One great thing about dinosaur names is that they all have a meaning. Dinosaur names are composed of several root words. If you understand the root words, you can understand the dinosaur's name.
Since my son became interested in dinosaur names, I began to teach him the root words through a name game. I wanted to show him that he could figure out the dinosaur names logically, rather than just by memorization. This was a great teaching opportunity because it got him thinking about words in general and how they could be deconstructed.
Here's an example of the name game we would play:
Question: What does "Dinosaur" mean?
Answer: "Dino" (or "Deino") means "Terrible". "Saur" means "Lizard". So "Dinosaur" means "Terrible Lizard".
Question: "Onychus" means "claw". What does "Deinonychus" mean?
Answer: "Deino" means "terrible". "Onychus" means "claw". So "Deinonychus" means "Terrible Claw".
Question: "Pachy" means "thick". "Rhino" means nose. What does "Pachyrhinosaurus" mean?
Answer: "Pachy" means "thick". "Rhino" means nose. "Saurus" means "lizard". So "Pachyrhinosaurus" means "Thick Nosed Lizard".
Question: "Euoplo" means "Well armored". "Cephalus" means "Head". What does "Euoplocephalus" mean?
Answer: "Well Armored Head"
Question: What does "Pachycephalosaurus" mean?
Answer: "Pachy" mean "thick". "Cephalo" means "head". "Saurus" means "lizard". So "Pachycephalosaurus" means "Thick Headed Lizard".
Question: "Nothro" means "Slothful". What does "Nothronychus" mean?
Answer: "Nothro" means "Slothful". "Onychus" means "claw". So "Nothronychus" means "Slothful Claw".
Question: "Ceras" means "horn". What does "Ceratosaurus" mean?
Answer: "Cerato" means "horn". "Saurus" means "lizard". So "Ceratosaurus" means "Horned Lizard".
Question: "Tri" means "three". "Ops" mean "face". What does "Triceratops" mean?
Answer: "Tri" means "three". "Cerat" means "horn". "Ops" mean "face". So "Triceratops" means "Three Horned Face"
Question: "Proto" mean first. What does "Protoceratops" mean?
Answer: "Proto" means "first". "Cerat" means "horn". "Ops" means "face". So "Protocertops" means "First Horned Face".
Etc ...
I've been doing these name games with my son for over a year now. It's still challenging for him but he really enjoys it. After we started playing this name game, it finally occurred to me why a rhinoceros is called a "Rhinoceros". "Rhino" means nose. "Ceros" means horn. "Rhinoceros" = "Nose Horn".
