Dino Dawn Expedition
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    • Welcome
    • About the Dig
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    • The Dig Site
    • About the Dinosaurs
    • Dino Dawn Kids
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Dino Dawn Expedition
  • Welcome
  • About the Dig
  • The Team
  • The Dig Site
  • About the Dinosaurs
  • Dino Dawn Kids
  • Donate

DINO DAWN KIDS: Where kids get to explore the wonders of Portugal

KIDS: Dino Vision Fun Facts

Dinosaurs Had Built-In Night Vision (Some of Them, Anyway)

Dinosaurs Had Built-In Night Vision (Some of Them, Anyway)

Dinosaurs Had Built-In Night Vision (Some of Them, Anyway)

Some theropods — especially small, predatory dinosaurs like Troodon — had large eyes with wide pupils, suggesting they could see in low light, possibly even at night. Think: prehistoric night stalkers.

Kid Fun Fact:
Troodon had eyes so big it could’ve spotted you in the dark… while sneaking up on you!

Dino Vision Was Like Superbird Vision

Dinosaurs Had Built-In Night Vision (Some of Them, Anyway)

Dinosaurs Had Built-In Night Vision (Some of Them, Anyway)

Many dinosaurs are closely related to birds, and their eyes worked the same way: with super-sharp color vision, possibly including UV light detection.


Some dinos may have seen in 4 colors (tetrachromatic), compared to our 3.
 

That means they might’ve seen patterns and details invisible to us!
 

They probably saw each other’s feathers, scale

Many dinosaurs are closely related to birds, and their eyes worked the same way: with super-sharp color vision, possibly including UV light detection.


Some dinos may have seen in 4 colors (tetrachromatic), compared to our 3.
 

That means they might’ve seen patterns and details invisible to us!
 

They probably saw each other’s feathers, scales, and signals in colors and flashes humans can’t even imagine.

Herbivores Had Eyes on the Sides — Literally

Dinosaurs Had Built-In Night Vision (Some of Them, Anyway)

Herbivores Had Eyes on the Sides — Literally

Plant-eating dinosaurs like Triceratops or Stegosaurus had eyes on the sides of their heads, giving them a wide field of view to detect predators.


Great for spotting danger.
 

Not great for depth perception.
 

Kid Joke:
Why did the dino never trip?
Because he had side-eye vision to see everything!
 

The Predator’s Gaze: Binocular Vision

They May Have Seen Flicker Faster Than We Do

Herbivores Had Eyes on the Sides — Literally

T. rex wasn’t just a tank with teeth — it had forward-facing eyes, giving it binocular vision like hawks and owls. This means it could judge distance very accurately — ideal for hunting.


Fun Fact:
The field of view for T. rex may have been over 50 degrees with serious depth perception. That's better than many modern birds of prey.

They May Have Seen Flicker Faster Than We Do

They May Have Seen Flicker Faster Than We Do

They May Have Seen Flicker Faster Than We Do

Some researchers believe dinosaurs had higher flicker fusion rates, meaning they could detect movement faster — like watching the world in high frame rate.

Imagine living in real-time… while we’re stuck in slow-mo.

Bonus: How Do We Know This?

They May Have Seen Flicker Faster Than We Do

They May Have Seen Flicker Faster Than We Do

Scientists study eye socket size, optic nerve canals, and comparisons with modern birds and reptiles to reconstruct dinosaur vision. It’s part paleontology, part detective work, part CSI: Cretaceous.


Want to Help Us Discover How Dino Eyes Evolved?

Your support helps us uncover skull fragments, optic bones, and preserved orbital structures f

Scientists study eye socket size, optic nerve canals, and comparisons with modern birds and reptiles to reconstruct dinosaur vision. It’s part paleontology, part detective work, part CSI: Cretaceous.


Want to Help Us Discover How Dino Eyes Evolved?

Your support helps us uncover skull fragments, optic bones, and preserved orbital structures from newly discovered species — like those we’re hunting during the Carnian Pluvial Episode digs.

All About the dig and some Coloring Pages

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Dinosaur Games: Built by Ricardo: our Lead Paleontologist

>>NOTE: These games work on desktop only

Super-Ricardo >>NOTE: These games work on desktop only

COLOR WITH DINO DAWN

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Download our pdfs for classroom fun

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TRex dino dawn coloring page

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  • Welcome
  • About the Dig
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