List of North American dinosaurs
This is a list of dinosaurs whose remains have been recovered from North America. North America has a rich dinosaur fossil record with great diversity of dinosaurs. This may not mean the dinosaurs were more diverse or abundant; it may be simply because substantial resources have been devoted to the North American fossil record.
During the Triassic period, dinosaurs such as Coelophysis, Chindesaurus, Gojirasaurus, and Tawa lived in North America. Fossils of Tawa have also been found in South America, which has important indications about paleogeography. During the Early Jurassic Period, dinosaurs such as Dilophosaurus, Anchisaurus, Ammosaurus, Megapnosaurus (formerly known as Syntarsus), and the early thyreophoran Scutellosaurus lived in North America. The latter is believed to have been the ancestor of all stegosaurs and ankylosaurs. The Middle Jurassic is the only poorly represented time period in North America, although several Middle Jurassic localities are known from Mexico. Footprints, eggshells, teeth, and fragments of bone representing theropods, sauropods, and ornithopods have been found, but none of them are diagnostic to the genus level.
The Late Jurassic of North America, however, is the exact opposite of the Middle Jurassic. The Late Jurassic Morrison Formation is found in several U.S. states, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas. It is notable as being the most fertile single source of dinosaur fossils in the world. The roster of dinosaurs from the Morrison is impressive. Among the theropods, Allosaurus, Saurophaganax, Torvosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Coelurus, Ornitholestes, Tanycolagreus, Stokesosaurus, and Marshosaurus are found in the Morrison. An abundance of sauropods has been found there, including Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, Barosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Amphicoelias, which is possibly the largest known dinosaur ever to exist. Two genera of stegosaurs, Stegosaurus and Hesperosaurus, have been found there. Finally, ornithopods found in the Morrison include Dryosaurus, Camptosaurus, Drinker, Othnielia, and Othnielosaurus.
During the Early Cretaceous, new dinosaurs evolved to replace the old ones. Sauropods were still present, but they were not as diverse as they were in the Jurassic Period. Theropods from the Early Cretaceous of North America include dromaeosaurids such as Deinonychus and Utahraptor, Acrocanthosaurus, and Microvenator. Sauropods included Astrodon, Brontomerus, and Sauroposeidon. Ornithischians were more diverse than they were in the Jurassic Period. Tenontosaurus, Hypsilophodon, Iguanodon, Protohadros, and Eolambia are some of the ornithopods that lived during this time period. Ankylosaurs replaced their stegosaur cousins in the Cretaceous. Ankylosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of North America include Sauropelta and Gastonia. Therizinosaurs such as Falcarius are also known from the Early Cretaceous of North America.
Finally, the Late Cretaceous Period, the greatest abundance and diversity of dinosaurs of all time lived in North America. During the early part of the Late Cretaceous, the therizinosaur Nothronychus and the ceratopsian Zuniceratops lived. During the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous, an enormous diversity of dinosaurs is known. Theropods included the tyrannosaurs Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Teratophoneus, Bistahieversor, and Appalachiosaurus, and the dromaeosaurids Dromaeosaurus, Saurornitholestes, Atrociraptor, and Bambiraptor. Ceratopsians, such as Pachyrhinosaurus, Styracosaurus, Centrosaurus Monoclonius, Brachyceratops, Pentaceratops, and Leptoceratops also existed. Among hadrosaurs, Hypacrosaurus, Gryposaurus, Kritosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Corythosaurus, Lambeosaurus, Saurolophus, and Prosaurolophus existed. During the latest Cretaceous, the Maastrichtian age, the diversity of dinosaurs saw a decline from the preceding Campanian stage. North American herbivorous dinosaurs from this time period include the titanosaur sauropod Alamosaurus, the ceratopsians Triceratops and Torosaurus, the pachycephalosaurs Pachycephalosaurus, Stygimoloch, Dracorex, and Stegoceras, and the hadrosaur Edmontosaurus. Predatory dinosaurs from this time period included the tyrannosaurids Tyrannosaurus, Dryptosaurus, and Nanotyrannus (which may just be a juvenile of the former), and the troodontid Troodon.
Name Period Diet[1] Notes Abydosaurus Early Cretaceous herbivore Last known sauropod until appearance of Alamosaurus Achelousaurus Late Cretaceous herbivore — Acheroraptor Late Cretaceous carnivore Latest known dromaeosaurid Acristavus Late Cretaceous herbivore — Acrocanthosaurus Early Cretaceous carnivore — Acrotholus Early Cretaceous herbivore — Agathaumas Late Cretaceous herbivore Dubious, see article Agujaceratops Late Cretaceous herbivore — Ahshislepelta Late Cretaceous herbivore — Alamosaurus Late Cretaceous herbivore — Alaskacephale Cretaceous herbivore — Albertaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Albertadromeus Cretaceous herbivore — Albertonykus Cretaceous carnivore/insectivore — Albertosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Aletopelta Cretaceous herbivore — Allosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Ammosaurus Jurassic herbivore/omnivore — Amphicoelias Jurassic herbivore — Anasazisaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Anatotitan Cretaceous herbivore — Anchiceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Anchisaurus Jurassic herbivore — Angulomastacator Cretaceous herbivore — Animantarx Cretaceous herbivore — Ankylosaurus Late Cretaceous herbivore — Anodontosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Antrodemus Jurassic carnivore Probably synonymous with Allosaurus, see article Anzu Cretaceous omnivore — Apatodon (unknown) (unknown) Highly dubious, see article Apatosaurus Jurassic herbivore Formerly known as Brontosaurus Appalachiosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Arkansaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Arrhinoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Astrodon Cretaceous herbivore — Astrophocaudia Cretaceous herbivore — Atlantosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Atrociraptor Cretaceous carnivore — Augustynolophus Cretaceous herbivore — Aublysodon Cretaceous carnivore — Avaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Bambiraptor Cretaceous carnivore — Barosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Beelemodon Jurassic (unknown) — Bistahieversor Cretaceous carnivore — Brachiosaurus Jurassic/Cretaceous herbivore — Brachyceratops Cretaceous herbivore Only juvenile fossils found so far Brachylophosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Bravoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Brontomerus Cretaceous herbivore — Brontoraptor Jurassic carnivore — Camarasaurus Jurassic herbivore — Camposaurus Triassic carnivore Dubious, see article Camptosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Capitalsaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Caseosaurus Triassic carnivore — Cathetosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Cedarosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Cedarpelta Cretaceous herbivore — Cedrorestes Cretaceous herbivore — Centrosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Not to be confused with Kentrosaurus Cerasinops Cretaceous herbivore — Ceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Ceratosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Chasmosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Chindesaurus Triassic carnivore — Chirostenotes Cretaceous carnivore — Cionodon Cretaceous herbivore — Claorhynchus Cretaceous herbivore Dubious, see article Claosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Coahuilaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Coelophysis Triassic carnivore — Coelurus Jurassic carnivore — Colepiocephale Cretaceous herbivore — Comanchesaurus Triassic (unknown) — Coronosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Corythosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Daemonosaurus Triassic carnivore — Dakotadon Cretaceous herbivore — Daspletosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Deinodon Cretaceous carnivore Dubious, see article Deinonychus Cretaceous carnivore — Diabloceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Diclonius Cretaceous herbivore — Dilophosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Diplodocus Jurassic herbivore — Diplotomodon Cretaceous carnivore — Dracorex Cretaceous herbivore — Drinker Jurassic herbivore — Dromaeosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Dromiceiomimus Cretaceous carnivore(?) — Dryosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Dryptosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Dyoplosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Dysganus Cretaceous herbivore — Dyslocosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Dystrophaeus Jurassic herbivore — Edmarka Jurassic carnivore — Edmontonia Late Cretaceous herbivore — Edmontosaurus Late Cretaceous herbivore — Einiosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Eobrontosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Eolambia Cretaceous herbivore — Eotriceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Epanterias Jurassic carnivore — Epichirostenotes Cretaceous carnivore — Euoplocephalus Cretaceous herbivore — Falcarius Cretaceous (disputed) Apparently in the course of switching from carnivore to herbivore Fruitadens Jurassic omnivore — Gargoyleosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Gastonia Cretaceous herbivore — Geminiraptor Cretaceous omnivore — Glishades Cretaceous herbivore — Glyptodontopelta Cretaceous herbivore — Gojirasaurus Triassic carnivore — Gorgosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Gravitholus Cretaceous herbivore — Gryphoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Gryposaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Hadrosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Hagryphus Cretaceous carnivore — Hanssuesia Cretaceous herbivore — Haplocanthosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Hesperonychus Cretaceous carnivore — Hesperosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Hippodraco Cretaceous herbivore — Hoplitosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Huehuecanauhtlus Cretaceous herbivore — Hypacrosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Hypsibema Cretaceous herbivore — Iguanacolossus Cretaceous herbivore — Jeyawati Cretaceous herbivore — Judiceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Kaatedocus Jurassic herbivore — Kayentavenator Jurassic carnivore — Koparion Jurassic (unknown) — Kosmoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Kritosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Labocania Cretaceous carnivore — Lambeosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Laosaurus Jurassic/Cretaceous herbivore — Latirhinus Cretaceous herbivore — Leptoceratops Late Cretaceous herbivore — Leptorhynchos Late Cretaceous omnivore — Lophorhothon Cretaceous herbivore — Lythronax Cretaceous carnivore — Madsenius Jurassic carnivore — Magnapaulia Cretaceous herbivore — Magulodon Cretaceous herbivore — Maiasaura Cretaceous herbivore — Marshosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Martharaptor Cretaceous carnivore — Megapnosaurus Jurassic carnivore Formerly known as Syntarsus Medusaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Mercuriceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Microcephale Cretaceous herbivore — Microvenator Cretaceous carnivore — Moabosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Mojoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Monoclonius Cretaceous herbivore — Montanoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Mymoorapelta Jurassic herbivore — Naashoibitosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Nanosaurus Jurassic herbivore (?) — Nanuqsaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Nanotyrannus Cretaceous carnivore — Nasutoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Nedcolbertia Cretaceous (unknown) — Nedoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Niobrarasaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Nodocephalosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Nodosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Nothronychus Cretaceous herbivore — Ojoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Ojoraptorsaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Oohkotokia Cretaceous herbivore — Orcomimus Cretaceous carnivore — Ornatotholus Cretaceous herbivore — Ornitholestes Jurassic carnivore — Ornithomimus Cretaceous herbivore — Orodromeus Cretaceous herbivore — Oryctodromeus Cretaceous herbivore — Osmakasaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Othnielia Jurassic herbivore — Othnielosaurus Jurassic herbivore/omnivore — Pachycephalosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Pachyrhinosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Palaeopteryx Jurassic (unknown) Dubious, see article Palaeoscincus Cretaceous herbivore — Paluxysaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Panoplosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Parasaurolophus Cretaceous herbivore — Parksosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Paronychodon Cretaceous carnivore — Pawpawsaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Peloroplites Cretaceous herbivore — Pentaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Planicoxa Cretaceous herbivore — Pleurocoelus Cretaceous herbivore — Podokesaurus Jurassic carnivore — Polyonax Cretaceous herbivore — Prenoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Priconodon Cretaceous herbivore — Propanoplosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Prosaurolophus Cretaceous herbivore — Protoavis Cretaceous (unknown) Dubious, see article Protohadros Cretaceous herbivore — Pteropelyx Cretaceous herbivore — Richardoestesia Cretaceous carnivore — Rubeosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Sarahsaurus Jurassic omnivore — Saurolophus Cretaceous herbivore — Sauropelta Cretaceous herbivore — Saurophaganax Jurassic carnivore Possibly the top land predator of the Late Jurassic Sauroposeidon Cretaceous herbivore — Saurornitholestes Cretaceous carnivore — Scelidosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Scolosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Scutellosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Segisaurus Jurassic carnivore — Seitaad Jurassic omnivore — Siats Cretaceous carnivore — Silvisaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Sonorasaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Sphaerotholus Cretaceous herbivore — Spinops Cretaceous herbivore — Stegoceras Cretaceous herbivore — Stegopelta Cretaceous herbivore — Stegosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Stokesosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Struthiomimus Cretaceous herbivore/omnivore — Stygimoloch Cretaceous herbivore — Styracosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Supersaurus Jurassic herbivore — Suuwassea Jurassic herbivore — Talos Cretaceous carnivore/omnivore — Tanycolagreus Jurassic carnivore — Tatankacephalus Cretaceous herbivore — Tatankaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Tawa Triassic carnivore — Tenontosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Teratophoneus Cretaceous carnivore — Texacephale Cretaceous herbivore — Texasetes Cretaceous herbivore — Theiophytalia Cretaceous herbivore — Thescelosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Thespesius Cretaceous herbivore — Tichosteus Jurassic herbivore — Titanoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Torosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Torvosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Trachodon Cretaceous herbivore Dubious, see article Triceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Troodon Cretaceous carnivore Includes Stenonychosaurus, Polyodontosaurus, and Pectinodon. Tyrannosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Unescoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Utahceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Utahraptor Cretaceous carnivore — Uteodon Jurassic herbivore — Vagaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Velafrons Cretaceous herbivore — Venenosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Wyomingraptor Jurassic carnivore — Xenoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Zapsalis Cretaceous carnivore — Zephyrosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Zuniceratops Cretaceous herbivore —
Key
| Nomen dubium |
| Invalid |
| Nomen nudum |
Timeline
This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.
Criteria for inclusion
- The creature must appear on the List of dinosaurs.
- Fossils of the creature must have been found in North America.
- This list is a complement to Category:Dinosaurs of North America.
Notes
- ↑ Diet is sometimes hard to determine for dinosaurs and should be considered a "best guess"
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