A Look At The Living Descendants And Relatives Of Dinosaurs

May 8, 2025

The birds are said to have descended from a group of two-legged dinosaurs called theropods.

Chicken

The closest match to T-rex, the reptiles once shared a common ancestor with archosaurs.

Alligators

Likewise, sea turtles also appear to be descendants of archosaurs and evolved alongside dinosaurs.

Sea turtles

The bird’s giant, claw-like feet alone will make one think their descendants are dinosaurs like velociraptors.

Cassowaries

A sole survivor of the reptile group Rhynchocephalia, tuatara are often referred to as a living dinosaur.

Tuatara

Their ancestry goes back millions of years, sharing a few common genetic traits like laying eggs

Lizards

Ostriches belong to a group of large flightless birds called ratites, evolving backwards into a loss of flight.

Ostriches

They are another species that have evolved into how we know them today; however, they have gotten rid of their legs and several bones.

Snakes

While sharks are not a direct relative of dinosaurs, they have descended from relatives that swam alongside dinosaurs.

Sharks

The feathered flyers have descended from the group of meat-eating dinosaurs called theropods.

Turkeys