Many species of mammals and birds also went extinct. But no dinosaurs other than birds survived. Several hypotheses have been progressive to explain this occurrence as well. Between them have been the general average sizes of birds and mammals, which were much smaller than the average dinosaur and that size difference plus metabolic energetics gave smaller birds and mammals an advantage. Other hypotheses involve the fact that most mammals, at the time, were burrowers so might have been protected from the harsher features of the climate changes.
Bibliography * http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-intro-to-biology.html * http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/htmlversion/cretaceous4.html * www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080930102631.htm * www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/24933/title/Mass-extinction-effect-on-mammals-disputed/
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