Jianianhualong Tengi The Jianianhua Dragon Had Flight-Ready Feathers While most dinosaurs did not fly, more are known to have had all the equipment necessary. Asymmetrical feathering is seen as a vital step in the evolutionary process for modern birds, and the Jiananhua Dragon (or, Jianianhualong Tengi) was recently found to have tail-feathers perfectly structured for […]
Cretaceous Period Dinosaurs
Torosaurus
Torosaurus – A Massive-Skulled Ceratopsian, Dwarfing The Triceratops Torosaurus, pronounced TOR-uh-SAWR-us, (protuberance lizard) was an immense chasmosaurine ceratopsid (tribe Triceratopsini) dinosaur, having had one of the largest skulls of any known land animal, measuring in at a staggering nine-feet long. Chasmosaurinae is a subfamily of Ceratopsid dinosaurs—Torosaurus and Triceratops are two well-known relatives of the family […]
Stygimoloch
An Herbivorous Pachycephalosaurid Stygimoloch, pronounced STIJ-eh-MOLL-uk, is generally regarded as a genus of large Pachycephalosaurid dinosaur, an herbivore (some regard Stygimoloch an omnivore). The genus received its name due the fearsome appearance of its skull. Only parts of Stygimoloch’s skull have been found to date, in Montana and Wyoming. Stygimoloch belongs to the family Pachycephalosauridae, […]
Hypsilophodon
Hypsilophodon Was A Cretaceous Ornithopod Hypsilophodon, pronounced hip-sih-LO-fuh-don, was a prehistoric ornithopod dinosaur that lived in primarily in the Early Cretaceous period of what is today known as England. This was a small bipedal dinosaur that for some time has been misunderstood; recent findings and analyses have changed the picture we now have of Hypsilophodon. […]
Elasmosaurus
Elasmosaurus Was Not a Dinosaur Elasmosaurus was a large marine reptile with an extremely long neck that lived in the ocean 65 million years ago. This group is not a dinosaur group, but is reptilian and belongs to the family group Plesiosauria. This genus had a snake-like neck and large wide body which resembled that […]
Deinocheirus
As Tall As T-Rex – With Freddy Krueger Forearms “Terrible Hand” is an appropriate name for this prehistoric Theropod dinosaur that exhibited massive arms according to deduction of its fossilized and minimal bony remains. Named Deinocheirus, pronounced DYE-no-KYE-rus, is a genus of dinosaur that lived on Earth during the Late Cretaceous Period. The last indications […]
Microvenator
Microvenator Was an Oviraptorosaurian Theropod This “small hunter” is a genus of reptilian dinosaur, or oviraptorosaurian theropod. Microvenator is one of the smallest Theropods to exist. Like other oviraptorosaurs, Microvenator was a feathered maniraptoran dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period. They both have the characteristic short beaked snout and bird-like skull. The size of oviraptorosaurs could […]
Indosuchus
Indosuchus is an Abelisaurid Indosuchus is a prehistoric Theropod dinosaur that roamed the earth 70—65 million years ago. The name Indosuchus is taken from the Greek Indos and soukhos, respectively meaning “Indian crocodile”. Indosuchus is a genus of Abelisaurid dinosaur (a family of Ceratosaurian Theropod dinosaurs), and lived during Earth’s Late Cretaceous Period during the […]
Titanosaurus
Titanosaurus is Named For the Titans Titanosaurus lived about 75 million years ago and is a member of the family Titanosauridae that consists of enormous and armored Sauropods. The genus Titanosaurus, pronounced tye-TAN-uh-SAWR-us, is another dubious name due to many discoveries of species since Titanosaurus was first discovered in 1877 by Richard Lydekker. Since that […]
Struthiomimus
Struthiomimus Is Known As An Ostrich Mimic Struthiomimus was a lightweight member of the prehistoric dinosaur world. Named officially as “ostrich mimic” (Greek), Struthiomimus is a genus of the Ornithomimidae family from the Late Cretaceous Period of Alberta, Canada. The actual history of Struthiomimus is plagued with inadequate information and convolution. Initial discoveries were inaccurately […]
Protoceratops
Protoceratops, pronounced pro-to-SER-uh-TOPS, (Greek—First Horned Face) was a small prehistoric ceratopsian dinosaur of the ornithischian order that existed in the Late Cretaceous Period. Named primarily as designation of a similar genus to Ceratops, meaning “before Ceratops”, it is a genus considered on many platforms to be misclassified. Its type species is P. montanus. However, now […]
Prosaurolophus
Prosaurolophus, the Duck-Billed Dinosaur Prosaurolophus (Greek—before saurolophus), pronounced pro-SAWR-O-LO-FUS, was a terrestrial genus of hadrosaurid (known as the duck-billed dinosaurs due to similarity of their head to that of modern ducks) dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous Period. It is most commonly characterized by its long, broad skull and a small crest present near […]
Ornithomimus
Ornithomimus was an Ostrich-Like Omnivore Ornithomimus (pronounced Or-nith-owe-mim-uss), was a theropod belonging to the ornithomimid family and lived during the Late Cretaceous Period about 70 million years ago, in what is now North America. Ornithomimus meaning “Bird Mimic” when translated from Greek, which is in reference to its bird-like feet, has given its name to […]
Psittacosaurus
Psittacosaurus was a Cretaceous Ceratopsid Psittacosaurus (pronounced SIT-ah-co-SAWR-us) was a primitive Ceratopsid that lived 130-100 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous period. Although it is related to the better-known Triceratops, one wouldn’t know it by appearance. Psittacosaurus was a small bipedal dinosaur that was a fraction of the size of some of its larger […]
Saurolophus
Saurolophus was a Cretaceous Ornithopod One of the last dinosaurs to walk the Earth, Saurolophus became extinct around 65 million years ago in the late Cretaceous Era. The fossil remains of this two-ton plant eater have been found in North America and Asia, making it one of the few dinosaurs that lived on more than […]
Pachyrhinosaurus
Pachyrhinosaurus was a Cretaceous Ceratopsid Pachyrhinosaurus was a late Cretaceous Ceratopsid that lived 68-73 million years ago. Its name is Greek for “thick-nosed lizard”. Thick noses and elaborate, bony frills are distinguishing characteristics in the Pachyrhinosaurus genus, which was one of the last to roam the Earth before the mass extinction. Quick Facts Name Pachyrhinosaurus […]
Eoceratops
Eoceratops was a Cretaceous Ceratopsid Eoceratops was an herbivorous dinosaur that lived in the early Cretaceous Period, from 140 to 100 million years ago. Eoceratops was a member of the family Ceratopsidae, which includes other four-legged, horned dinosaurs. The first fossil was unearthed in 1898, but the fossil wasn’t recognized as a unique species until […]
Parasaurolophus
Parasaurolophus was a Long-crested Duck-billed Dinosaur Parasaurolophus was an Ornithopod dinosaur that lived some 75 million years ago during the Cretaceous period in what is now North America. Parasaurolophus (pronounced pah-Ruhsaw-uh-lofe-Us) was a Hadrosaurid a group known for their bizarre head ornaments. In the case of Parasaurolophus, a large and elaborate cranial crest made it […]
Carnotaurus
Carnotaurus Was a Cretaceous Period Carnivore Carnotaurus may not have been as large nor as heavy as Tyrannosaurus Rex, but this carnivore would have made a formidable sight. From it’s bull like horns to it’s quite incredible speed on land Carnotaurus was a force to be reckoned with. Quick Facts Name Carnotaurus Prehistoric Era Late […]
Therizinosaurus
Therizinosaurus was a Large Maniraptoran Theropod with Huge Claws Therizinosaurus was an advanced herbivorous maniraptoran theropod, originally thought to be a strange sauropod, with a mix of both sauropod and theropod characteristics. These characteristics along with its large claws makes it rather unique and much of an oddity. The name Therizinosaurus, (pronounced Ther-uh-Zeen-oh-Sawr-us) comes from […]
Triceratops
Triceratops was a Late Ceratopsid Dinosaur A ceratopsid (horned) dinosaur, Triceratops lived during the late Cretaceous Period about 65 million years ago, in what is now known as North America. Meaning “three-horned face” when translated from the Greek language, Triceratops (pronounced Try-serra-tops) was one of the last non-avian dinosaurs to live before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction. […]
Pachycephalosaurus
Pachycephalosaurus is a Rare Ornithiscian Herbivore An ornithischian dinosaur, Pachycephalosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous Period about 65 million years ago. It was one of the last non-avian dinosaurs living on earth before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. Known as the bone-headed, or dome-headed, dinosaur this is the largest dinosaur of the Pachycephalosaria family to date […]
Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus Was a Cretaceous Theropod Giganotosaurus was a theropod dinosaur that lived during the early Cenomanian stage during the mid to late Cretaceous period, about 97 million years ago. A member of the Carnosaur family Carcharodontosauridae, Giganotosaurus belonged to the subfamily Giganotosaurinae. Giganotosaurus is the largest meat-eating dinosaur to have been discovered in South America […]
Pteranodon
Pteranodon Wasn’t a Dinosaur at All Pteranodon, pronounced “ter-AN-o-DON”, was a flying carnivorous reptile that lived during the Late Cretaceous period about 75-85 million years ago. Its name means “Winged and Toothless”, referring to its toothless beak, which was like that of modern birds, and its huge wingspan, which was much larger than any modern […]
Argentinosaurus
Argentinosaurus was a Huge Cretaceous Sauropod Argentinosaurus lived during the late Cretaceous period about 95 million years ago and comes from the Titanosauria family of Sauropods, meaning armored giants. Occasionally known as the “Dino Don” the Argentinosaurus is one of the most famous sauropods of huge proportions that was discovered in the 1990’s. The name […]
Maiasaura
Maiasaura was a Nurturing Duck-billed Herbivore Maiasaura, pronounced “mah-ee-ah-sawr-uh”, was a large, duck-billed herbivore of average intelligence from the hadrosaur family. It’s name comes from the Greek words meaning “good mother lizard”, which refers to the evidence in the fossils showing that Maiasaura parents were nurturing of their young. This duck billed dinosaur lived in […]
Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus Was a Cretaceous Period Ceratopsian Syracosaurus, a member of the Centrosaurinae family, lived in the woodlands of North America in the late Cretaceous Period about 75 million years ago. This herbivore was amongst one of the last major dinosaurs to evolve before the end of the dinosaurs in the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction. Named Styracosaurus (pronounced […]
Lambeosaurus
Lambeosaurus was a Hollow-Crested Hadrosaur Lambeosaurus, pronounced “LAM-bee-uh-SOR-us”, was a bipedal and quadrupedal plant-eating dinosaur from the hadrosaurid family that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period in North America. It is the largest known duck-billed dinosaur, but its most distinguishing feature is a hollow crest on its cranium. The name “Lambeosaurus” means “Lambe’s lizard”. It […]
Dromaeosaurus
Dromaeosaurus was a Small, Cretaceous Theropod Dromaeosaurus, pronounced “DRO-me-uh-SAWR-us”, was a small theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period, about 76 to 75 million years ago. Its name comes from the Greek words “dromeos” meaning “runner” and “saurus” meaning lizard. The meaning behind the name refers to its long legs which were obviously built for […]
Edmontosaurus
Edmontosaurus is a Cretaceous Hadrosaur Edmontosaurus, pronounced “ed-MON-toh-Sawr-us” was a crestless hadrosaurid, or duck-billed, herbivorous dinosaur. It consists of two species, Edmontosaurus regalis and Edmontosaurus annectens. It lived over a wide area in western North America during the Cretaceous Period. The fossils of the first species, E. Regalis, were identified as living 73 million years […]
Gallimimus
Gallimimus is the Largest Ornithomimid Dinosaur Gallimimus pronounced “Gal-ih-MY-mus”, was a dinosaur from the Ornithomimidae family, which was a genus of theropod dinosaurs that looked like modern day ostriches. It was actually the largest of the Ornithomimids. Its name comes from the Greek words meaning “rooster mimic”, referring to its similarity to a flightless bird. […]
Chasmosaurus
Chasmosaurus was a Creataceous Period Ceratopsid Dinosaur Chasmosaurus, pronounced “KAZ-mo-SAWR-us”, is a North American dinosaur that lived during the upper Cretaceous period, about 70-75 million years ago. Its name is from the Greek words meaning “cleft” or “opening” and “lizard”. The name refers to the fenestration in the frill around its neck. It was part […]
Avimimus
Avimimus was a Bird-like Theropod from the Cretaceous Avimimus (pronounced AH-vee-MIME-us) was a feathered theropod dinosaur that lived about 95 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period in what is now Mongolia. It’s name comes from the Greek words meaning “bird mimic” because of its distinction as the first discovered dinosaur, with so many […]
Utahraptor
Utahraptor, which means “Utah’s predator”, is a theropod dinosaur that lived about 125 million years ago in the early Cretaceous era. It’s thought to have been the largest raptor that ever lived (ironically, the two ton “Gigantoraptor” from central Asia isn’t even in the running because it was just a large theropod dinosaur, not a […]
Quetzalcoatlus
Quetzalcoatlus is the Largest Flying Pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus, pronounced “KWET-zal-koh-AT-lus” was a huge pterosaur which lived about 65-68 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period in North America. It had the distinguishing honor of being the biggest known flying animal to have ever lived. Douglas A. Lawson named it in 1975 after a god in […]
Carcharodontosaurus
Carcharodontosaurus Lived over 93 million years ago Carcharodontosaurus (pronounced Car-kah-roe-don-to sore-us ) was one of the biggest carnivorous dinosaurs of the North African region where it called home. It lived 93 to 100 million years ago and was found to be second in size for predatory dinosaurs. Carcharodontosaurus was larger than Tyrannosaurus and Giganotosaurus, although […]
Troodon
Troodon Was The Most Intelligent Dinosaur To Ever Live Troodon was an eye-opener for palentologists and scientists who believed dinosaurs had been destined to be dumb creatures. When this dino was dug up, the Dromaeosaurids reigned supreme in the brains department as the smartest dinosaur ever found — however, Troodon was soon confirmed to have […]
Velociraptor
Velociraptor is Mostly Known By Fictional Portrayals The little information that most people know about the Velociraptor can usually be traced to the 1993 film Jurassic Park, but there is more fiction to the film than most realize. One of the most frequently cited inaccuracies is the size of the depicted Velociraptor. Although the film […]
Sauroposeidon
Sauroposeidon is the Tallest Dinosaur Known Sauroposeidon was the last of the giant sauropods in the early cretaceous period. Thanks to its long neck, this herbivore has won the title of “tallest dinosaur known to date”. The reconstruction process, based on the discovery of only four vertebrae, is a great display of the ingenuity with […]
Oviraptor
Oviraptor – The Egg Snatcher The Oviraptor is one of the most controversially studied dinosaurs to ever be discovered. As a Cretaceous period creature, these animals and their habits have been the focal point of long disputes within the Palentology world. Below you’ll discover everything you ever wanted to know about the Oviraptor and the […]
Iguanodon
Iguanodon Is The Second Most Popular Dinosaur Ever Discovered Iguanodon is ranked so highly on the Paleontologist charts because it was the second dinosaur to ever be labeled. Named with a Greek term meaning “Iguana tooth,” Iguanodon fossils were at first mistaken for a species of a different category, nearly missing the chance to be […]
Albertosaurus
Albertosaurus Was a Smaller Tyrannosaurus Rex A relative of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Albertosaurus was named after the place where the first fossil was found in Alberta, Canada. Since then, this dinosaur has been compared and confused with its larger predatory cousin. With the same physical attributes only in lesser sizes, the Albertosaurus is commonly misrepresented […]
Ankylosaurus
Ankylosaurus is a Tank Sized Cretaceous Herbivore Ankylosaurus is a late cretaceous period herbivore known for its heavy body armor and huge tail club. This tank sized creature may have fed on vegetation but it posed plenty of threat to even the most vicious of carnivores. Below we will take a look at this […]
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Tyrannosaurus Rex is a Giant Cretaceous Carnivore The Tyrannosaurus Rex or “tyrant lizard” is one of the better known dinosaurs of all prehistory. While many believe that this seven ton carnivore was a creature of the Jurassic age, this theropod did not come along until much later during the cretaceous era. When it comes […]