1Standing Giants and Heavy Nappers
When you weigh as much as ten school buses, getting back up from the ground is a lot of work! This is why scientists believe giant, long-necked sauropods like the Brachiosaurus often slept standing up. Just like modern elephants and giraffes, these massive herbivores probably locked their knees and took short power naps while remaining on their feet. This helped them stay ready to stomp away quickly if a hungry predator arrived. For a 40-ton dinosaur, lying down wasn't just a nap—it was a major workout!
2The Sleeping Dragon Fossil
How do we know some dinosaurs liked to get cozy? Scientists found a fossil of a small dinosaur called Mei long, which means "sleeping dragon." This amazing find shows the dinosaur curled up in a tight ball with its tail wrapped around its body and its head tucked under its arm. This is exactly how many birds sleep today to keep their body heat from escaping. It suggests that many smaller dinosaurs were warm-blooded and loved a good snuggle to stay warm during the chilly prehistoric nights.
3Danger at Bedtime
Finding a safe place to rest was a matter of life and death in the Mesozoic era. While a T-Rex was the king of the day, even it had to be careful when closing its eyes. Smaller, faster dinosaurs likely hid in thick ferns or perched on low tree branches to stay out of sight. Armored dinosaurs, like the spiky Ankylosaurus, had a built-in security system. Even while resting, their thick skin and bony plates acted like a suit of armor, making it very difficult for a hunter to take a bite without getting a mouthful of bone!
