The Jurassic era was a fantastic time for dinosaurs. These reptiles had the luxury of living at the peak of their evolution for about 150 million years. They had the opportunity to diversify into hundreds of different species, each with its unique adaptations. We don’t see much of this diversity in modern species because they have been separated for so long. But if dinosaurs had survived until the present day, there would have been some very different-looking animals. 

Dinosaurs may seem like a distant memory now, but imagine if they still roamed the earth. Although it might seem like a strange question, many things would be different. Dinosaurs have gone through many changes and mutations since they first evolved. It means that we’re seeing the result of dinosaurs rather than their original appearance.

Some dinosaurs developed much more slowly than others, which you’d see in this scenario. There have been many generations of them by the time we’re talking about dinosaurs from the Triassic period. It means that if they still existed, they would look very different. The world would look like if dinosaurs had never gone extinct.

Water Would Be Much More Common

Dinosaurs are known for having adapted to a dry environment, and there’s a good reason for that. The climate back then was much wetter than it is now, which meant dinosaurs would have been very unlikely to survive. Imagine if humans had to survive in a world with virtually no water. It would be challenging, so we’re lucky to have water available now.

If dinosaurs lived in a world with more water, they would likely have evolved to survive there. It’s also possible that humans would not have evolved in the way they did. Instead, we might have evolved like dinosaurs and become adapted to life in a much wetter climate.

Earth’s Atmosphere Would Be Toxic

Toxic fumes would have filled the air when dinosaurs evolved. As dinosaurs became more and more dominant, the atmosphere would have become increasingly toxic. It is one of the reasons that dinosaurs eventually went extinct — they were inhaling toxic fumes regularly.

If dinosaurs had not gone extinct, we would have continued to breathe these toxic fumes as part of our evolution. It’s unlikely that humans would have evolved as well with this in mind. Humans would have evolved to survive in highly toxic environments because there wouldn’t have been any other option.

There Would Be No Rain

While it’s not common to think about the world without rain, it makes sense to think about a constantly toxic world. There would be no need for rain, as the toxic atmosphere would prevent it from forming in the first place. If dinosaurs evolved in a toxic world, rain would have little opportunity to form. The few opportunities for the rain to form would come from volcanic eruptions, which would destroy the atmosphere very quickly.

Humans and Dinosaurs Would Have Lived Together

Dinosaurs evolved in an environment that was very similar to our modern world. There were different ecosystems in various parts of the world, but they were all very similar. If dinosaurs hadn’t gone extinct, humans might have evolved alongside them. It could have led to a situation where humans and dinosaurs could have lived together.

Dinosaurs were very similar to humans in some ways, which could have helped humans, but there would have been a lot of differences too. If humans evolved alongside dinosaurs, it’s unlikely that they would be as we are now. Humans would have evolved to survive in a toxic world and adapted much quicker than we have.

New Species of Dinosaurs Wouldn’t Have Evolved

The fascinating thing about dinosaurs is that they could change form and evolve. It shows how adaptable they were and how they could survive changing environments. If dinosaurs had never gone extinct, many of the species we know and love today wouldn’t have evolved.

New species of dinosaurs would not have evolved, as they would not have gone extinct. We would likely have never been able to see some of the animals today. It would have been much more challenging to create new species in a world where dinosaurs were still alive.

Dinosaurs Would Dominate the Landscape

We tend to think of dinosaurs as terrestrial creatures in the modern world, but that was not always the case. Dinosaurs may have been more likely to inhabit the skies or the oceans than to be firmly rooted on the surface of the Earth. Furthermore, if dinosaurs had been around for longer, we might not have most of today’s animals. Some dinosaurs may have had endothermy, permitting them to inhabit colder climates than modern reptiles can survive in.

Of course, it is also entirely possible that dinosaurs would not have influenced the modern world. After all, many species have been around for a very long time, but we still see very little evidence of them in the modern world.

Dinosaurs in the Oceans

Most people would imagine that the oceans would be an evident environment for marine reptiles to thrive, but dinosaurs were pretty common in the seas. Marine reptiles are notably absent from the poles, and polar dinosaurs would not have been able to survive in the deep oceans. The most likely candidate for the most common ocean-dwelling dinosaur is the ichthyosaur, which often inhabited shallow warm waters near the equator.

However, many dinosaurs lived near the sea’s shores, and it is possible that large numbers of them would have been washed up on the beaches of the Western world had dinosaurs continued to walk the Earth for millions of years longer. Many dinosaurs would have ended up as fossils on beaches, and we might now have large numbers of these fossils if marine reptiles had been around longer.

Dinosaurs in the Skies

Air-breathing dinosaurs would have been able to live in both the sea and in the air. It would have given them access to various habitats and food sources, and there were probably many air-breathing species that did not exist today. While there were probably few flying pterosaurs, many species of giant pterosaurs lived in the skies, becoming the only flying animals we see today.

It is also possible that flying dinosaurs would have dominated the oceans and skies differently. For example, modern bats fly at around 50 kilometres per hour, but some dinosaurs may fly at much higher speeds.

Dinosaurs May Have Changed Climate and Weather

The world would be a very different place if dinosaurs continued to walk the Earth. In particular, the climate would have been very different, although the details of this change would have varied from region to region.

Some of the ways that dinosaurs might have changed the climate are through the use of their bodies. Primarily, dinosaurs may have been able to release more heat than modern reptiles do, meaning that they could raise the temperature of the Earth’s surface. It is also possible that dinosaurs may have produced large quantities of urine, meaning that they would have been able to affect the formation of clouds.

Another way dinosaurs may have affected the climate would be through their activities. Modern reptiles tend to have a very low population density, meaning that even a single large animal can significantly impact the climate.

Dinosaurs May Have Seized the Land

While dinosaurs did not rule the skies and the seas, they did rule the land. Dinosaurs would likely have lived on Earth for millions of years longer, occupying the same ecological niches as they did around 150 million years ago.

Of course, some dinosaurs may have started to evolve very quickly, becoming more advanced than modern reptiles. Terrestrial reptiles do not have many climactic adaptations, so they would have been able to adapt to various climates. It is also possible that some dinosaurs would have started to move onto land and start to seize the land as a resource or a habitat.

Dinosaurs Could Have Evolved Into Humans

This one is the most likely and dramatic of the answers. Keep in mind that this scenario would only be possible if humans lived on Earth simultaneously as dinosaurs. The two species could have coexisted together, and there could be genetic evidence. Humans may have even helped the dinosaurs survive by eating some of them.

One of the most plausible theories is that humans evolved from the same species that dinosaurs evolved from. It may sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, but it’s not the craziest idea. If humans and dinosaurs crossed their evolutionary paths, humans likely evolved from them.

Dinosaurs Could Live On Another Planet

Mars is often a cold, desert planet, but it is a good home for many species. Mars has ice caps, a very thin atmosphere, and an orbit that rotates in the same direction as Earth. Scientists have found strong evidence that life could have existed on Mars in recent years, and it could have easily been there for the dinosaurs. They could have survived on Mars, or a similar planet, for a long time.

Mars may not be the only place that could have a similar climate to Earth’s. There are many places in the universe where a planet can orbit similarly to Earth. There may be other planets that are suitable for hosting dinosaurs.

Humans Could Have Killed the Dinosaurs

Humans may have killed the dinosaurs, but they didn’t get to them all at once. Maybe they just killed off the few species that were left. We know that humans hunted animals a lot during the end of the Cretaceous period, and they could have killed off the dinosaurs.

The problem is that there is no evidence of humans killing off all dinosaurs, and there is no evidence of humans killing off all dinosaurs during the end of the Cretaceous period. The one thing we can assume is that humans did not kill off all the dinosaurs at once.

If dinosaurs were alive today, we can safely assume that humans would probably exploit or try to hunt them. It could have led to endangering the species.

There May be a New Dinosaur Species

There could be a new dinosaur species that has been hidden from us for hundreds of millions of years. There could be an undiscovered species of dinosaur that has managed to survive until this day. It is one of the wildest answers to whether dinosaurs could still be alive.

Scientists have searched the Earth and the ocean for any signs of dinosaurs, but they have yet to find any. More undiscovered dinosaurs may be out there. But what if the species just hasn’t been found yet?

Dinosaurs May Have Become Smarter

Dinosaurs probably weren’t as intelligent as humans, but they were smart enough to be social animals.

Social media platforms were not even a twinkle in the eyes of the dinosaurs. They would have probably been much more intense, with social hierarchies and intense battles for dominance.

Without the pressure of modern society, dinosaurs could have been much more free-spirited with their social interactions.

The World Would Be a Little Different Now

One of the most surprising things about dinosaurs is how different the world would be if they had survived.

Flora and Fauna

We would have a very different plant and animal landscape if dinosaurs survived. The plants that would have been alive today mainly were adapted to survive in a warmer world. But dinosaurs would also have included a range of more tropical species. It would mean that many plants we see today, like palms, would not have existed.

When dinosaurs were thriving, flowers were still a scarce plant group. But thanks to dinosaurs, there would be no flowering plants at all.

Animals

Many modern animals would be very different from what we see if dinosaurs had survived. We might not see many mammals that we do now, like cats and dogs. And many modern birds may not have existed at all, including the birds that dominate today’s ecosystem.

Conclusion

It’s easy to think about life before humans, dinosaurs, and dinosaurs were extinct. But it is far more fascinating to think about the world if dinosaurs never went extinct and how different it would be. Dinosaurs evolved in a very similar environment to ours, and it would be tough for humans to survive in that environment.

If dinosaurs hadn’t gone extinct, humans would not be able to survive in their world today. There would be no rain, and humans wouldn’t need to breathe anymore. New dinosaurs would not have evolved, and many of the species we know and love wouldn’t have evolved either.

If dinosaurs had survived the Ice Age, the world would have been quite different. The planet would have been much warmer and less populated. In addition, dinosaurs would have been much more enormous and scarier than now.

Last Updated on August 28, 2023 by ayeshayusuf