Clever little boy breaks world record with his incredible knowledge of dinosaurs
Can you tell a Tyrannosaurus rex from a Triceratops? Well, this adorable little record breaker sure can!
Avyukt Singh (India) is only five years old, but he’s already a legend after smashing the record for most dinosaurs identified in one minute with an impressive total of 46.
The record to beat was 41.
When we asked if he’s always loved dinosaurs, Avyukt told us: “Yes, absolutely! I find dinosaurs really exciting because every species is different but they still have some similarities too. I have many dinosaur books and toy dinosaurs that I love to look at and play with.
“In my play school, my mother made a Tyrannosaurus costume for me for a fancy dress competition and I won first prize. I roared like a T. rex as loudly as I could and everyone enjoyed it a lot! I sometimes imagine how amazing it would be if dinosaurs were still alive, because I would really love to see them in real life.”
It never ends well in the Jurassic Park movies, but most of us would agree it would be very cool to see a dinosaur in real life.
Avyukt added: “I like how strong and powerful dinosaurs are! Some are huge like giants, some are super fast and some have sharp teeth and claws to protect themselves. Some even have special features like a hammer-like tail for defence.
“I love how each dinosaur is different and has its own special abilities. They feel so brave and fearless, like they can do anything! That makes them really fun and exciting for me to learn about. And the best part is when my mother tells me fun facts about different dinosaurs.
“Some were so huge that they could be as long as three buses lined up and weighed as much as 30 adult elephants. Some dinosaurs made nests to protect their eggs, just like birds do. Some had very big eyes that were very sharp, helping them notice everything around them, even at night. It feels like each dinosaur has its own special superpower and I really enjoy listening to these fun facts because they make dinosaurs even more exciting and magical for me.”
Avyukt, who is in kindergarten and lives in Noida City, Uttar Pradesh with his parents and grandparents, was encouraged by his mum, Nidhi Sharma, to attempt a Guinness World Records title.
He said: “I had heard that Guinness World Records is known all over the world and represents the highest level of achievement, so it felt very special and inspiring to me.
“My mother first told me about Guinness World Records and explained how meaningful it is and that it is considered the biggest milestone for everyone, which made me really excited and motivated to try for it. My mother was very keen for me to attempt this record and guided me step by step throughout the journey, which helped me understand and work towards it with confidence.”
Read about more records like this in our Hobbies and Skills section.
If you’re wondering what Avyukt’s favourite dinosaur is, he considers the T. rex to be the “king of dinosaurs”.
Avyukt studied hard for his record attempt, looking at pictures of all different types of dinosaurs so he could learn their names and what makes each of them unique.
Once he’d learned them all, he practised every day to improve his speed and accuracy.
The little lad is already on his way to becoming a serial record breaker, with him currently waiting to hear back on more attempts he’s done and planning to do.
He said: “This will always be very special to me as it is my first ever Guinness World Records title. One of the most memorable moments for me was when my mother saw the email from Guinness World Records saying that the record had been approved.
“She was so happy that she first jumped out of bed and then started crying happy tears. She hugged me and told me that I had achieved a Guinness World Records title.”
He added: “At the same time, this is just the beginning for me and I feel excited and motivated to keep learning and try for more records in the future, including the ones currently under review.”