Dinosaurs, Pterosaurs & Marine Reptiles

[Morose]

Name: Vulcanodon
Pronunciation: Vul-can-o-don.
Meaning of name: "Volcano tooth", a reference to the fact that it was discovered between two Jurassic-aged lava beds.
Species: V. karibaensis
Size: Estimated to have measured between 6 and 11 metres long, between 3 and 4 metres tall and weighed 3.5 metric tonnes.
Family: Vulcanodontidae.
Diet: Herbivore. Likely fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial skeleton discovered in Zimbabwe, southern Africa, between 1969-1970. Named by palaeontologist, Michael Raath, in 1972. One of the earliest-known Sauropods.
Lived: 201.3 to 199.3 million years ago during the Hettangian stage of the Early Jurassic in what is now southern Africa.

[Morose]

Name: Psittacosaurus
Pronunciation: Sit-tah-coe-sore-us
Meaning of name: "Parrot lizard", in reference to its parrot-like beak.
Species: P. mongoliensis, P. amitabha, P. gobiensis, P. sattayaraki, P. lujiatunensis, P. mazongshanensis, P. meileyingensis, P. neimongoliensis, P. ordosensis, P. sibiricus, P. sinensis, P. xinjiangensis
Size: The largest species, P. lujiatunensis and P. sibiricus, measured 2 metres long, 0.5 metres tall and weighing between 25 and 80kgs.
Family: Psittacosauridae.
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from several specimens. First discovered during an American Museum of Natural History expedition to Mongolia's Gobi Desert in 1922. P. mongoliensis named by American palaeontologist, Henry Fairfield Osborn, in 1923. P. sinensis named in 1958. P. meileyingensis and P. xinjiangensis named in 1988. P. sattayaraki named in 1992. P. neimongoliensis and P. ordosensis named in 1996. P. mazongshanensis named in 1997. P. sibiricus named in 2000. P. lujiatunensis named in 2006. P. gobiensis named in 2010. P. amitabha named in 2019.
Lived: Depending on species, lived between 126 and 101 million years ago from the Barremian stage through to the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous in what is now Russia, Mongolia and China.

[Morose]

Name: Styracosaurus
Pronunciation: Sty-rak-oh-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Spiked lizard", in reference to the large spikes on its neck shield.
Species: S. albertensis
Size: 5.5 metres long, 2 metres high and weighing around 3 metric tonnes.
Family: Centrosaurinae (a sub-family of Ceratopsidae).
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from several individuals, the first of which was discovered by American-Canadian palaeontologist, Charles Mortram Sternberg, in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Named by Canadian palaeontologist, Lawrence Lambe, in 1913. Bonebeds containing the remains of entire herds have also be found.
Lived: 76 to 75 million years ago during the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now western Canada.

[Morose]

Name: Saurolophus
Pronunciation: Sore-rol-low-fus.
Meaning of name: "Lizard crest".
Species: S. osborni, S. angustirostris
Size: Depending on species, measured between 8 and 13 metres long, between 4 and 6 metres tall when standing upright and weighing between 3 and 11 metric tonnes.
Family: Saurolophinae (sub-family of Hadrosauridae).
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from skin impressions and several skeletons, some of which are almost complete. First discovered by American palaeontologist, Barnum Brown, in the Upper Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Alberta, Canada, in 1911. S. osborni named by Mr. Brown in 1912. Additional specimens discovered in northeast China, the United States and Mongolia's Gobi Desert during the mid/late 1940s. S. angustirostris named by Russian palaeontologist, Anatoly Konstantinovich Rozhdestvensky, in 1952.
Lived: 70 to 66 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now northeast China, western Canada, southern Mongolia and the Pacific region of the United States.

[Morose]

Name: Ornitholestes
Pronunciation: Or-ni-tho-less-teez.
Meaning of name: "Bird robber".
Species: O. hermanni
Size: Estimated to have measured around 2 metres long, 0.6 metres tall and weighing between 10 and 16kgs.
Family: Ornitholestinae.
Diet: Carnivore. Likely fed on lizards, small mammals, frogs and hatchling dinosaurs.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial skeleton discovered by an American Museum of Natural History expedition to the Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming in July 1900. Named by American palaeontologist, Henry Fairfield Osborn, in 1903. Ornitholestes is often shown chasing the primitive bird, Archaeopteryx, despite the fact that, even though they lived at the same time, they lived on opposite sides of the world.
Lived: 154 million years ago during the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic in what is now the western United States.

[Morose]

Name: Deinonychus
Pronunciation: Die-non-e-cus
Meaning of name: "Terrible claw", in reference to the 13cm-long claw on the second toe of each foot.
Species: D. antirrhopus
Size: 3.5 metres long, 1.5 metres tall and weighing between 70 and 100kgs
Family: Dromaeosauridae.
Diet: Carnivore
First fossils found: Known from several specimens, the first of which was discovered in southern Montana in 1931. In 1964, a team led by American palaeontologist, John Harold Ostrom, discovered three partial Deinonychus skeletons lying close to the 6-metre-long skeleton of a Tenontosaurus. This led to the suggestion that Deinonychus may have hunted in packs. Named by Mr. Ostrom in 1969.
Lived: 115 to 108 million years ago during the Aptian and Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous in what is now the western and south central United States.

[Morose]

Name: Anchiceratops
Pronunciation: An-key-seh-ra-tops.
Meaning of name: "Near horned face".
Species: A. ornatus. It's possible there may be a second species.
Size: Measured between 4 and 6 metres long, 3 metres tall and weighing between 1 and 2 metric tonnes.
Family: Chasmosaurinae (a sub-family of Ceratopsidae).
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from a single, partial skeleton and three partial skulls. First discovered by an expedition to the Red Deer River, Alberta, Canada, led by American palaeontologist, Barnum Brown, in 1912. Named by Mr. Brown in 1914.
Lived: 72 to 71 million years ago during the Campanian and Maastrichtian stages of the Late Cretaceous in what is now western Canada.

[Morose]

Name: Spinosaurus
Pronunciation: Spine-oh-sore-us
Meaning of name: "Spine lizard"
Species: S. aegyptiacus. It's possible there may be a second species.
Size: Estimated to have measured between 15 and 18 metres long, between 4 and 7 metres tall and weighing between 6.4 and 7.5 metric tonnes
Family: Spinosauridae
Diet: Carnivore/piscivore
First fossils found: Known from at least six partial specimens, the first of which was discovered in the Bahariya Formation of Egypt in 1912. Unfortunately, this specimen was later destroyed during a bombing raid in WW2. Named by German palaeontologist, Ernst Freiherr Stromer von Reichenbach, in 1915.
Lived: 99 to 93.5 million years ago during the Cenomanian and Turonian stages of the Late Cretaceous in what is now North Africa.

[Morose]

Name: Saltasaurus
Pronunciation: Salt-ah-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Salta lizard", after Salta Province, Argentina, where its fossils were discovered.
Species: S. loricatus
Size: 12 metres long, 3 metres tall and weighing between 6 and 7 metric tonnes.
Family: Saltasauridae.
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from eggs and the partial skeletons of at least 5 individuals. First discovered by palaeontologists, José Fernando Bonaparte, Martín Vince and Juan C. Leal in the Lecho Formation of Salta Province, north-west Argentina between 1975 and 1977. Named by Mr. Bonaparte and Jaime E. Powell in 1980. Saltasaurus was the first Sauropod known to have had armour plating.
Lived: 70 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now Argentina.

[Morose]

Name: Plateosaurus
Pronunciation: Pla-te-oh-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Broad lizard".
Species: P. engelhardti, P. gracilis.
Size: Between 5 and 10 metres long, between 2 and 3 metres tall and weighing up to 4 metric tonnes.
Family: Plateosauridae.
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from several specimens, the first of which was discovered by Johann Friedrich Engelhardt in southeastern Germany in 1834. P. engelhardti named by German palaeontologist, Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer, in 1837. P. gracilis named by German palaeontologist, Friedrich von Huene, in 1907.
Lived: Depending on species, from 227 to 201.3 million years ago during the Norian and Rhaetian stages of the Late Triassic in what is now central Europe, Greenland and northern Europe.

[Morose]

Name: Micropachycephalosaurus
Pronunciation: My-krow-pak-e-sef-ah-lo-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Small thick-headed lizard".
Species: M. hongtuyanensis
Size: Between 50 and 60cm long, 30.48cm tall and weighing between 2.3 and 4.5kgs
Family: Unknown.
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial skeleton discovered in Shandong Province, eastern China (date of discovery uncertain). Named by Chinese palaeontologist, Dong Zhiming, in 1978. Was originally thought to be a Pachycephalosaurid, but is now believed to be a very primitive Ceratopsian.
Lived: 83.6 to 72.1 million years ago during the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now eastern China.

[Morose]

Name: Shantungosaurus
Pronunciation: Shan-tung-o-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Shandong lizard" after the Chinese province where its fossils were discovered.
Species: S. giganteus
Size: Estimated to have measured up to 16.5 metres long, 5 metres high (between 6 and 7 metres tall when standing upright) and weighing between 16 and 18 metric tonnes.
Family: Saurolophinae (a sub-family of Hadrosauridae).
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from the partial skeletons of several individuals, the first of which were discovered in the Wangshi Formation of Shandong, eastern China, in 1973. Named in the same year by Chinese palaeontologist, Hu Chengzhi.
Lived: 72.1 to 66 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now eastern China.

[Morose]

Name: Gastonia
Pronunciation: Gas-toe-nee-ah.
Meaning of name: "Gaston's thing" after its discoverer, American palaeontologist, Robert Gaston.
Species: G. burgei, G. lorriemcwhinneyae
Size: 5 metres long, 1.1 metres tall and weighing between 1 and 2 metric tonnes.
Family: Polacanthinae (a sub-family of Nodosauridae).
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from a number of specimens, the first of which were discovered in a bonebed in the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah in 1989. G. burgei named in the same year by American palaeontologist, James Ian Kirkland. G. lorriemcwhinneyae named in 2061. The bonebed also contained the fossils of an Iguanodontid and the Theropod, Utahraptor.
Lived: 129.4 to 125 million years ago during the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous in what is now the western United States.

[Morose]

Name: Minmi
Pronunciation: Min-me.
Meaning of name: Named after Minmi Crossing in Queensland, Australia, near where its fossils were discovered.
Species: M. paravertebra
Size: Between 2 and 3 metres long, 1 metre high and weighing around 300kgs.
Family: Uncertain. Likely a Nodosaurid.
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from two specimens, one of which is almost complete. First discovered by Australian palaeontologist, Alan Bartholomai, in the Bungil Formation of Queensland, Australia, in 1964. Named by Australian palaeontologist, Ralph Molnar, in 1980.
Lived: 125 to 113 million years ago during the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous in what is now Queensland, Australia.

[Morose]

Name: Olorotitan
Pronunciation: Ol-low-row-ti-tan.
Meaning of name: "Giant swan", in reference to its long neck.
Species: O. arharensis
Size: Between 8 and 12 metres long, 4 metres tall (up to 6 metres tall when standing upright) and weighing 3 metric tonnes.
Family: Lambeosaurinae (a sub-family of Hadrosauridae)
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, almost-complete skeleton discovered in the Udurchukan Formation of Far Eastern Russia between 1999 and 2000. Named by Belgian palaeontologist, Pascal Godefroit, in 2003. This animal's most striking feature is the large, hollow, hatchet-like crest on the head which is thought to have been used for display and vocal communication.
Lived: 67 to 66 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now Far Eastern Russia.

[Morose]

Name: Megalosaurus
Pronunciation: Meg-ah-low-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Great lizard".
Species: M. bucklandii
Size: Estimated to have measured around 9 metres long, 3 metres tall and weighing around 1 metric tonne.
Family: Megalosauridae.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known only from partial specimens. First discovered in a limestone quarry in Oxfordshire, southeast England, in 1676. Named by English palaeontologist, William Buckland, in 1824. Megalosaurus was the first non-avian dinosaur to be scientifically recognized. Seventeen years later, in 1841, English palaeontologist, Sir Richard Owen, coined the word 'dinosaur' which means "terrible lizard".
Lived: 168 to 166.1 million years ago during the Bathonian stage of the Middle Jurassic in what is now southeast England.

[Morose]

Name: Qantassaurus
Pronunciation: Kwan-tass-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Qantas lizard", after Qantas, Australia's national airline.
Species: Q. interpidus
Size: Unknown due to a lack of fossils.
Family: Uncertain.
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known only from a few jaw fragments discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation of southeastern Victoria, Australia, in 1996. Named by Australian palaeontologists, Tom Rich, and his wife, Patricia, in 1999.
Lived: 115 million years ago during the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous in what is now southern Australia.

[Morose]

Name: Carnotaurus
Pronunciation: Car-no-tore-us.
Meaning of name: "Meat-eating bull", in reference to its bull-like horns.
Species: C. sastrei
Size: Between 7 and 9 metres long, 3 metres tall and weighing around 1.5 metric tonnes.
Family: Abelisauridae.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known from a single, almost-complete skeleton with skin impressions, discovered in the La Colonia Formation of southern Argentina in 1984. Named by Argentinian palaeontologist, Jose Bonaparte, in 1985. The most striking features of this dino are the bull-like horns on its head and its incredibly short, completely useless, forearms.
Lived: 72 to 69 million years ago during the Campanian and Maastrichtian stages of the Late Cretaceous in what is now southern Argentina.

[Morose]

Name: Deinocheirus
Pronunciation: Die-no-ky-rus.
Meaning of name: "Terrible hand" in reference to its strong claws and 2.4 metre-long arms.
Species: D. mirificus
Size: Estimated to have measured up to 11 metres long, 5 metres tall and weighing between 6 and 7 metric tonnes.
Family: Deinocheiridae.
Diet: Unknown. Likely herbivorous.
First fossils found: Known from two partial individuals. The first specimens, a pair of 2.4 metre-long arms, was discovered by Polish palaeontologist, Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, in the Nemegt Basin of Mongolia's Gobi Desert, in July 1965. Named by H. Osmólska and E. Roniewicz in 1970.
Lived: 70 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what in now southern Mongolia.

[Morose]

Name: Quetzalcoatlus
Pronunciation: Kwet-zal-co-at-lus.
Meaning of name: Named after Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec feathered serpent god.
Species: Q. northropi
Wingspan: Estimated to have measured between 10 and 11 metres. Weighed between 200 and 250kgs.
Family: Azhdarchidae.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known from at least four partial skeletons, the first of which was discovered by palaeontologist, Douglas A. Lawson, in Big Bend National Park, Texas, in 1971. Named by Mr. Lawson in 1975. Was originally thought to have had a wingspan of between 15 and 20 metres, however, studies have now lowered the estimated wingspan to 11 metres.
Lived: 68 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now the south-central United States.

[Morose]

Name: Maiasaura
Pronunciation: My-ah-sore-ah.
Meaning of name: "Good mother lizard", in reference to its parental nature.
Species: M. peeblesorum
Size: 9 metres long, 3 metres high (up to 5 metres tall when standing upright) and weighed around 3 metric tonnes.
Family: Saurolophinae (a sub-family of Hadrosauridae)
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from over 200 specimens from adults to newly-hatched young. A large nesting colony discovered in Montana in 1978 contained not only adult specimens, but also eggs and juveniles. Named by palaeontologists, Robert Makela and John Robert Horner, in 1979. This discovery provided the first evidence of parental care among dinosaurs. Instead of abandoning their eggs, adult Maiasaura cared for their young, feeding them until they were old enough to leave the nest and join the main herd.
Lived: 76.7 million years ago during the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now the northwestern United States.

[Morose]

Name: Therizinosaurus
Pronunciation: Ther-ri-zi-no-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Scythe lizard", in reference to its 1-metre-long hand claws.
Species: T. cheloniformis
Size: Between 5 and 6 metres tall, 10 metres long and weighing around 5 metric tonnes.
Family: Therizinosauridae.
Diet: Uncertain. Probably herbivorous.
First fossils found: Known only from fragmentary specimens. First discovered by the Mongolian Paleontological Expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences in the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia's Gobi Desert in 1948. Named by Russian palaeontologist, Evgeny Aleksandrovich Maleev, in 1954. Whilst the exact function of the claws is unknown, it's thought that, if the animal was herbivorous, the claws may have been used to rip branches off trees. They may also have been used for sexual display or defense against predators.
Lived: 70 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now southern Mongolia.

[Morose]

Name: Zanabazar
Pronunciation: Zah-nah-bah-zar.
Meaning of name: Named after the first spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism.
Species: Z. junior
Size: Unknown due to a lack of fossils, but is estimated to have measured between 2 and 3 metres long, 1 metre tall and weighing 25kgs.
Family: Troodontidae.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, fragmentary skeleton discovered in the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia's Gobi Desert in 1964. Named by Mongolian palaeontologist, Rinchen Barsbold, in 1974. Was originally thought to be a species of Saurornithoides.
Lived: 72.1 to 66 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now southern Mongolia.

[Morose]

Name: Quetzalcoatlus
Pronunciation: Kwet-zal-co-at-lus.
Meaning of name: Named after Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec feathered serpent god.
Species: Q. northropi
Wingspan: Estimated to have measured between 10 and 11 metres. Weighed between 200 and 250kgs.
Family: Azhdarchidae.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known from at least four partial skeletons, the first of which was discovered by palaeontologist, Douglas A. Lawson, in Big Bend National Park, Texas, in 1971. Named by Mr. Lawson in 1975. Was originally thought to have had a wingspan of between 15 and 20 metres, however, studies have now lowered the estimated wingspan to 11 metres.
Lived: 68 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now the south-central United States.

[Morose]

Name: Lajasvenator
Pronunciation: La-jas-ven-ah-tor.
Meaning of name: "Las Lajas hunter", after the city of Las Lajas in Neuquén Province, Argentina.
Species: L. ascheriae
Size: Unknown due to a lack of fossils, but is estimated to have measured 3.5 metres long and 1.5 metres tall, however, this may not indicate full adult size. Weight uncertain.
Family: Carcharodontosauridae.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial skeleton discovered in the Mulichinco Formation of Neuquén Province, Argentina (date of discovery uncertain). Named by R. A. Coria, P. J. Currie, F. Ortega and M. A. Baiano in 2019.
Lived: 139.8 to 132.9 million years ago during the Valanginian stage of the Early Cretaceous in what is now western Argentina.

[Morose]

Name: Lajasvenator
Pronunciation: La-jas-ven-ah-tor.
Meaning of name: "Las Lajas hunter", after the city of Las Lajas in Neuquén Province, Argentina.
Species: L. ascheriae
Size: Unknown due to a lack of fossils, but is estimated to have measured 3.5 metres long and 1.5 metres tall, however, this may not indicate full adult size. Weight uncertain.
Family: Carcharodontosauridae.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial skeleton discovered in the Mulichinco Formation of Neuquén Province, Argentina (date of discovery uncertain). Named by R. A. Coria, P. J. Currie, F. Ortega and M. A. Baiano in 2019.
Lived: 139.8 to 132.9 million years ago during the Valanginian stage of the Early Cretaceous in what is now western Argentina.

[Morose]

Name: Xenotarsosaurus
Pronunciation: Zee-noe-tar-so-sore-us.
Meaning of name: "Strange tarsus lizard", in reference to the build of its ankles.
Species: X. bonapartei
Size: Unknown due to a lack of fossils, but is estimated to have measured between 5 and 6 metres long and weighed up to 750kgs. Height uncertain.
Family: Uncertain. Possible Abelisaurid.
Diet: Carnivore.
First fossils found: Known only from two back vertebrae and a right hind leg discovered by geologist, Juan Carlos Sciutto, in the Bajo Barreal Formation of Chubut Province, Argentina, in 1980. Named by Ricardo Martínez, Olga Giménez, Jorge Rodríguez and Graciela Bochatey in 1986.
Lived: 100.5 to 89.8 million years ago during the Cenomanian and Turonian stages of the Late Cretaceous in what is now southern Argentina.

[Morose]

Name: Bainoceratops
Pronunciation: Bay-noe-seh-rah-tops
Meaning of name: "Mountain horned face"
Species: B. efremovi
Size: Unknown due to a lack of fossils.
Family: Protoceratopsidae.
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial vertebral column discovered in the Djadochta Formation of Mongolia's Gobi Desert (date of discovery uncertain). Named by V. S. Tereschenko and V. R. Alifanov in 2003.
Lived: 83.6 to 72.1 million years ago during the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now southern Mongolia.

[Morose]

Name: Kamuysaurus
Pronunciation: Kah-mu-e-sore-us
Meaning of name: "Deity lizard"
Species: K. japonicus
Size: Estimated to have measured around 8 metres long, 3 metres tall (between 5 and 6 metres when standing upright) and weighing between 4 and 5.5 metric tonnes.
Family: Saurolophinae (a sub-family of Hadrosauridae)
Diet: Herbivore. Fed on both high and low-growing vegetation.
First fossils found: Known from a single, mostly-complete skeleton discovered by amateur paleontologist Yoshiyuki Horita in the Hakobuchi Formation of Japan in 2003. Named by Y. Kobayashi, T. Nishimura, R. Takasaki, K. Chiba, A. R. Fiorillo, K. Tanaka, T. Chinzorig, T. Sato and K. Sakurai in 2019.
Lived: 70.6 million years ago during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now northern Japan.