The next several decades could prove a golden age for dinosaur hunters looking to discover new species of the ancient reptiles. A new statistical analysis predicts that more than 1,300 unique dinosaur genera await discovery by paleontologists. In biology, a genus is an organizational group made up of one or more separate species; the plural of genus is genera."It's a safe bet that a child born today could expect a very fruitful career in dinosaur paleontology," said study co-author Peter Dodson of the University of Pennsylvania.But that child's grandchildren might not be so lucky, Dodson said, as new discoveries will decline sharply in the early 22nd century, according to his new analysis.Since dinosaur research began in earnest in the 19th century, 527 genera have been found; that number is increasing by about 15 percent each year. The majority of dinosaur species are known based on a single fossil specimen.

The researchers predict that 75 percent of all discoverable genera will be found within the next 100 years, and 90 percent within the next 140 years. Dodson predicts that 1,850 dinosaur genera will eventually be known.The new study, which Dodson co-authored with statistician Steve Wang of Swarthmore College, is detailed online in the journal for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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It's impressive to know there's over 500 known dinosaur species already. I'm looking forward to see the yet to be discovered ones. If I'm lucky, I'll be alive to see a good two thirds of the missing genera.

I know there are different dinosaur eras, but has most species gone into extinction roughly at the same period in time? I know the most accepted theory is a meteor strike. What if a similar cataclysmic natural disaster would happen in this day an age? Would we all suffer the same fate? Makes you wonder sometimes...

Sounds great that more will be discovered, for some reason it's always been a job/subject i wanted to do/study. So theres inspiration more still to be discovered as i was kinda put off by well there may not be much left to discover....

Any how enough of that, it's weird to think there could be literally 1000s of different dinosuars sure there was millions of years they lived in and sure our planet is probably liteted with 1000s of species but it seems weird about dinos.

Anyway can't wait for the next one maybe we could find a bigger canivor than the spineosaurus?

Or a dodgey dino with three legs like Jake the peg lol

Sweet, dinosaurs rule, hope i can work with em!

iT WouLd Be CoOL To SeE ThE uNdiScoVeRed oNes yET...DiNoSaUrs aRe da ShiZzNiT

Dinosaurs are being discovered right now...But normally are only named and released to the public a couple months to years after discovery.

Dinosaurs had thousands of species because they were the dominant animals. Just like how mammals have thousands of species now.

I have always been interested in the dinosauria. I suspect we will see much more than what is projected by Mr. Dodson. In point of fact, it has been said that there may have been as many as 500,000 dinosaur species. A staggering number compared to what we know now. Regardless, the time is comming when we may be able to observe the non-dinosauria in the flesh, so to speak. Cheerio...

D

Imagine what we would find if Antartica thawed. Although it would probably be a global disaster due to rises sea levels but eh.

I get excited every time I hear about a new specie large or small. My favorite family withouut a doubt is the raptor family.(duh! note the pic of the handsom creature to the left) Recently I found out about the Megaraptor, Microraptor,and Eoraptor. This family has been around since the beginning of the dinosaur races. Eoraptor is one of the first dino species, and the Microraptor is one of the links between dino and bird.

I own a few college text books full of tasty dino info.