978-1-4222-3405-1

Dinosaurs Do you think reptiles are small,

shy animals that hide under rocks? Think again. If you could travel back in time, to around 245 million years ago, you’d encounter some very, very big rep- tiles. Dinosaurs and their relatives were reptiles. In fact, the Mesozoic era from 245 to 66 million years ago was known as The Age of the Reptiles.

“In fact,” added Mia,”only a tiny handful of reptiles stick around to help their young grow. Most simply leave the eggs to hatch on their own. The baby reptiles have to feed themselves as soon as they are born. That’s another reason they bury the eggs . . . to protect them from animals who would eat the eggs.” “That’s right,” said Gabriella. “I remember reading about people who help keep those sea turtle eggs in the sand safe. They put up barriers to keep dogs and other animals from digging up the eggs. Sometimes Mother Nature needs our help, too!” As they admired the beauty of the frogs and as Simba curled around Mia’s arm, Mia added, “Each kind of animal adapted over time to create the best conditions for future generations.”

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