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 because substantial resources have been devoted to the North American fossil record.
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 Upper Jurassic of North America, however, is the exact opposite of the Middle Jurassic. The Upper 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.
During the Lower Cretaceous, new dinosaurs appeared. Sauropods were still present, but they were not as diverse as they were in the Jurassic. Theropods from the early Cretaceous of North America include dromaeosaurs such as Deinonychus and Utahraptor, Acrocanthosaurus, and Microvenator. Sauropods included Astrodon 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 then. 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, in the long Upper Cretaceous, the greatest abundance and diversity of dinosaurs of all time lived in North America. During the early part of the Upper Cretaceous, the therizinosaur Nothronychus and the ceratopsian Zuniceratops lived. During the Campanian stage (83.6–72 mya), an enormous diversity of dinosaurs is known. Theropods included the tyrannosaurs Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Appalachiosaurus, and Dryptosaurus, and the dromaeosaurids Dromaeosaurus, Saurornitholestes, Atrociraptor, and Bambiraptor. Ceratopsians, such as Pachyrhinosaurus, Styracosaurus, Centrosaurus, Monoclonius, Brachyceratops, Pentaceratops, and Leptoceratops also existed. Among hadrosaurs, Parasaurolophus, Corythosaurus, Lambeosaurus, Saurolophus, and Prosaurolophus existed.
During the latest Cretaceous, the Maastrichtian stage (72–65.5 mya), the diversity of dinosaurs wasn't as great as the preceding Campanian stage. North American herbivorous dinosaurs then included the titanosaur sauropod Alamosaurus, the ceratopsians Triceratops and Torosaurus(The latter possibly synonymous with the former), the pachycephalosaurs Pachycephalosaurus and Stegoceras, the hadrosaurs Edmontosaurus and Anatotitan. Predatory dinosaurs from this time period included Tyrannosaurus and the potentially dubious Troodon.
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Name Period Diet[1] Notes Abydosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Achelousaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Acrocanthosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Agathaumas Cretaceous herbivore Dubious, see article Agujaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Alamosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Alaskacephale Cretaceous herbivore — Albertaceratops 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 Cretaceous herbivore — Antrodemus Jurassic carnivore Probably synonymous with Allosaurus, see article Apatodon (unknown) (unknown) Highly dubious, see article Apatosaurus Jurassic herbivore Formerly known as Brontosaurus Appalachiosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Arkansaurus Cretaceous carnivore Received validity in 2018 Arrhinoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Astrodon Cretaceous herbivore — Atlantosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Atrociraptor Cretaceous carnivore — 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 — Brontoraptor Jurassic carnivore — Camarasaurus Jurassic herbivore — Camposaurus Triassic carnivore Camptosaurus Jurassic/Cretaceous herbivore — Capitalsaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Caseosaurus Triassic carnivore — 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) — Corythosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Dakotadon Cretaceous herbivore — Daspletosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Deinodon Cretaceous carnivore Dubious, see article Deinonychus Cretaceous carnivore Feathered Diabloceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Diclonius Cretaceous herbivore — Dilophosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Diplodocus Jurassic herbivore — Diplotomodon Cretaceous carnivore — Dracorex Cretaceous herbivore A pachycephalosaur, synonymized with Pachycephalosaurus in 2006 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 Cretaceous herbivore — Edmontosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Einiosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Eobrontosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Eolambia Cretaceous herbivore — Eotriceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Epanterias Jurassic 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 — Glishades Cretaceous herbivore — Glyptodontopelta Cretaceous herbivore — Gojirasaurus Triassic carnivore — Gorgosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Gravitholus Cretaceous herbivore — Gryposaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Hadrosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Hagryphus Cretaceous carnivore — Hanssuesia Cretaceous herbivore — Haplocanthosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Hesperonychus Cretaceous carnivore — Hesperosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Hoplitosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Hypacrosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Hypsibema Cretaceous herbivore — Jeyawati Cretaceous herbivore — Kayentavenator Jurassic carnivore — Koparion Jurassic (unknown) — Kosmoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Kritosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Labocania Cretaceous carnivore — Lambeosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Laosaurus Jurassic/Cretaceous herbivore — Leptoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Lophorhothon Cretaceous herbivore — Madsenius Jurassic carnivore — Magulodon Cretaceous herbivore — Maiasaura Cretaceous herbivore — Marshosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Megapnosaurus Jurassic carnivore Formerly known as Syntarsus Medusaceratops 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 (?) — Nanotyrannus Cretaceous carnivore — Nedcolbertia Cretaceous (unknown) — Nedoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Niobrarasaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Nodocephalosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Nodosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Nothronychus Cretaceous herbivore — Ojoceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Orcomimus Cretaceous carnivore — Ornatotholus Cretaceous herbivore — Ornitholestes Jurassic carnivore — Ornithomimus Cretaceous herbivore — Orodromeus Cretaceous herbivore — Oryctodromeus 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 — Prosaurolophus Cretaceous herbivore — Protoavis Triassic (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 — Sauroposeidon Cretaceous herbivore — Saurornitholestes Cretaceous carnivore — Scelidosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Scutellosaurus Jurassic herbivore — Segisaurus Jurassic carnivore — Seitaad Jurassic omnivore — Silvisaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Sonorasaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Sphaerotholus 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 — Tanycolagreus Jurassic carnivore — Tatankacephalus Cretaceous herbivore — Tatankaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Tawa Triassic carnivore — Tenontosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Texacephale Cretaceous herbivore — Texasetes Cretaceous herbivore — Theiophytalia Cretaceous herbivore — Thescelosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Thespesius Cretaceous herbivore — Tichosteus Jurassic herbivore — Torosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Torvosaurus Jurassic carnivore — Trachodon Cretaceous herbivore Dubious, see article Triceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Troodon Cretaceous carnivore Includes Stenonychosaurus. Tyrannosaurus Cretaceous carnivore — Utahceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Utahraptor Cretaceous carnivore — Vagaceratops Cretaceous herbivore — Velafrons Cretaceous herbivore — Venenosaurus Cretaceous herbivore — Wyomingraptor Jurassic 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.
List Of North American Dinosaurs Media
VOA report about North American dinosaurs
Abydosaurus
Life restoration of Acantholipan gonzalezi.
Reconstruction of a Achelousaurus. Matches proportions indicated in Sampson, S.D. 1995. Two new horned dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana; with a phylogenetic analysis of the Centrosaurinae (Ornithischia: Ceratopsidae). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 15(4): 743-760.
Life reconstruction of Acheroraptor temertyorum
Illustration of the head of Acristavus gagslarsoni Gates et al. 2011.
Acrocanthosaurus restoration
Acrotholus audeti restoration
Life restoration of Adelolophus
Agujaceratops life restoration
Notes
- ↑ Diet is sometimes hard to determine for dinosaurs and should be considered a "best guess"