Dinosaurs evolved partway through the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, around 230 Ma (million years ago). At that time, the earth had one supercontinental landmass, called Pangaea, of which Europe was a part. So it remained throughout the Triassic. By the start of the Jurassic period, some 30 million years later, the supercontinent began to split into Laurasia and Gondwana. The largest inlet from Panthalassa, the superocean that surrounded Pangaea, was called the Tethys Ocean, and as this inlet cut deeper into the supercontinent, much of Europe was flooded.
By the Cretaceous, from 145 to 66 million years ago, the continents were beginning to approach their present shapes, but not their present positions, and Europe remained tropical. At times, it was a chain of island-microcontinents including Baltica and Iberia.
Europe is relatively rich in fossils from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and much of what is known about European dinosaurs dates from this time. During the Maastrichtian the end of the Cretaceous dinosaurs were dominating western and Central Europe as the Tremp Formation in Spain dates back to that age. Examples of dinosaurs from Maastrichtian Europe are Struthiosaurus and Canardia .
Name | Year | Formation | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abditosaurus | 2022 | Tremp Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Larger and distantly related to other European sauropods, suggesting it was an immigrant from another continent [1] | |
Acanthopholis | 1867 | Chalk Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | England | Possessed keeled oval scutes as well as long spines | |
Adynomosaurus | 2019 | Tremp Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Relatively basal despite its late age [2] | |
Aepisaurus | 1852 | Grès verts hevétiques (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | France | Known only from a humerus which shares some features with camarasaurids and titanosaurs [3] | |
Ajkaceratops | 2010 | Csehbánya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) | Hungary | Originally thought to be a ceratopsian although this identification has been doubted by a later study [4] | |
Allosaurus | 1877 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Three species, including the type, are known from the United States. The European species may be a synonym of A. fragilis [5] | |
Alocodon | 1973 | Cabaços Formation (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | Portugal | Had vertical grooves on its teeth | |
Altispinax | 1923 | Wadhurst Clay Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | England | Possessed elongated neural spines that may have supported a hump-like structure as in Concavenator | |
Amanzia | 2020 | Reuchenette Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Switzerland | One bone preserves fossilized cartilage. [6] Originally believed to be a species of Ornithopsis or Cetiosauriscus | |
Ampelosaurus | 1995 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation, Grès de Labarre, Gres de Saint-Chinian, Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | Had three different types of osteoderms, including spines, plates and bulbs | |
Anoplosaurus | 1879 | Cambridge Greensand (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | England | Considered an ankylosaur despite the fact no osteoderms have been found. Historically suggested to be an ornithopod | |
Aragosaurus | 1987 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Spain | Reportedly had a unique ischium | |
Arcovenator | 2014 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | Most closely related to abelisaurids from India and Madagascar [7] | |
Arenysaurus | 2009 | Tremp Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | One of the last lambeosaurines prior to their extinction | |
Aristosuchus | 1887 | Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | May have had long claws based on referred unguals | |
Asylosaurus | 2007 | Avon Fissure Fill (Late Triassic, Rhaetian) | England | Remains originally identified as Thecodontosaurus | |
Atsinganosaurus | 2010 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | Belongs to a unique clade of southwestern European titanosaurs [8] | |
Aviatyrannis | 2003 | Alcobaça Formation (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian to Tithonian) | Portugal | Although originally described as a tyrannosauroid, it may in fact be the oldest known ornithomimosaur [9] | |
Barilium | 2010 | Wadhurst Clay Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | England | Robust with strong vertebrae and short neural spines | |
Baryonyx | 1986 | Weald Clay (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | One specimen was found with the remains of fish and a juvenile iguanodont in its stomach, suggesting it was a generalist predator [10] | |
Betasuchus | 1932 | Maastricht Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Netherlands | The first terrestrial vertebrate named from the Maastrichtian stage [11] | |
Blasisaurus | 2010 | Arén Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Only known from a partial skull but can be distinguished from contemporary lambeosaurines [12] | |
Bothriospondylus | 1875 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | England | Several specimens have been assigned to this genus, but most of them have been reclassified into different genera | |
Bradycneme | 1975 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Potentially an alvarezsaurid [6] | |
Brighstoneus | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Possessed a long snout tipped with a low bump | |
Burianosaurus | 2017 | Peruc-Korycany Formation (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | Czech Republic | May be closely allied to the rhabdodontids [13] | |
Calamosaurus | 1891 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Only known from two cervical vertebrae. Several bones have been referred to it over the years but there is no way to prove all of them belonged to the same genus | |
Calamospondylus | 1866 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian) | England | Only definitively known from a sacrum and associated pelvic elements | |
Caletodraco | 2024 | Chalk of the Pays de Caux (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) | France | Possibly the first known non-South American furileusaurian abelisaurid [14] | |
Callovosaurus | 1980 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | England | The oldest known dryosaurid [15] | |
Calvarius | 2023 | Tremp Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | May have been a cursorial biped similar to basal ornithopods despite being more derived | |
Camarillasaurus | 2014 | Camarillas Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Described as a ceratosaur [16] but has since been reinterpreted as a spinosaurid [17] | |
Camelotia | 1985 | Westbury Formation (Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, Rhaetian to Hettangian) | England | One of the largest known non-sauropod sauropodomorphs | |
Canardia | 2013 | Marnes d'Auzas Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | May have been a close relative of Aralosaurus | |
Cardiodon | 1841 | Forest Marble Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | England | The first sauropod ever named. [18] Known only from a tooth | |
Ceratosuchops | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Differs from Baryonyx in subtle details of its skull | |
Cetiosauriscus | 1927 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | England | Has been assigned to a variety of positions around Eusauropoda [19] [20] [21] | |
Cetiosaurus | 1841 | Rutland Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian to Bathonian) | England | The first sauropod known from decent remains. Once believed to be a large seagoing animal | |
Chondrosteosaurus | 1876 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | The air sacs in its vertebrae were originally believed to be filled with cartilage | |
Compsognathus | 1859 | Alcobaça Formation?, Canjuers Lagerstätte, Solnhofen Limestone (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | France Germany Portugal? | One of the smallest known non-avian dinosaurs | |
Comptonatus | 2024 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | England | One of the most completely known ornithopod taxa from the Isle of Wight | |
Concavenator | 2010 | La Huérguina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Preserves bumps on its ulna which have been interpreted as quill knobs, [22] although they might have been muscle attachments instead [23] | |
Craspedodon | 1883 | Glauconie de Lonzée Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) | Belgium | May be the first neoceratopsian known from Europe [24] | |
Craterosaurus | 1874 | Woburn Sands Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian) | England | Potentially synonymous with Regnosaurus | |
Cruxicheiros | 2010 | Chipping Norton Limestone (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | England | Inconsistent in phylogenetic placement | |
Cryptosaurus | 1869 | Ampthill Clay (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | England | Only known from a single femur | |
Cumnoria | 1888 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | England | May be a species of Camptosaurus [25] or something a little more basal [26] | |
Dacentrurus | 1902 | Alcobaça Formation, Argiles d'Octeville, Kimmeridge Clay, Lourinhã Formation, Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, Kimmeridgian to Berriasian) | England France Portugal Spain | Known from abundant remains. Lived in a broad range | |
Demandasaurus | 2011 | Castrillo de la Reina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Spain | Most closely related to African rebbachisaurids, suggesting a faunal exchange [27] | |
Dinodocus | 1884 | Lower Greensand Group (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | The only known humerus is almost complete, missing only small portions | |
Dolichosuchus | 1932 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Originally classified as a stem-crocodile | |
Dornraptor | 2024 | Blue Lias?/Charmouth Mudstone Formation? (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | England | Originally thought to belong to Scelidosaurus , [28] its remains were then informally named "Merosaurus" before their formal description in 2024 [29] | |
Draconyx | 2001 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Portugal | May have been a member of an ornithopod clade that did not appear in North America, unlike other groups of Late Jurassic animals [30] | |
Dracopelta | 1980 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Portugal | The structure of its limbs suggests it might have had a cursorial lifestyle [31] | |
Dracoraptor | 2016 | Blue Lias (Early Jurassic, Hettangian) | Wales | May have been a shore dweller due to its island habitat [32] | |
Dromaeosauroides | 2003 | Jydegaard Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Denmark | A referred coprolite has been found which contains fish remains, but it could instead belong to a turtle [33] | |
Dubreuillosaurus | 2005 | Calcaire de Caen (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | France | Would have lived in a coastal mangrove swamp | |
Duriatitan | 2010 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | England | Originally named as a species of Cetiosaurus | |
Duriavenator | 2008 | Inferior Oolite (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian) | England | The basalmost known member of the Megalosaurinae, which aligns with its stratigraphic position [34] | |
Echinodon | 1861 | Purbeck Group (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | England | Originally misidentified as a herbivorous lizard | |
Efraasia | 1973 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Some remains assigned to this genus were originally classified in separate genera | |
Emausaurus | 1990 | Ciechocinek Formation (Early Jurassic, Toarcian) | Germany | One of the oldest and basalmost thyreophorans | |
Eotyrannus | 2001 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Possessed grasping hands with three long fingers | |
Eousdryosaurus | 2014 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Described as a dryosaurid [35] but one study suggests a close relationship with elasmarians [36] | |
Erectopus | 1923 | La Penthiève Beds (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | France | One of the youngest known European carnosaurs | |
Eucamerotus | 1872 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Preserves extensive evidence of pneumatization | |
Eucercosaurus | 1879 | Cambridge Greensand (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | England | Sometimes considered an ankylosaur but one study assigns it to Iguanodontia [37] | |
Euronychodon | 1991 | Argiles et sables de Taveiro (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | Portugal | Only known from teeth. Another species has been found in Uzbekistan | |
Europasaurus | 2006 | Süntel Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Germany | Much smaller than other sauropods due to its isolated island habitat [38] | |
Europatitan | 2017 | Castrillo de la Reina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Spain | Some of this genus' remains include several vertebrae. The specific name, eastwoodi, honors director Clint Eastwood | |
Europelta | 2013 | Escucha Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Spain | Almost the entire skeleton is known | |
Eustreptospondylus | 1964 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Callovian to Oxfordian) | England | May have swum between islands similar to a Komodo dragon [39] | |
Fylax | 2021 | Figuerola Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Lived very late despite its comparatively basal position [40] | |
Galvesaurus | 2005 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Spain | Also spelled Galveosaurus. Two sets of paleontologists named the same fossil seemingly unaware of each other's work, although there is evidence that one of them had plaigiarized the others, but misspelled the name [41] | |
Garrigatitan | 2021 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | Known from remains of both adults and subadults | |
Garumbatitan | 2023 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Had a reduced claw on the third toe | |
Genusaurus | 1995 | Bevons Beds (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | France | Has been suggested to be either a noasaurid [42] or an abelisaurid [43] | |
Gideonmantellia | 2012 | Camarillas Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Originally misidentified as a specimen of Hypsilophodon | |
Gigantosaurus | 1869 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | England | May have possessed osteoderms | |
Haestasaurus | 2015 | Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | England | Preserves impressions of differently-sized hexagonal scales | |
Halticosaurus | 1908 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Historically conflated with the bones of unrelated animals | |
Heptasteornis | 1975 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Once believed to be a giant prehistoric owl | |
Hesperonyx | 2024 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Only known from the remains of the fore- and hindlimbs | |
Histriasaurus | 1998 | Unnamed formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | Croatia | Despite being discovered in Europe, it may have lived between southern Europe and Africa in life [44] | |
Horshamosaurus | 2015 | Weald Clay (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | A supposed tibia has been reinterpreted as an ischium [45] | |
Hungarosaurus | 2005 | Csehbánya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) | Hungary | Possessed an elevated shoulder which may be an adaptation to high-browsing [46] | |
Hylaeosaurus | 1833 | Bückeberg Formation?, Grinstead Clay Formation, Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | England Germany? | One of the three animals originally used to define the Dinosauria, along with Iguanodon and Megalosaurus | |
Hypselosaurus | 1869 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | Several spherical eggs have been attributed to this taxon | |
Hypselospinus | 2010 | Wadhurst Clay Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | England | Had elongated neural spines projecting from the top of its vertebrae | |
Hypsilophodon | 1869 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | England | May have been a deer-like low browser that fed on young shoots and roots | |
Iberospinus | 2022 | Papo Seco Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Portugal | Basal yet already displays some adaptations for a semiaquatic lifestyle | |
Iguanodon | 1825 | Arcillas de Morella Formation, Camarillas Formation, Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation, Wadhurst Clay Formation, Weald Clay, Wealden Group, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Belgium England Germany? Spain | Multiple remains are known which make it one of the best known dinosaurs | |
Iliosuchus | 1932 | Taynton Limestone Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | England | Only known from three ilia | |
Iuticosaurus | 1993 | Upper Greensand Formation, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | England | Two species have been named, each from a single caudal vertebra | |
Juratyrant | 2013 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | England | Originally named as a species of Stokesosaurus | |
Juravenator | 2006 | Painten Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Germany | Impressions of both scales and feathers are known. The tail preserves structures that may be integumentary sense organs like those of crocodiles, which it may have used to prey on fish at night [47] | |
Lexovisaurus | 1957 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | England | Its pelvis was greatly enlarged | |
Liliensternus | 1984 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) | Germany | Although commonly depicted with a head crest, there is no evidence for such a feature | |
Lirainosaurus | 1999 | Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation?, Sierra Perenchiza Formation, Sobrepena Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | France? Spain | For a titanosaur, it was small and had a relatively gracile build | |
Lohuecotitan | 2016 | Villalba de la Sierra Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | Spain | May have had "bulb-and-root"-type osteoderms, which are abundant at the type locality [48] | |
Lophostropheus | 2007 | Moon-Airel Formation (Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, Rhaetian to Hettangian) | France | The only substantially well-known theropod from the Triassic-Jurassic boundary [49] | |
Loricatosaurus | 2008 | Marnes à Belemnopsis latesulcatus Formation, Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | England France | Had narrow, flat plates on its back and round, pointed spines that ran along the tail | |
Losillasaurus | 2001 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous?, Kimmeridgian to Berriasian?) | Spain | Was heterodont, having four types of teeth, one of which was heart-shaped [50] | |
Lourinhanosaurus | 1998 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Portugal | More than one hundred eggs have been referred to this taxon | |
Lourinhasaurus | 1998 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Closely related to Camarasaurus but with proportionately longer forelimbs | |
Lusotitan | 2003 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Portugal | Originally named as a European species of Brachiosaurus | |
Lusovenator | 2020 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, Kimmeridgian to Berriasian) | Portugal | The oldest carcharodontosaurian known from Eurasia | |
Macrurosaurus | 1869 | Cambridge Greensand, Chalk Group? (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | England | Only known from a series of caudal vertebrae | |
Magnamanus | 2016 | Golmayo Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | Spain | Possessed relatively enlarged hands | |
Magnosaurus | 1932 | Inferior Oolite (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian) | England | Confusingly, a referred specimen was simultaneously named as a species of this genus and of Sarcosaurus | |
Magyarosaurus | 1932 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | An insular dwarf titanosaur that was one of the smallest of its group | |
Mantellisaurus | 2007 | Arcillas de Morella Formation, Lower Greensand Group, Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation, Vectis Formation, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Belgium England Germany? Spain | Several specimens are known. Distinguishable from the contemporary Iguanodon by its more gracile build | |
Marmarospondylus | 1875 | Forest Marble Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | England | Usually assigned to the genus Bothriospondylus , but this cannot be confirmed | |
Matheronodon | 2017 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | Had extremely specialized dentition that may have been an adaptation to feeding on tough monocot plants [51] | |
Megalosaurus | 1824 | Chipping Norton Limestone, Taynton Limestone Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | England | The first non-avian dinosaur scientifically named and described | |
Metriacanthosaurus | 1964 | Oxford Clay (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | England | Possessed relatively tall neural spines for a carnosaur | |
Miragaia | 2009 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Portugal | Had an extremely elongated neck made up of seventeen vertebrae. May be synonymous with Dacentrurus [52] [53] | |
Mochlodon | 1881 | Csehbánya Formation, Gosau Group (Late Cretaceous, Santonian to Campanian) | Austria Hungary | The type specimen was originally named as a species of Iguanodon | |
Morelladon | 2015 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Possessed a low sail on its back supported by elongated neural spines | |
Morinosaurus | 1874 | Unnamed formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | France | Poorly known | |
Neosodon | 1885 | Sables et Grès à Trigonia gibbosa (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | France | No species are assigned to this genus. Popularly associated with "Iguanodon" praecursor but is in fact a separate taxon [54] | |
Neovenator | 1996 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | England | Had a complex series of neurovascular canals lining its snout [55] | |
Normanniasaurus | 2013 | Poudingue Ferrugineux (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | France | Represents a European radiation of basal titanosaurs [56] | |
Notatesseraeraptor | 2019 | Klettgau Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Switzerland | Combines features of different groups of basal theropods | |
Nuthetes | 1854 | Lulworth Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | England | Only known from jaws and teeth. Traditionally identified as a dromaeosaurid but it might be a proceratosaurid instead [57] | |
Oblitosaurus | 2023 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Spain | The largest ornithopod known from the Late Jurassic of Europe | |
Oceanotitan | 2019 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Potentially the oldest known somphospondylian [58] | |
Ohmdenosaurus | 1978 | Posidonia Shale (Early Jurassic, Toarcian) | Germany | Originally misidentified as a plesiosaur | |
Oplosaurus | 1852 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | The holotype tooth was pointed, which led to its misidentification as a carnivorous reptile [59] | |
Ornithodesmus | 1887 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Historically conflated with the remains of the pterosaur Istiodactylus | |
Ornithopsis | 1870 | Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England) | Originally believed to be an intermediate form between birds, pterosaurs and dinosaurs | |
Orthomerus | 1883 | Maastricht Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Netherlands | Potentially dubious and undiagnostic [60] | |
Ostromia | 2017 | Painten Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Germany | Considered a small pterosaur until it was redescribed as a specimen of Archaeopteryx in 1970. [61] Some of its features are similar to those of Anchiornis | |
Owenodon | 2009 | Lulworth Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | England | Has been assigned to Iguanodon and Camptosaurus before it received its own genus | |
Paludititan | 2010 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Some of its bones are identical to those of Magyarosaurus , but their synonymy cannot be confirmed | |
Pararhabdodon | 1993 | Tremp Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | The first lambeosaurine identified from Europe | |
Pareisactus | 2019 | Tremp Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Represented by a single scapula recovered from a hadrosaur bonebed | |
Pelecanimimus | 1994 | La Huérguina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Preserves extensive soft tissue impressions revealing the presence of a keratinous head crest and a pelican-like gular pouch | |
Pelorosaurus | 1850 | Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian) | England | The first sauropod identified as a terrestrial animal | |
Pendraig | 2021 | Pant-y-Ffynnon Quarry (Late Triassic, Rhaetian) | Wales | Would have lived on a dry limestone island [62] | |
Phyllodon | 1973 | Alcobaça Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | The front and back of its teeth were asymmetrical | |
Piveteausaurus | 1977 | Marnes de Dives (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | France | Has been suggested to be a species of Proceratosaurus | |
Plateosaurus | 1837 | Klettgau Formation, Löwenstein Formation, Lunde Formation, Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | France? Germany Norway Switzerland | Known from over a hundred skeletons, several of them nearly complete | |
Pneumatoraptor | 2010 | Csehbánya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) | Hungary | One study suggests a position as a possible early palaeognath [63] | |
Poekilopleuron | 1836 | Calcaire de Caen (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | France | Its holotype was found alongside fish remains [64] | |
Polacanthus | 1865 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Possessed a flat sacral shield dotted with small bumps | |
Portellsaurus | 2021 | Margas de Mirambell Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Closely related to Ouranosaurus [65] | |
Priodontognathus | 1875 | Lower Calcareous Grit (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | England | Only known from a single maxilla with teeth | |
Proa | 2012 | Escucha Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Spain | The tip of its jaw was shaped like the bow of a ship | |
Proceratosaurus | 1926 | Great Oolite Group (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | England | Preserves a small horn on its snout which may have anchored a crest as in the related Guanlong | |
Procompsognathus | 1913 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Has been suggested to be non-dinosaurian | |
Protathlitis | 2023 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Large but basal for a spinosaurid | |
Pterospondylus | 1913 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Known from only a single, large vertebra | |
Pyroraptor | 2000 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | France | Its holotype specimen was exposed by a forest fire | |
Qunkasaura | 2024 | Villalba de la Sierra Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | Spain | May have been closely related to Abditosaurus [66] | |
Regnosaurus | 1848 | Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | England | Potentially a stegosaur similar to Huayangosaurus [67] | |
Rhabdodon | 1869 | Grès de Labarre, Gres de Saint-Chinian, Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation, Villalba de la Sierra Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France Spain | Although most rhabdodontids are insular dwarfs, this genus may represent an instance of island gigantism as it is much larger than other members of its family [68] | |
Riabininohadros | 2020 | Unnamed formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Crimea ( Ukraine de jure) | Possessed a femur so unique it has no morphological equivalents across all of Iguanodontia | |
Riojavenatrix | 2024 | Enciso Group (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Spain | Originally identified as a specimen of Baryonyx | |
Riparovenator | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Had elongated spines projecting from its caudal vertebrae somewhat similar to those of Spinosaurus | |
Ruehleia | 2001 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Known from a single, nearly complete skeleton | |
Saltriovenator | 2018 | Saltrio Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | Italy | The biggest theropod from the Early Jurassic yet known | |
Sarcolestes | 1893 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | England | Originally misidentified as a carnivorous dinosaur | |
Sarcosaurus | 1921 | Scunthorpe Mudstone (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | England | Has been variously suggested to be in different positions at the base of Neotheropoda [69] [70] [71] [72] | |
Scelidosaurus | 1859 | Charmouth Mudstone Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian to Pliensbachian) | England | Carried hundreds of small osteoderms in several rows along its back | |
Schleitheimia | 2020 | Klettgau Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Switzerland | Possessed a relatively enlarged ilium | |
Scipionyx | 1998 | Pietraroja Plattenkalk (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Italy | So well preserved that several internal organs and their positions in life could be accurately reconstructed | |
Sciurumimus | 2012 | Torleite Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Germany | Had a bushy tail similar to that of a squirrel | |
Soriatitan | 2017 | Golmayo Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | Spain | The first confirmed brachiosaurid known from Early Cretaceous Europe | |
Stenopelix | 1857 | Obernkirchen Sandstein (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Germany | Possibly closely related to basal ceratopsians from Late Jurassic China [73] | |
Streptospondylus | 1832 | Marnes de Dives?/Marnes de Villers? (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Callovian to Oxfordian) | France | Originally believed to represent a marine crocodile | |
Struthiosaurus | 1871 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation, Gosau Group, Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian to Maastrichtian) | Austria France Hungary? Romania | Analysis of its braincase suggests poor hearing and a sluggish, solitary lifestyle [74] | |
Syngonosaurus | 1879 | Cambridge Greensand (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | England | Usually considered a synonym of Acanthopholis but it has been reinterpreted as an iguanodont [37] | |
Tamarro | 2021 | Tremp Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | May have been closely related to Asian troodontids [75] | |
Tanystrosuchus | 1963 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | The only known vertebra was once misidentified as a phytosaur | |
Tarascosaurus | 1991 | Fuvelian Beds (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | If an abelisaurid it would be one of the few northern members of the group | |
Tastavinsaurus | 2008 | Forcall Formation, Xert Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Could represent an obscure group of macronarians called Laurasiformes [76] | |
Teinurosaurus | 1928 | Mont-Lambert Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | France | Poorly known | |
Telmatosaurus | 1903 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | One specimen preserves a facial deformity caused by an ameloblastoma [77] | |
Tethyshadros | 2009 | Calcare di Aurisina (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | Italy | Had limbs adapted for high speed but were too short for running [46] | |
Thecocoelurus | 1923 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Has been assigned to a variety of theropod groups throughout history | |
Thecodontosaurus | 1836 | Magnesian Conglomerate (Late Triassic, Rhaetian) | England | Could have been an extremely fast bipedal runner [78] | |
Thecospondylus | 1882 | Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian to Hauterivian) | England | Indeterminate within Dinosauria | |
Torvosaurus | 1979 | Kimmeridge Clay?, Lourinhã Formation, Ornatenton Formation, Vega Formation? (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Callovian to Tithonian) | England? Germany Portugal Spain? | The type species was found in the United States. Several species lived around the world, including in Europe, but T. gurneyi is the only non-North American species to receive a formal name. It represents Europe's largest terrestrial predator [79] | |
Transylvanosaurus | 2022 | Pui Beds (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Had an unusually wide skull compared to other rhabdodontids | |
Trimucrodon | 1973 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Possessed wedge-shaped teeth | |
Tuebingosaurus | 2022 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Although originally assigned to Plateosaurus , it contains several features that point to a more derived position | |
Turiasaurus | 2006 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Spain | Extremely large despite not being a member of Neosauropoda | |
Valdosaurus | 1977 | Weald Clay, Wealden Group, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Barremian) | England | Large and similar to Dryosaurus | |
Vallibonavenatrix | 2019 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | One of the most complete spinosaurids known from Iberia | |
Variraptor | 1998 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | France | May be closely related to Bambiraptor [63] | |
Vectaerovenator | 2020 | Lower Greensand Group (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) | England | Only known from four vertebrae but are distinct enough to be classified as their own genus | |
Vectidromeus | 2023 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Originally described as a relative of the coeval Hypsilophodon , but a subsequent analysis suggests possible dryosaurid affinities for this genus [80] | |
Vectipelta | 2023 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | England | May have been more closely related to Asian ankylosaurs than to European ones [81] | |
Vectiraptor | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Shares some features with North American dromaeosaurids | |
Velocipes | 1932 | Lissauer Breccia (Late Triassic, Norian) | Poland | Has been considered a dubious, indeterminate vertebrate [82] | |
Volgatitan | 2018 | Unnamed formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian) | Russia | Closely related to South American titanosaurs | |
Vouivria | 2017 | Calcaires de Clerval (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | France | The oldest known titanosauriform | |
Wiehenvenator | 2016 | Ornatenton Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | Germany | Before its formal description, it had been nicknamed the "Minden Monster" | |
Xenoposeidon | 2007 | Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | England | Only known from a single, very unique vertebra | |
Yaverlandia | 1971 | Vectis Formation?, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | England | Originally misidentified as a pachycephalosaur because of its thick skull roof | |
Zalmoxes | 2003 | Densuş-Ciula Formation, Sânpetru Formation, Sebeş Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Two species of contrasting sizes have been named | |
Zby | 2014 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Originally believed to be a specimen of Turiasaurus |
This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.
The Barun Goyot Formation is a geological formation dating to the Late Cretaceous Period. It is located within and is widely represented in the Gobi Desert Basin, in the Ömnögovi Province of Mongolia.
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.
The Eumeralla Formation is a geological formation in Victoria, Australia whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. It is Aptian to Albian in age. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, particularly from the Dinosaur Cove locality.
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 Nanxiong Formation is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation in Guangdong Province. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.
The year 2012 in Archosaur 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. The year 2012 in paleontology included various significant developments regarding archosaurs.
The year 2010 in Archosaur 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. The year 2010 in paleontology included various significant developments regarding archosaurs.
The year 2017 in archosaur 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. The year 2017 in paleontology included various significant developments regarding archosaurs.
This article records new taxa of fossil archosaurs of every kind that are scheduled described during the year 2019, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that are scheduled to occur in the year 2019.
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 2014, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that are scheduled to occur in the year 2014.