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The currently accepted theory is Luis Alvarez's asteroid impact theory. However, this might not have been enough. Many scientists believe that the impact was only part of the reason non-avian dinosaurs became extinct.

Answer2: Listing some speculations as to what happened to them, Princeton scientist G. L. Jepson stated:

"Authors with varying competence have suggested that dinosaurs disappeared because the climate deteriorated . . . or that the diet did. . . . Other writers have put the blame on disease, parasites, . . . changes in the pressure or composition of the atmosphere, poison gases, volcanic dust, excessive oxygen from plants, meteorites, comets, gene pool drainage by little mammalian egg-eaters, . . . cosmic radiation, shift of Earth's rotational poles, floods, continental drift, . . . drainage of swamp and lake environments, sunspots."-The Riddle of the Dinosaur.

It is apparent from such speculation that scientists are not able, with any certainty, to answer the question: What happened to the dinosaurs?

University of Arizona scientist David Jablonski concludes that 'for many plants and animals, extinction was abrupt and somehow special.Mass extinctions are not merely the cumulative effects of gradual dyings. Something unusual happened.' Their arrival was also abrupt. Scientific American observes: "The sudden appearance of both suborders of the pterosaurs without any obvious antecedents is fairly typical of the fossil record." That is also the case with dinosaurs. Their relatively sudden appearance and disappearance contradicts the commonly accepted view of slow evolution.

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Why is the dinosaur extinction significant?

The dinosaur extinction is significant because it led to the demise of the dominant species on Earth at the time, paving the way for mammalian evolution and eventually the rise of humans. It also provides important insights into how environmental changes can impact ecosystems and drive mass extinctions.


In the book Dinosaur Ghosts what is the Stuck in the mud theory?

The "Stuck in the mud" theory in the book "Dinosaur Ghosts" suggests that some dinosaur footprints were preserved in ancient mud because the dinosaurs got stuck while walking in it, creating an imprint that later fossilized. This theory helps explain how some tracks were formed and preserved.


Which province in Canada has the most dinosaur fossils?

Alberta, specifically the region around Drumheller, is known for having the most dinosaur fossils in Canada. The area is home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which showcases a wide variety of dinosaur specimens.


Where do you mostly find dinosaur fossil?

The most common places to find them are at limestone quarrys. These contain smaller sea life but are more common. Larger ones show up all the time in different stages, from Montana to Mongolia. Utah's Henry Mt. has fee digs. And most coast lines you can find Bi-valve fossils and Gastropods. ALL AROUND THE WORLD


Why is the Asteroid theory the most accepted theory?

Iridium is rare on earth, but plentiful in meteorites. The Alvarez's suggested that a huge asteroid or comet, hit the Earth at that time. The result of such a force would be a gigantic explosion that would throw dust clouds into the sky, darkening the planet. Massive forest fires caused by the hit would also add smoke to the sky. which would then cause climate change ending the dinosaurs rein. As dinosaurs can not keep there body temp. Thats some of the evidence that i am using in my case study about dinosaurs. :-) Hope this helps xx

Related Questions

What is another theory that gives an explanation for the extinction of the dinosaur?

Prior to the Asteroid Impact Theory of dinosaur extinction, one of the most popular theories for dinosaur extinction was the Flowering Plant Toxin Theory of dinosaur extinction. Flowering plants did not appear until just over 65 million years ago and many of them contain toxic plant alkaloids. The theory went that browsing herbivorous dinosaurs poisoned themselves eating flowering plants and built up high enough levels of the toxic alkaloids in their tissue that when carnivorous dinosaurs ate the bodies they were poisoned too. Extinction by this process was predicted to be slow, taking 3 or 4 million years. Dinosaurs never evolved the ability to taste the bitter flavor of these alkaloids, like mammals did who thus survived by avoiding the bitter plants. The current Asteroid Impact Theory is much prompter to eliminate the large dinosaurs, in some versions of the theory they went entirely extinct in only a couple years because they could not survive the icy cold dark winters lasting 2/3s to 3/4s of the year, following the impact for about a decade.


What is the most common cause of extinction today?

Human


What is the most common carnivore dinosaur?

the T Rex


The name of the most common flying dinosaur?

Pterosaurus


Is a Egyptian Cobra in danger of extinction?

The Egyptian cobra is the most common cobra in Africa


Is dinosaur disappeared first or the last ice age?

Most dinosaurs died off well before the last ice age, which ended only about 10,000 years ago. The great dinosaur extinction happened hundreds of millions of years ago.


Why is the dinosaur extinction significant?

The dinosaur extinction is significant because it led to the demise of the dominant species on Earth at the time, paving the way for mammalian evolution and eventually the rise of humans. It also provides important insights into how environmental changes can impact ecosystems and drive mass extinctions.


What is the most known dinosaur?

Tyrannosaurus is by far the most popular, thanks to the notoriety of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park films. But unfortunately, its trampled in size, when compared to other mega predictors such as Spinosaurus (made famous in Jurassic Park 3) and Giganotosaurus. Unlike Spinosaurus and Tyrannosaurus, Giganotosaurus was resented from the spot light.Truly though, Tyrannosaurus Rex was famous even before Jurassic Parks film Franchise.


Where does the dinosaur come from?

The term dinosaur was coined in 1842 by Sir Richard Owen and derives from Greek deinos, meaning "terrible, powerful, wondrous" + sauros meaning "lizard".The most common translation for dinosaur is Terrible Lizard.


Is the raccoon in danger of becoming extinct?

No, raccoons are quite common over most of their range and are in no danger of extinction.


What are the most common dinosaurs?

well since hes the only one alive that would be barney the dinosaur


Which theory was helpful to Darwin in the formulation of his theory of evolution?

The theory of common decent was one of the most helpful ideas in the formulation of the evolution of species. This theory acknowledges that to share common denominators there was a shared ancestor.