that dinosaurs were endothermic, or warm blooded, and that some may have been feathered. In 1978, Jack Horner would discover Maiasaura, the first account of dinosaurs as caring parents. Horner and his team found nests with carefully laid eggs and hatchlings. The bones of the hatchlings were too weak for them to walk, so the adults must have cared for the young for some period after hatching. In the last decade, paleontology has made huge discoveries. Most notable are the discoveries from Liaoning, China. Preserved by volcanic ash, are several detailed dinosaur fossils. The most striking feature is the presence of feather-like structures. Sinosauropteryx was the first dinosaur found with the fossilized impressions of feathers. It was a small carnivorous dinosaur from the upper Jurassic to early Cretaceous period, estimates ranging from 150-120 million years ago. Caudipteryx was so similar to birds that some claim it to be an early bird rather than a dinosaur. One of the most significant discoveries is that of Microraptor. Its small body preserves wings not made for flying, but for gliding from tree to tree.

In the 1990s, dinosaurs continued their fame in movies and television. Ever since movies were first made, there were dinosaurs. Modern movies have incorporated science and movie making technology to make extremely accurate representations of dinosaurs. The 1993 blockbuster, “Jurassic Park,” was one of the most noteworthy. Although somewhat exaggerated, the Jurassic Park franchise shows dinosaurs as extremely intelligent and bird-like. The CGI and animatronics have spurred several scientific documentaries in recent years such as, “Walking with Dinosaurs.” Science has continued to progress and paleontologists today have a wide range of tools at their disposal. Computers allow them to recreate virtual dinosaurs to study their movements and bone structure. Computed Axial Tomography, CAT scans, and other medical technology have allowed paleontologists to observe the bones more carefully and even look inside them. As technology continues to progress, so will the way we study dinosaurs. Since the discovery of dinosaurs, people have shared a deep fascination of them. The view of dinosaurs has been forever changed due to the work of many scientists. Today, wherever you look there are pictures of feathered dinosaurs, chasing their prey, with an agile bird-like gait. Long gone are the sluggish dinosaurs your parents and grandparents grew up with. The view of dinosaurs is forever changed and will continue to change as we learn more about these amazing creatures.