How Dinosaurs Could Have Evolved If They Never Went Extinct

Dinosaurs, those fascinating creatures that once roamed the Earth, have captured our imagination for decades. It is a pity that we cannot witness the spectacle of Jurassic Park, where we can observe some of the coolest creatures in action. Nevertheless, we still live among ancient creatures such as crocodiles and sharks that have not evolved much since they appeared millions of years ago. Unfortunately, most dinosaurs could not survive when an asteroid struck the Earth, causing a giant reset button to the planet. This space traveler wiped out almost every living thing on Earth. The sky was filled with ash, which blocked out sun rays, and this led to a reduction in plant growth, causing herbivores to become very hungry. As a result, they had to change their diet and adapt to new conditions. Some of these dinosaurs ended up taking a new path in life, turning into some of the modern animals we know today.

If the asteroid had changed its course a bit, then the dinosaurs would have remained the dominant species. What would have happened if dinosaurs had stayed? First, evolution would have played out differently for them. Maybe humans would not have evolved to be on top of the food chain during those millions of years. Imagine a world where dinosaurs still existed today. If dinosaurs had evolved like humans, then we would have to compete with them. There were multiple species of humans, but Homo sapiens, also known as us, prevailed. A humanoid dino or dinoid would be something strange. Dinoids would look different, more reptilian than humans. Their brain sizes would differ, and they would be physically bigger and stronger. Comparing a human and a dinoid side by side would be interesting. Dinoids would have scales instead of human skin, their teeth would be sharper, and they would not have five fingers on each hand. Their nails would be sharp claws, and they would possibly have guttural sounds, like crocodiles. Dinosaurs had very good vision compared to mammals, so it's possible we would see dinoids with large eyes.

The population of Earth has reached a staggering 8 billion people, and we've changed our environment to suit our needs. If dinoids were the dominant creatures, then the environment would be suited for them. Scientists have predicted what dinos would look like if they had evolved into intelligent creatures that walked upright and had opposable thumbs. These thumbs are important for evolution since they helped humans start using tools for defending themselves and hunting. The creature may not look like the ideal reptile, and its appearance might not be flattering, but if dinosaurs had evolved, then these creatures could be your classmate or colleague at work.

Not all dinosaurs were alike, as their fossils have shown. Some were gigantic, while others resembled any modern-day animal. The biggest land-walking dinosaur was the titanosaur, although measurements are only rough estimates based on fossilized bones. It is estimated that the dino was around 122 feet long and lived between 195 million years ago. It was so massive that its weight was equivalent to 18 modern-day elephants. Dinosaurs existed all over the world, in different time periods, climates, and landscapes. However, only a handful were known as giants. Though they excelled in body size, they lacked in brain size. Some of the most well-known dinosaurs, like the Allosaurus and Stegosaurus, had very small brains, which means it would have been nearly impossible for them to properly evolve into intelligent beings. But in the late Cretaceous Period, the T-Rex roamed the land. It had a larger brain than its Allosaurus counterparts, which were millions of years behind. Even so, the T-Rex's brain only weighed just under a pound. A human brain is nearly three pounds. It might have