Meet the dinosaurs (and pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, birds, etc.)
D&D includes eighteen (18) complete skeletons and a number of partial skeletons. Many are posed in dynamic scenes.
Scene 1: Albertosaurus attacking a juvenile ceratopsian (2 dinosaurs). This realistic scene shows a full-grown Albertosaurus attacking a juvenile ceratopsian (horned dinosaur). Although an adult ceratopsian might be too much for an albertosaur, a juvenile would be a perfect target.
The ceratopsian was discovered in 2016 in the Judith River Formation. It has only two horns, unlike Triceratops (with three), and is a new (and as yet unnamed) species.
Scene 2: Three dromaeosaurs attacking a pachycephalosaur (4 dinosaurs). This dynamic scene depicts a group of small raptors taking down a larger herbivore.
Nanotyrannus (1 dinosaur). This rare dinosaur serves as the perfect example for discussing how science works with kids. Is it a juvenile T. rex or a new species?
Quetzalcoatlus (1 pterosaur). The largest animal to ever fly, Quetzalcoatlus (a pterosaur) had a wingspan of over 34 feet, slightly larger than a Cessna 172.
An exhibit favorite, the Quetz towers over visitors – it is 17 feet tall in its standing pose, and it’s eight foot skull pokes out over everyone’s heads.
Flying above are three Pteranodons. One large male (24 ft wingspan) and two smaller females. In addition there is small pterosaur in the case on Mary Anning (Dimorphodon marconyx) for a total of 5 pterosaurs.
Next to the case on Mary Anning there is also a Plesiosaur (discovered by Anning). (1 Plesiosaur).
In addition, there are five skeletons in the Bird Evolution display, including a Compsognathus and four birds – Archaeopteryx, Confuciusornis, Ichthyornis, and a modern pidgeon. (5 skeletons.)
Partial Skeletons
In addition to the complete skeletons, there are a number of partial skeletons including a giant sauropod leg (11 ft high, set up for a photo opp), a T. rex skull (4 ft long), a T. rex track, an Ichthyosaur skull, the Maidstone Slab (one of the first dinosaur discoveries, a large jumble of Iguanodon bones), and numerous teeth, jaws, and actual bones that kids can touch.
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