Who wins the race: Velociraptor or cheetah? Here are 12 matchups between dinosaurs and animals alive today, each as a short question and an answer. The family votes first and finds out the winner later. One important note: nobody ever saw a dinosaur run, so any dinosaur speed is an estimate. Scientists estimate from bones, footprints and body size, which is why we use “maybe” and “it depends” a lot. Great for kids aged 3 to 8.
A fact kids love: today's birds, like the ostrich and the pigeon, are considered dinosaurs that are still alive. So some of these races are between distant cousins.
Two-legged runners
- Velociraptor vs. cheetah: who wins the race? The cheetah, the fastest land animal alive today. Velociraptor was about the size of a big turkey, and scientists estimate it ran well, but nobody thinks it could catch a cheetah.
- Struthiomimus vs. ostrich: who gets there first? Probably a close tie. Struthiomimus had long legs and an ostrich-like body, and scientists estimate it was a good runner. The ostrich is the living champion of two-legged racing, so the guess is up to your family.
- Gallimimus vs. horse: who runs faster? Probably the horse, which gallops very fast. Gallimimus had a long neck and runner's legs, and scientists estimate it was quick for its size, but it is hard to prove against a galloping horse.
- Compsognathus vs. chicken: who wins? Compsognathus was tiny, about the size of a chicken, and scientists estimate it was speedy. But nobody can measure it, so the honest answer is: we cannot know, so call it a tie.
Notice that long legs and a light body usually win. Ask your child to look at each runner's legs before voting.
Giants on the track
- Tyrannosaurus vs. elephant: who runs faster? Scientists still debate it. T. rex was huge and heavy, and many studies estimate it walked and maybe ran only a little, without big bursts. The elephant surprises people: it is enormous, but moves fast when it needs to. The safest answer: it depends on which study you read.
- Triceratops vs. rhino: who wins? The rhino runs quite fast for its size, and Triceratops was another big four-legged animal with horns. Scientists estimate Triceratops could trot with determination, but that is a guess. A horn-filled tie works.
- Ankylosaurus vs. tortoise: who gets there first? Most likely the Ankylosaurus. It was big, but with short legs and heavy armor, so scientists estimate it walked slowly. Still faster than a tortoise, the champion of calm.
- Diplodocus vs. giraffe: who has the longer stride? Diplodocus had a huge body with a very long neck and tail, and took wide but slow steps. The giraffe also has long legs and can gallop. In big strides Diplodocus might tie, but the giraffe wins the race.
Air and water matchups
- Microraptor vs. hummingbird: who flies better? The hummingbird, which hovers in place and even flies backwards. Microraptor was a small dinosaur with feathers on its arms and legs, and scientists estimate it glided, or flew in a simpler way. A master of tricks against a good glider.
- Quetzalcoatlus vs. albatross: who flies farther? The albatross is famous for traveling huge distances over the sea. Quetzalcoatlus, a giant flying reptile, was not a dinosaur but a pterosaur, and scientists are still studying how well it flew. If you must bet, the albatross is the poster bird for long flights.
- Archaeopteryx vs. pigeon: who flies better? The pigeon, an experienced flyer. Archaeopteryx had feathered wings and teeth, and scientists estimate it flew, just more clumsily. It is one of the favorite fossils for showing the link between dinosaurs and birds.
- Spinosaurus vs. crocodile: who swims better? The crocodile, a very good swimmer and nobody doubts it. Spinosaurus had a sail on its back and lived near water, and scientists still debate how much it swam. Great for talking about how science changes its mind.
How to play guess-the-winner
Read only the question and ask your child to vote: raise a hand, point to a side, or drop a paper pebble in one of two cups. Then read the answer together. One point for a right guess and a cheer for anyone who learned something new. If your child cannot say why they voted, ask: “Why did you pick that one?” The thinking matters more than the score.
Invite your child to invent a duel: “Who wins, the long-necked dinosaur or the horse?” Whenever the answer says “scientists estimate,” show that science can also say “we do not know yet” and keep investigating. Racing games at home need adult supervision, in a clear space and without rushing.
After the race: play and color
To keep the fun going, your child can play Pigúiça's free game in the browser, with no sign-up and no ads, or print a coloring page and paint the champion of your vote. To meet the Magic Garden gang, read who Pigúiça is, the blue-eyed husky who loves questions.
In the book Dogavios, Pigúiça and Fofuxo are always asking curious questions too, and curiosity is the best way to start an adventure.
Frequently asked questions
Were dinosaurs really slow?
Not all of them. Small two-legged ones were probably quite speedy, and heavy giants were calmer. Since nobody measured them, all of this is an estimate by scientists.
Is a pterosaur a dinosaur?
No. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles from the same era, but a different group. Today's birds, on the other hand, descend from dinosaurs.
What if my child disagrees with the answer?
Great! Ask them to explain why. Disagreeing with a good argument is a way of thinking like a scientist.
