This is a list of non-avian dinosaurs whose remains have been recovered in Africa . Africa has a rich fossil record. It is rich in Triassic and Early Jurassic dinosaurs. African dinosaurs from these time periods include Megapnosaurus , Dracovenator , Melanorosaurus , Massospondylus , Euskelosaurus , Heterodontosaurus , Abrictosaurus , and Lesothosaurus . In the Middle Jurassic, the sauropods Atlasaurus , Chebsaurus , Jobaria , and Spinophorosaurus , flourished, as well as the theropod Afrovenator . The Late Jurassic is well represented in Africa, mainly thanks to the spectacular Tendaguru Formation in Lindi Region of Tanzania. Veterupristisaurus , Ostafrikasaurus , Elaphrosaurus , Giraffatitan , Dicraeosaurus , Janenschia , Tornieria , Tendaguria , Kentrosaurus , and Dysalotosaurus are among the dinosaurs whose remains have been recovered from Tendaguru. This fauna seems to show strong similarities to that of the Morrison Formation in the United States and the Lourinha Formation in Portugal. For example, similar theropods, ornithopods and sauropods have been found in both the Tendaguru and the Morrison. This has important biogeographical implications.
The Early Cretaceous in Africa is known primarily from the northern part of the continent, particularly Niger. Suchomimus , Elrhazosaurus , Rebbachisaurus , Nigersaurus , Kryptops , Nqwebasaurus , and Paranthodon are some of the Early Cretaceous dinosaurs known from Africa. The Early Cretaceous was an important time for the dinosaurs of Africa because it was when Africa finally separated from South America, forming the South Atlantic Ocean. This was an important event because now the dinosaurs of Africa started developing endemism because of isolation. The Late Cretaceous of Africa is known mainly from North Africa. During the early part of the Late Cretaceous, North Africa was home to a rich dinosaur fauna. It includes Spinosaurus , Carcharodontosaurus , Rugops , Bahariasaurus , Deltadromeus , Paralititan , Aegyptosaurus , and Ouranosaurus .
Name | Year | Formation | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aardonyx | 2010 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | South Africa | Primarily bipedal but also capable of quadrupedal locomotion | |
Abrictosaurus | 1975 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | Lesotho South Africa | Known from two skulls, one of which possesses tusks, which may be an indication of sexual dimorphism [1] | |
Adratiklit | 2020 | El Mers Group (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian to Callovian?) | Morocco | One of the oldest known stegosaurs. Related to Late Jurassic European forms despite its early age [2] | |
Aegyptosaurus | 1932 | Bahariya Formation, Continental intercalaire?, Farak Formation? (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Egypt Niger? | Its holotype specimen was destroyed in World War II | |
Afromimus | 2017 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian) | Niger | Originally described as an African ornithomimosaur, [3] but later redescribed as a possible noasaurid [4] | |
Afrovenator | 1994 | Tiourarén Formation (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Bathonian to Oxfordian) | Niger | Originally thought to hail from the Early Cretaceous | |
Ajnabia | 2021 | Ouled Abdoun Basin (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Morocco | The first hadrosaurid known from Africa. Closely related to European lambeosaurines [5] | |
Algoasaurus | 1904 | Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | South Africa | Today known from only a few bones. Several more may have been made into bricks before they could be studied [6] | |
Angolatitan | 2011 | Itombe Formation (Late Cretaceous, Coniacian) | Angola | The first non-avian dinosaur described from Angola | |
Antetonitrus | 2003 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian) | South Africa | Had weight-bearing adaptations in all its limbs, although its forelimbs retain adaptations for grasping | |
Arcusaurus | 2011 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Pliensbachian) | South Africa | Combines traits of basal and advanced sauropodomorphs | |
Atlasaurus | 1999 | Guettioua Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian to Callovian) | Morocco | Possessed relatively elongated legs for a sauropod | |
Australodocus | 2007 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Tanzania | Potentially an early euhelopodid [7] | |
Bahariasaurus | 1934 | Bahariya Formation, Farak Formation? (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian to Turonian) | Egypt Niger? | Large but known from very few remains | |
Berberosaurus | 2007 | Azilal Formation (Early Jurassic, Toarcian) | Morocco | One of the oldest known ceratosaurs | |
Blikanasaurus | 1985 | Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | South Africa | A "hyper-robust" form that niche partitioned with other Late Triassic Elliot Formation sauropodomorphs [8] | |
Carcharodontosaurus | 1931 | Bahariya Formation, Chenini Formation?, Continental intercalaire, Echkar Formation, Elrhaz Formation?, Kem Kem Group, Wadi Milk Formation? (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Algeria Egypt Morocco Niger Sudan? Tunisia | One of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs. Two species are known | |
Chebsaurus | 2005 | Aïssa Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | Algeria | Known from two juvenile specimens | |
Chenanisaurus | 2017 | Ouled Abdoun Basin (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Morocco | Potentially represents a lineage of abelisaurids endemic to Africa | |
Cristatusaurus | 1998 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian) | Niger | Usually seen as a synonym of Suchomimus , although some studies consider it to be a valid genus [9] | |
Deltadromeus | 1996 | Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Morocco | Its precise phylogenetic position has been historically unstable, with multiple interpretations being suggested in the scientific literature [10] [11] [12] [13] | |
Dicraeosaurus | 1914 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Tanzania | A short-necked, low-browsing sauropod. Two species are known | |
Dracovenator | 2005 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian) | South Africa | Only known from fragments of a skull, but those are enough to tell that it was related to Dilophosaurus | |
Dysalotosaurus | 1919 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Tanzania | Known from multiple remains that revealed much about its life history, [14] diet [15] and even disease [16] | |
Elaphrosaurus | 1920 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Tanzania | Possessed a relatively shallow chest for a medium-sized theropod | |
Elrhazosaurus | 2009 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) | Niger | Closely related to Valdosaurus | |
Eocarcharia | 2008 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Niger | Its frontal bone was swollen into a thick band, which gave it a menacing glare | |
Eocursor | 2007 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | South Africa | One of the most completely known early ornithischians | |
Eucnemesaurus | 1920 | Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Carnian to Norian) | South Africa | Some fossils assigned to this genus were originally interpreted as those of a giant herrerasaurid | |
Euskelosaurus | 1866 | Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) | Lesotho South Africa Zimbabwe | Originally thought to have been bow-legged | |
Geranosaurus | 1911 | Clarens Formation (Early Jurassic, Pliensbachian to Toarcian) | South Africa | Poorly known but potentially a heterodontosaurid | |
Giraffatitan | 1988 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Tanzania | Popularly associated with Brachiosaurus but several differences between the two have been noted [17] | |
Gryponyx | 1911 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | South Africa | Although usually seen as a synonym of Massospondylus , at least one study has found it to be distantly related [18] | |
Heterodontosaurus | 1962 | Clarens Formation, Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | South Africa | Possessed three types of teeth, including analogues of incisors and tusks, as well as a keratinous beak | |
Igai | 2023 | Quseir Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | Egypt | More closely related to European titanosaurs than to southern African ones | |
Ignavusaurus | 2010 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian) | Lesotho | Only known from a single, mostly articulated juvenile skeleton with a badly crushed skull | |
Inosaurus | 1960 | Bahariya Formation?, Eckhar Formation?, Tegama Group? (Early Cretaceous, Albian?) | Egypt? Niger | Very poorly known | |
Iyuku | 2022 | Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | South Africa | Uniquely known from an assemblage of mostly hatchling and juvenile fossils | |
Janenschia | 1991 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Tanzania | Potentially a close relative of Bellusaurus , Haestasaurus and Tehuelchesaurus , all of which may form a unique clade of eusauropods with possible turiasaur affinities [7] [19] [20] | |
Jobaria | 1999 | Tiourarén Formation (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Bathonian to Oxfordian) | Niger | Known from an almost complete skeleton | |
Kangnasaurus | 1915 | Kalahari Deposits Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) | South Africa | Comparisons have been made with dryosaurids [21] but at least two studies suggest a position within Elasmaria [22] [23] | |
Karongasaurus | 2005 | Dinosaur Beds (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) | Malawi | Described from only a mandible and isolated teeth | |
Kentrosaurus | 1915 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Tanzania | Possessed two rows of plates that gradually transitioned into spikes towards the tail, as well as a long spike on each shoulder | |
Kholumolumo | 2020 | Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Lesotho | Before its formal description, it had been informally referred to as "Kholumolumosaurus" and "Thotobolosaurus". The latter name means "trash heap lizard" in Sesotho, referring to how the holotype was originally found close to a trash heap | |
Kryptops | 2008 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian) | Niger | Postcranial remains referred to this genus may have instead come from a carcharodontosaurid [24] | |
Ledumahadi | 2018 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | South Africa | One of the largest Early Jurassic dinosaurs, estimated as weighing 12 tonnes (26,000 lb) despite lacking columnar limbs like later sauropods [25] | |
Lesothosaurus | 1978 | Clarens Formation, Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | Lesotho South Africa | Possibly an opportunistic omnivore, feeding on meat during seasons when plants are not available [26] | |
Lurdusaurus | 1999 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian) | Niger | The proportions of its body and limbs suggest it may have been a semiaquatic herbivore similar to a hippopotamus [27] | |
Lycorhinus | 1924 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | South Africa | Originally misidentified as a cynodont | |
Malawisaurus | 1993 | Dinosaur Beds (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) | Malawi | Known from abundant material, including elements from the skull and osteoderms, but they may not represent a single taxon [28] | |
Mansourasaurus | 2018 | Quseir Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | Egypt | One of the few Late Cretaceous sauropods known from Africa [29] | |
Massospondylus | 1854 | Bushveld Sandstone, Clarens Formation, Elliot Formation, Forest Sandstone (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Pliensbachian) | Lesotho South Africa Zimbabwe | Abundant remains have been discovered. Several specimens were once assigned to their own genera and species | |
Mbiresaurus | 2022 | Pebbly Arkose Formation (Late Triassic, Carnian) | Zimbabwe | One of the oldest dinosaurs known from Africa. Its discovery proves that the earliest dinosaurs were restricted to high latitudes [30] | |
Melanorosaurus | 1924 | Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | South Africa | A robust, quadrupedal herbivore. Some specimens assigned to this genus may not represent the same taxon [8] | |
Meroktenos | 2016 | Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) | Lesotho | Its femur was unusually robust for an animal of its size | |
Minqaria | 2024 | Ouled Abdoun Basin (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Morocco | Known from a partial skull | |
Mnyamawamtuka | 2019 | Galula Formation (Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous, Aptian to Cenomanian) | Tanzania | Its specific name, moyowamkia, is Kiswahili for "heart tail", which references the heart-shaped cross-section of its caudal vertebrae | |
Musankwa | 2024 | Pebbly Arkose Formation, (Late Triassic, Norian) | Zimbabwe | The fourth dinosaur genus to be named from Zimbabwe | |
Ngwevu | 2019 | Clarens Formation (Early Jurassic, Pliensbachian to Toarcian) | South Africa | Known from a skull originally assigned to Massospondylus . It was assigned to its own genus based on its unique proportions | |
Nigersaurus | 1999 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian) | Niger | All of its teeth were at the front of its jaws, which were wider than the rest of its skull, an adaptation to low browsing | |
Nqwebasaurus | 2000 | Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | South Africa | The first non-avian coelurosaur named from mainland Africa | |
Orosaurus | 1867 | Elliot Formation? (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) | South Africa | Probably a synonym of Euskelosaurus | |
Ostafrikasaurus | 2012 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Tanzania | Described from a single tooth as an early spinosaurid [31] but ceratosaurid affinities have also been proposed [32] | |
Ouranosaurus | 1976 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) | Niger | Had long neural spines that projected from its vertebrae, which may have supported a sail or hump in life | |
Paralititan | 2001 | Bahariya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Egypt | Would have lived in a tidal flat environment dominated by mangroves | |
Paranthodon | 1929 | Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | South Africa | Although only known from fragmentary specimens, they are enough to tell that it was a stegosaur | |
Pegomastax | 2012 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | South Africa | The morphology of its jaws and beak suggests a diet of tough plants | |
Plateosauravus | 1932 | Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | South Africa | Known from multiple specimens, including those of juveniles | |
Pulanesaura | 2015 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | South Africa | A low browser that lacked the extremely long neck of later sauropods | |
Rebbachisaurus | 1954 | Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Morocco | Carried a row of elongated neural spines, which would have supported a ridge or low sail on its back | |
Rugops | 2004 | Echkar Formation (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Niger | Preserves two rows of holes on the top of its skull, which may have anchored a display structure [33] or an armor-like dermis [34] | |
Rukwatitan | 2014 | Galula Formation (Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous, Albian to Cenomanian) | Tanzania | One of the few titanosaurs known from central Africa, filling in a gap in their evolutionary history | |
Sauroniops | 2012 | Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Morocco | Only known from a single, thickened frontal. Suggested to be a synonym of Carcharodontosaurus [13] but this has been refuted [35] | |
Sefapanosaurus | 2015 | Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian) | South Africa | Had a distinctive cross-shaped astragalus | |
Shingopana | 2017 | Galula Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | Tanzania | Most closely related to South American titanosaurs | |
Spicomellus | 2021 | El Mers Group (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian to Callovian) | Morocco | The oldest ankylosaur known and the first one from Africa. Uniquely, its osteoderms were fused directly to its ribs | |
Spinophorosaurus | 2009 | Irhazer Shale (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian to Bathonian) | Niger | Originally described as possessing a "thagomizer" similar to those of stegosaurs, [36] but these turned out to be misidentified clavicles. [37] A high browser with tall shoulders and an elevated neck [38] | |
Spinosaurus | 1915 | Bahariya Formation, Chenini Formation, Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Algeria Egypt Morocco Tunisia | Possessed a myriad of features that have been suggested to be evidence of a semiaquatic lifestyle, including webbed feet [39] and a paddle-like tail. [40] However, it is debated if it was a marine piscivore [41] or a shoreline generalist [42] | |
Spinostropheus | 2004 | Tiourarén Formation (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Bathonian to Oxfordian) | Niger | Although often considered a close relative of Elaphrosaurus , these inferences are based on a specimen that cannot actually be referred to this genus [43] | |
Suchomimus | 1998 | Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Albian) | Niger | Similar to Baryonyx but with a low sail on its back | |
Tataouinea | 2013 | Aïn el Guettar Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Tunisia | Its bones were extensively pneumatized, supporting the theory that sauropods had bird-like respiratory systems | |
Tazoudasaurus | 2004 | Azilal Formation (Early Jurassic, Toarcian) | Morocco | One of the few Early Jurassic sauropods known from reasonably complete remains | |
Tendaguria | 2000 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Tanzania | The first definitive turiasaur known from Africa [7] | |
Thyreosaurus | 2024 | El Mers Group (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian to Callovian?) | Morocco | May have possessed a recumbent dermal armor, an unusual feature among stegosaurs [44] | |
Tornieria | 1911 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Tanzania | Has been assigned to different genera throughout its history | |
Veterupristisaurus | 2011 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Tanzania | Known from a few vertebrae somewhat similar to those of Acrocanthosaurus | |
Vulcanodon | 1972 | Forest Sandstone (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian to Pliensbachian) | Zimbabwe | Theropod teeth were found associated with the holotype | |
Wamweracaudia | 2019 | Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Tanzania | The first definitive mamenchisaurid known from outside Asia |
This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in mya along the x-axis.
Ornithischia is an extinct clade of mainly herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by a pelvic structure superficially similar to that of birds. The name Ornithischia, or "bird-hipped", reflects this similarity and is derived from the Greek stem ornith- (ὀρνιθ-), meaning "bird", and ischion (ἴσχιον), meaning "hip". However, birds are only distantly related to this group, as birds are theropod dinosaurs.
Sauropodomorpha is an extinct clade of long-necked, herbivorous, saurischian dinosaurs that includes the sauropods and their ancestral relatives. Sauropods generally grew to very large sizes, had long necks and tails, were quadrupedal, and became the largest animals to ever walk the Earth. The prosauropods, which preceded the sauropods, were smaller and were often able to walk on two legs. The sauropodomorphs were the dominant terrestrial herbivores throughout much of the Mesozoic Era, from their origins in the Late Triassic until their decline and extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.
Massospondylus is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic. It was described by Sir Richard Owen in 1854 from remains discovered in South Africa, and is thus one of the first dinosaurs to have been named. Fossils have since been found at other locations in South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. Material from Arizona's Kayenta Formation, India, and Argentina has been assigned to the genus at various times, but the Arizonan and Argentinian material are now assigned to other genera.
Dysalotosaurus is a genus of herbivorous iguanodontian dinosaur. It was a dryosaurid iguanodontian, and its fossils have been found in late Kimmeridgian-age rocks of the Tendaguru Formation of Lindi Region in Tanzania. The type and only species of the genus is D. lettowvorbecki. This species was named by Hans Virchow in 1919 in honor of the Imperial German Army Officer, Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. For much of the 20th century the species was referred to the related and approximately contemporary genus Dryosaurus, but newer studies reject this synonymy.
Spinostropheus is a genus of carnivorous neotheropod theropod dinosaur that lived in the Middle Jurassic period and has been found in the Tiouraren Formation, Niger. The type and only species is S. gautieri.
The Lourinhã Formation is a fossil-rich geological formation in western Portugal, named for the municipality of Lourinhã. The formation is mostly Late Jurassic in age (Kimmeridgian/Tithonian), with the top of the formation extending into the earliest Cretaceous (Berriasian). It is notable for containing a fauna especially similar to that of the Morrison Formation in the United States and a lesser extent to the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania. There are also similarities to the nearby Villar del Arzobispo Formation and Alcobaça Formation. Besides the fossil bones, Lourinhã Formation is well known for the fossil tracks and fossilized dinosaur eggs.
Massospondylidae is a family of early massopod dinosaurs that existed in Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Antarctica during the Late Triassic to the Early Jurassic periods. Several dinosaurs have been classified as massospondylids over the years. The largest cladistic analysis of early sauropodomorphs, which was presented by Apaldetti and colleagues in November 2011, found Adeopapposaurus, Coloradisaurus, Glacialisaurus, Massospondylus, Leyesaurus and Lufengosaurus to be massospondylids. This result supports many previous analyses that tested fewer taxa. However, this analysis found the two recently described North American massopods, Sarahsaurus and Seitaad, and the South African Ignavusaurus to nest outside Massospondylidae, as opposed to some provisional proposals. Earlier in 2011, Pradhania, a sauropodomorph from India, was tested for the first time in a large cladistic analysis and was found to be a relatively basal massospondylid. Mussaurus and Xixiposaurus may also be included within Massospondylidae.
The Tiourarén Formation is a geological formation in the Agadez Region of Niger whose strata were originally thought to be Early Cretaceous. However, re-interpretation of the sediments showed that they are probably Middle or Late Jurassic (Bathonian-Oxfordian) in age. Other works suggested it reaches the Barremian. It is the uppermost unit of the Irhazer Group. Dinosaur remains & other vertebrates are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. Originally part of the "Argiles de l'Ihrazer", the Tiouaren Formation primarily comprises reddish to purple siltstones with occasional marls, limestones, and scarce channel sandstones.
The Kem Kem Group is a geological group in the Kem Kem region of eastern Morocco, whose strata date back to the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Its strata are subdivided into two geological formations, with the lower Ifezouane Formation and the upper Aoufous Formation used for the strata on the eastern side of the Atlas Mountains (Tinghir), with the Gara Sbaa Formation and Douira Formation used in the southern Tafilalt region. It is exposed on an escarpment along the Algeria–Morocco border.
Bahariasauridae is a potential family of averostran theropods that might include a handful of African and South American genera, such as Aoniraptor, Bahariasaurus, Deltadromeus, and Gualicho. The placement of these theropods is controversial, with some studies placing them as basal ceratosaurs possibly related to Noasauridae, others classifying them as megaraptorans, basal neovenatorids, or basal coelurosaurs. There is also a possibility the group might not be monophyletic, as a monograph on the vertebrate diversity in the Kem Kem Beds published in 2020 found Bahariasaurus to be nomen dubium. In the same paper Deltadromeus is classified as an noasaurid, a result also recovered by some previous studies. A 2024 phylogenetic analysis found Aoniraptor, Bahariasaurus, Deltadromeus, and Gualicho to form a monophyletic clade as the sister taxon to Elaphrosaurus near the base of Ceratosauria.
The Villar del Arzobispo Formation is a Late Jurassic to possibly Early Cretaceous geologic formation in eastern Spain. It is equivalent in age to the Lourinhã Formation of Portugal. It was originally thought to date from the Late Tithonian-Middle Berriasian, but more recent work suggests a Kimmeridigan-Late Tithonian, possibly dating to the Early Berriasian in some areas. The Villar del Arzobispo Formation's age in the area of Riodeva in Spain has been dated based on stratigraphic correlations as middle-upper Tithonian, approximately 145-141 million years old. In the area of Galve, the formation potentially dates into the earliest Cretaceous.
The year 2018 in non-avian dinosaur paleontology was eventful. Archosaurs include the only living dinosaur group — birds — and the reptile crocodilians, plus all extinct dinosaurs, extinct crocodilian relatives, and pterosaurs. Archosaur palaeontology is the scientific study of those animals, especially as they existed before the Holocene Epoch began about 11,700 years ago. This article records new taxa of fossil archosaurs of the non-avian variety that have been described during the year 2018, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that occurred in the year 2018.
This article records new taxa of fossil archosaurs of every kind that are scheduled described during the year 2022, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that are scheduled to occur in the year 2022.