(adapted from the Yahoo! Kids Dictionary, the American Heritage Student Science Dictionary, and Merriam-Webster Online.)

paleontology The study of the life of past geological periods as known from fossil remains.

dinosaur Any of various extinct, often gigantic, carnivorous or herbivorous reptiles that were chiefly terrestrial.

evolution Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of new species.

natural selection The principle that organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive long enough to pass on their genetic characteristics to their offspring.

predator An organism that lives by preying on other organisms.

species a group of organisms having common attributes and designated by the same name