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Dinosaur Quiz - Weird Dinosaur Names

By , About.com Guide

Do you know your weird dinosaur names? Take this quiz and find out! (Questions are on page 1.)

1. Anatotitan is Greek for "giant duck." That's because this dinosaur

a) was covered in bright yellow feathers
B) had a long, flat, duck-like bill
c) made a loud quacking sound

Read more about Anatotitan

2. Why would anyone name a dinosaur "Drinker?"

A) as a tribute to the famous paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope
b) because its remains were found next to an ancient watering hole
c) because it was known to drink fermented fruits and vegetables

Read more about Drinker

3. Gasosaurus received its name because

a) its huge, clunky digestive system produced lots of flatulence
b) its remains turned into natural gas deposits
C) its fossils were found by excavators working for a gas company

Read more about Gasosaurus

4. Casea is Greek for "cheese." That's because this ancient reptile

a) had mammary glands that produced milk
B) looked like a melted lump of mozzarella
c) had a sharp, sour smell that repelled predators

Read more about Casea

5. Irritator received its name because

A) the paleontologist studying it was having a very bad day
b) it had an unusually aggressive disposition
c) its pebbly skin made it look like it had a rash

Read more about Irritator

6. Micropachycephalosaurus is Greek for

a) "reptile shaped like a small elephant"
b) a bacterium that infested the guts of herbivorous dinosaurs
C) "tiny thick-headed lizard"

Read more about Micropachycephalosaurus

7. What was so small about Nanotyrannus (Greek for "tiny tyrant")?

a) its brain
B) its body
c) its arms and hands

Read more about Nanotyrannus

8. The "piatnitzky" in Piatnitzkysaurus refers to

a) The Polish word for "reptile"
b) The town in Poland where its fossil was found
C) The name of its discoverer

Read more about Piatnitzkysaurus

9. Colepiocephale is Greek for "knucklehead." That's because this dinosaur had

a) an unusually small brain
b) a habit of tumbling off steep cliffs
C) an unusually thick skull

Read more about Colepiocephale

10. The "yam" in Yamaceratops refers to

A) an ancient Buddhist deity
b) the sweet potatoes this dinosaur was known to eat
c) the odd shape of this dinosaur's head

Read more about Yamaceratops

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