Caudipteryx Was a Theropod Dubbed “tail feather”, this Theropod dinosaur lived in the Aptian age of the Late Jurassic—early Cretaceous Period, 120—136 million years ago. Two species have been described; C. zoui (the type species discovered in 1998), and C. dongi (2000). Caudipteryx, pronounced caw-DIP-tuh-riks, is one of the earliest bird-like dinosaurs to have existed, […]
Saurischia
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 […]
Mamenchisaurus
Mamenchisaurus Was a Late Jurassic Sauropod Mamenchisaurus was a dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period and was the biggest sauropod of its time. Found in Asia and pronounced mah-MUN-chi-SAWR-us, the name means “Mamenchi lizard” and comes from the Chinese Pinyin and men, respectively ma men. Chi is the Chinese translation of “stream” or […]
Saurischia Versus Ornithischia
The Difference Of Saurischia Versus Ornithischia Although the general public like to think that researchers categorize dinosaurs based on being carnivorous or herbivorous, this is not the case. Dinosaur species are actually most commonly categorized as being saurischian or ornithischian. So what do these terms mean and how do they differ? Let’s take a look. […]
Cryolophosaurus
The Theropod With The Elvis Pompadour Relatively little is known about this prehistoric dinosaur, found in the frigid climate of Antarctica and named as a “frozen crested lizard”, or Cryolophosaurus, pronounced CRY-oh-LOAF-oh-SORE-us. The species type is Cryolophosaurus elliotti, or C. elliotti (Greek for “cold crested lizard”). The prehistoric species existed around 190-185 million years ago. […]
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 […]
Massospondylus
Massospondylus, aka M. carinatus The “elongated spine” dinosaur, Massospondylus (Greek- Greater Vertebrae), pronounced mass-o-SPON-dih-lus, was a genus quadrupedal, semi-bipedal herbivore and possible omnivore from the Early Jurassic period. Otherwise known as Massospondylus carinatus, the standing species of the Massospondylus genus M. carinatus was a mid-sized prosauropod that lived during the Hettangian to Pliensbachian ages of […]
Barosaurus
Barosaurus is Not a Commonly Recognized Dinosaur The Barosaurus was an herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Upper Jurassic period, around one hundred and fifty million years ago! Its name is derived from the Greek words ‘barys’ and ‘saurus’, which literally translate as ‘heavy lizard.’ Barosaurus was a long necked dinosaur, and a fairly close […]
Herrerasaurus
Herrerasaurus Ischigualastensis- The One and Only Herrerasaurus Herrerasaurus, pronounced huh-Rare-uh-Sore-us, is classified to the family of Herrerasauridae, designated as the oldest known dinosaurs. The genus species type, Ischigualastensis, was marked by Osvaldo Reig in 1963, and named after the person credited with finding the first fossilized traces of this species. Herrera was the name of […]
Seismosaurus
Seismosaurus Was Likely A Large Diplodocus Seismosaurus (pronounced Size-mow-Sore-uss) was a giant saurischian sauropod named from the Greek language for its size which can be translated as “(earth) quake lizard”. Seismosaurus was once thought to have been a new genus of dinosaur but in recent years it has been agreed upon by most palaeontologists that […]
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 […]
Diplodocus
Diplodocus was a Jurassic Sauropod Diplodocus walked the Earth about 150 million years ago in the late Jurassic Era. At the time of its discovery, Diplodocus was the longest dinosaur on record. It has since been out-measured by the likes of the Supersaurus or the rarely-mentioned Futalgnkosaurus, but Diplodocus played an important role in fueling […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Ornitholestes
Ornitholestes is a Small Bipedal Carnivore Ornitholestes, pronounced “or-NITH-o-less-teez”, was a small but fast bipedal dinosaur that lived in the areas of modern day Wyoming and Utah. It was a hunter of small game, like lizards, and its name comes from the Greek words meaning “bird robber”. This theropod lived in the late Jurassic period, […]
Eoraptor
Eoraptor was a Very Primitive Dinosaur Eoraptor, pronounced “EE-oh-RAP-tor, was one of the earliest known dinosaurs. It’s name comes from the Greek, meaning “Dawn plunderer”. It lived in the Triassic period, about 228 million years ago. Eoraptor lived in what is today the northwestern region of South America. Eoraptor was from the saurischia, or “lizard-hipped”, […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Brachiosaurus
Brachiosaurus was a High Browsing Sauropod From the Late Jurassic Brachiosaurus, pronounced “BRACK-ee-uh-Sawr-us”, was a large quadrapedal sauropod dinosaur. It was a herbivore from the late Jurassic period, living about 140-155 million years ago. The name Brachiosaurus comes from the Greek meaning “arm lizard”. It’s front limbs were quite long in relation to the rest […]
Plateosaurus
Plateosaurus is a Late Triassic Dinosaur Plateosaurus, pronounced PLAT-ee-oh-SAW-rus, was a sauropodomorph which lived around 204 to 214 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. It was discovered in 1834 by Johann Friedrich Engelhardt when paleontology was still a new science, in fact, the first known use of the word “paleontology” was not until […]
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 […]
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 […]
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx was a Bird-Like Theropod Dinosaur Archaeopteryx lived around 150 million years ago during the Jurassic era, in what is now southern Germany. It lived before the continental shift and, at the time, Europe was a group of tropical islands much closer to the equator. Archaeopteryx (pronounced AR-kee-OP-ter-iks) comes from the Ancient Greek: archaios, meaning […]
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 […]
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 […]
Coelophysis
Coelophysis was a Nine Foot Long Carnivore Some 216.5 to 203.6 million years ago during the late Triassic period Coelophysis walked the Earth. As one of the earliest known genera of dinosaurs this nine foot long carnivore can teach us a lot about the evolution of dinosaurs. Below we will take a look at everything […]
Dilophosaurus
Dilophosaurus is a Commonly Misrepresented Dinosaur Dilophosaurus is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented dinosaur species to have lived. As one of the earliest Jurassic theropods this dinosaur has suffered from poor fossil representation and imaginative Hollywood depictions. Below we will take a look at just what we do know about this bipedal carnivore. […]
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 […]