"Dinosaur Lifespan: Unraveling the Mystery of Extinct Giants"
The lifespan of dinosaurs varied depending on their size, with larger dinosaurs living longer than smaller ones. By studying growth rings in bones, scientists can estimate the age of dinosaurs. It is believed that very large sauropod dinosaurs took about 30 to 35 years to reach maximum size and may have lived for an additional 30 to 50 years. Smaller dinosaurs, such as ornithopods, reached their full size at around four to five years and likely had shorter lifespans. Contrary to previous assumptions, dinosaurs grew rapidly and did not live as long as previously thought.