Dinosaur Train Geocache: Troodon Traditional Geocache

One of the last theropods to evolve and prosper before the K/T Extinction 65 million years ago, Troodon was unusually brainy by dinosaur standards: paleontologists think it may even have been as smart as small, primitive mammals like opossums (that may not sound like much of a compliment, but you have to remember that most dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, especially the plant-eaters, were about as bright as tree stumps).

Troodon doubtless owed its advanced brain to its equally advanced predatory arsenal, which included a fast, bipedal gait, stereo vision, and probably a sharp sense of smell. This light-weight dinosaur had long hind legs and a stiff tail. Troodon had large eyes and may have had a good sense of hearing. It had a large, sickle-shaped toe claw on its second toe, and smaller ones on the other. It had three long, clawed fingers that were ideal for grasping prey.

A relatively slender theropod closely related to the small, feathered dino-birds of the late Cretaceous period (most notably Saurornithoides), the human-sized Troodon lacked the brawn to match its brain--which may explain why it occasionally resorted to feeding on the eggs of other dinosaurs. As to its own reproductive habits, there's voluminous evidence that Troodon cared for its own hatchlings after birth, a behavior shared by a few known species of hadrosaurs, or duck-billed dinosaurs (the most prominent examples being Maiasaura and Hypacrosaurus).

"Go outside, get into nature and make your own discoveries!"

That is what Dr. Scott challenges his viewers to do at the end of each Dinosaur Train episode.

What is your favorite dinosaur? Be sure to tell us when signing the logbook!

For more information on this educational outreach initiative please visit the Dinosaur Train Geocaching.com Page