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" There&amp;#039;s no animal with a story more interesting than that of the dinosaur\u2014at least that&amp;#039;s what most young children will tell you. Dinosaurs have long fascinated people, and with good reason. These creatures that once dominated earth offer possibilities for children to learn, explore and hypothesize about what life must have been like for dinosaurs millions of years ago. For the dinosaur enthusiast in your family, these animal facts for kids offer just the right amount of history, while still leaving much to the imagination.   Some dinosaurs had feathers  Paleontologists have been researching fossilized, feathered dinosaurs for the past few decades. One such discovery led scientists to a cousin of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, which donned a feather-bearing coat about 130 million years ago in northern China.   Tyrannosaurus Rex could swim According to scientists, the predatory Tyrannosaurus Rex and some of its dinosaur kin could swim. Researchers have compiled evidence by studying track marks and patterns in trace fossils and rock. In one case, rippled patterns in a stone proved a dinosaur was fighting a current.   Deinonychus wielded deadly claws To preserve the razor-sharp second toes on each of its feet, the Deinonychus held only those two toes upright, preventing them from naturally filing against the ground and becoming dull. In battle, the Deinonychus was able to retract these claws like a switchblade. Claws on its hands and feet were covered in a thick, horny sheath, similar to what you might see on birds.   Uncovering ancient history Among the most interesting animal facts for kids is that while dinosaurs roamed earth for about 170 million years, humans only recently have begun learning of their existence. It was not until about 150 years ago that scientists uncovered evidence of these fascinating creatures.   A true heavyweight  The average weight of a Stegosaurus was 7 tons--or 14,000 lb. The tallest of this family of dinosaurs were 43 ft. It took on a more imposing presence, thanks to its powerful tail, which had two pairs of three-ft-long spikes and a double row of fin-like plates along its back.   These and other animal facts for kids can help nurture a love of learning and a curiosity about the world around you. Engage and encourage your children to continue learning about these mysterious creatures by visiting your local library or museum for more information about how truly phenomenal these early inhabitants of the Earth were. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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