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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.
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 | — |
Nomen dubium |
Invalid |
Nomen nudum |
This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.
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