Random Mind-Blowing Facts About Dinosaurs That Make Us Question Everything (27 items)

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  (#24) Majungatholus Was A Cannibal

  There is evidence that Majungatholus Atopus ate its own kind. These carnivores lived on Madagascar during the Cretaceous period and could grow to more than 25 feet in length. Based on skull fossils excavated from Madagascar, teeth marks in the skull of one Majungatholus matched those from a fellow Majungatholus nearby. 

  The Majungatholus didn't only eat each other; they also ate other types of dinosaurs. This instance of cannibalism may have been an act of desperation more than aggression. 
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  (#12) Dinosaurs Grew Quickly And Built Muscle While Still In Their Eggs

  The discovery of Lufengosaurus eggshells and tiny Lufengosaurus bones in China in 2013 gave scientists insight into the speed at which dinosaurs grew while still in an egg. According to the research, even while in their shells, dinosaurs flexed their muscles to encourage bone development.

  Dinosaur bones reveal that females started laying eggs before they reached adult size. Those same bones also indicate dinosaurs grew quickly. Evidence also suggests dinosaurs engaged in basic tasks, such as feeding their nestlings. 
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  (#17) Ankylosaurus Cooled Off Through Its Nostrils

  Ankylosaurus, best known for its club-like tail and thick armor, had nasal passages used to keep its brain cool. Initially, scientists believed the large number of nasal canals in the Ankylosaurus skull heightened smell, which allowed the dinosaur to make elaborate sounds.

  They also believed that this also helped it breathe. Through simulations, however, researchers found complex airways that allowed the dinosaur to cool down warm air with each inhalation. Basically, warm air was diverted to the lungs, while cool air was routed to the brain.
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  (#9) Apatosaurus Could Break The Sound Barrier With Its Tail

  Apatosaurus lived 150 million years ago and boasted an impressive 90-foot length with a fast and ferocious tail. Based on computer simulations, the tail of an Apatosaurus moved in supersonic fashion when the animal needed to defend itself, communicate, or court another dinosaur. This was rapid enough to break the sound barrier. 

  However, some are not convinced by the simulation and have argued that the motion would have damaged the tail and caused it to break after just a few supersonic tail snaps. 
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  (#7) Dinosaurs Had Really Big Fleas

  In 2012, scientists in Mongolia identified two types of fossilized fleas: Pseudopulex jurassicus and Pseudopulex magnus. These flea species lived between 125 and 165 million years ago and were much larger than modern varieties. These dinosaur fleas were close to an inch long; they had claws and a mouth large enough to pierce the toughest skin. 

  With their serrated mouths and needle-like beaks, a bite from one of these fleas would have been particularly uncomfortable. 
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  (#16) Pachycephalosaurus Had An Nine-Inch Thick Skull

  Pachycephalosaurus fossils, discovered in Montana in 1938, have since been found in Canada, parts of Asia, and on the island of Madagascar. Based on this evidence, the Pachycephalosaurus skull was more than 30 times thicker than that of a human. The bipedal herbivore could weigh more than 900 pounds and may have used its skull as a headbutting defense or mating tool.

  Contradictory evidence suggests that the dome was too weak for headbutting and the thick skull may have existed purely for identification purposes. 

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