Dinosaurs are reptiles that lived in what is known as the Mesozoic era, and their bones can be seen in almost every natural history museum in the world. And for good reason: they were discovered in the 18th century and have since dominated the natural world with their interesting history and their massive size. But how did they grow so big? And why have there been no other species that could match their size? Click through the following gallery to find all those answers and more.

Bone structure

Sauropods had a unique bone structure with air-filled cavities, similar to modern birds. This adaptation made their bones lighter, reducing the energy needed to move their massive bodies and allowing them to grow bigger.

Reproduction

Dinosaurs also laid numerous eggs to increase the likelihood that offspring would survive. Over generations, this survival contributed to the evolution of larger species.

Feeding

Large herbivores could feed more efficiently by accessing high vegetation and processing large amounts of food in their extensive digestive systems. This efficiency allowed them to sustain their enormous sizes.