Dinosaurs aren't all big and scaly. The more fossils they find, and the closer they examine them, the more scientists realize how diverse these animals were. Sure, some were massive. Some took to the air on giant wings. But lots more scampered around on the ground chomping on vegetation. And many more than previously thought may have sported feathers, perhaps using them to impress a mate with a bit of tail-shaking action the way peacocks do today.
This gallery shows off 10 recent discoveries that stoke our fascination with these ancient animals and leave us wanting more.
Above:
Pegomastax africanus
With a short, parrot-like beak and tall teeth that act like self-sharpening scissors, puny Pegomastax africanus was one of the most advanced plant-eaters of its day. Smaller than a house cat, this little beast was likely covered with bristles like those of a porcupine. It may have used its fangs for self-defense and sparring for mates, researchers reported last year in ZooKeys.
The species' name means "thick jaw from Africa," and it was identified in 2012 in a collection of fossils at Harvard that were originally found embedded in rock in southern Africa in the 1960s.
Image: Photo and sculpting by Tyler Keillor