List of European dinosaurs
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.[1] 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.
Criteria for inclusion
- The creature must appear on the [List of dinosaur genera].
- Fossils of the creature must have been found in [Europe].
- This list is a complement to [:Category:Dinosaurs of Europe].
List of European dinosaurs
Nomen dubium |
Invalid |
Nomen nudum |
Name Period Diet[2] Country Notes Acanthopholis Cretaceous herbivore England An ankylosaur. Adynomosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Spain The first non-avian dinosaur described in 2019. Aepisaurus Cretaceous herbivore France A dubious sauropod. Agrosaurus Triassic herbivore England Mistakenly thought to be from Australia; now considered possibly the same as Thecodontosaurus. Ajkaceratops Cretaceous herbivore Hungary The first definitive ceratopsian from Europe. Allosaurus Jurassic carnivore Portugal, USA, & Tanzania European species is Allosaurus europaeus. Alocodon Jurassic (herbivore) Portugal Possibly a neornithischian. Altispinax Cretaceous carnivore England Includes "Becklespinax". Amanzia Jurassic erbivore Switzerland A non-neosauropod eusauropod. Ampelosaurus Cretaceous herbivore France A titanosaur known to possess spike-like osteoderms. Anoplosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England An ankylosaur formerly considered to be an ornithopod. Aragosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Spain A Camarasaurus-like sauropod from Spain. Arcovenator Cretaceous carnivore France One of the few abelisaurs from the Northern Hemisphere. Archaeopteryx Jurassic carnivore Germany Possibly a bird. Arenysaurus Cretaceous herbivore Spain One of the last lambeosaurine hadrosaurs. Aristosuchus Cretaceous carnivore England A compsognathid. Asylosaurus Triassic herbivore/omnivore England Similar to Thecodontosaurus; its remains survived bombing during World War II. Atsinganosaurus Cretaceous herbivore France A member of the clade Lirainosaurinae. Aviatyrannis Jurassic carnivore Portugal tyrannosauroid. Balaur Cretaceous herbivore/omnivore Romania Either a bird or a non-avialan theropod. Barilium Cretaceous herbivore England Almost called "Torillion". Baryonyx Cretaceous carnivore Spain, Portugal, England A spinosaurid adapted to catch fish. Betasuchus Cretaceous carnivore Netherlands One of the few known non-avian dinosaurs from the Netherlands. Bihariosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Romania Actually a nomen nudum and invalid. Blasisaurus Cretaceous herbivore Spain One of the last lambeosaurines, together with Arenysaurus. Bothriospondylus Jurassic herbivore England Type species was found in England. Attributed remains from France and Madagascar have been assigned to other genera. Bradycneme Cretaceous (carnivore) Romania Either a troodontid or alvarezsaur. Burianosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Czech Republic An ornithopod named after paleoartist Zdenek Burian. Calamosaurus Cretaceous carnivore England A compsognathid. Calamospondylus Cretaceous (carnivore) England Possibly a primitive oviraptorosaur. Callovosaurus Jurassic herbivore England One of the oldest dryosaurids. Camarillasaurus Cretaceous carnivore Spain A primitive ceratosaur. Camelotia Triassic herbivore England One of the largest dinosaurs of the Triassic period. Canardia Cretaceous herbivore France It represents a lineage of hadrosaurs previously unknown in Europe. Cardiodon Jurassic herbivore England Its remains are the first sauropod remains ever found. Ceratosaurus Jurassic carnivore Portugal & USA European species is Ceratosaurus dentisulcatus. Cetiosauriscus Jurassic herbivore England Possibly a primitive diplodocoid. Cetiosaurus Jurassic herbivore England, France, Switzerland, Morocco The first sauropod correctly identified as such. Chondrosteosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England A dubious sauropod with a convoluted taxonomic history. Compsognathus Jurassic carnivore Germany & France One of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs. Concavenator Cretaceous carnivore Spain A strange carcharodontosaurid with a hump-back and possibly feathers. Craspedodon Cretaceous herbivore Belgium Maybe a ceratopsian. Craterosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England Possibly an Early Cretaceous stegosaur. Cruxicheiros Jurassic carnivore England A basal tetanuran. Cryptosaurus Jurassic herbivore England An ankylosaur. Cumnoria Jurassic herbivore England A relative of Camptosaurus. Dacentrurus Jurassic herbivore England, France, Spain, Portugal A large stegosaur and the first of its kind to be discovered. Darwinsaurus Cretaceous herbivore England One of the many iguanodonts from Early Cretaceous England. Delapparentia Cretaceous herbivore Spain May be the same as Iguanodon. Demandasaurus Cretaceous herbivore Spain A rebbachisaurid. Dinheirosaurus Jurassic herbivore Portugal May be the same as Supersaurus. Dinodocus Cretaceous herbivore England Despite its similar-sounding name, it probably wasn't closely related to Diplodocus. Dolichosuchus Triassic carnivore Germany A primitive theropod. Draconyx Jurassic herbivore Portugal A close relative of Camptosaurus. Dracopelta Jurassic herbivore Portugal An ankylosaur. Dracoraptor Jurassic carnivore Wales The first non-avian dinosaur found in Wales. Dromaeosauroides Cretaceous carnivore Denmark The first non-avian dinosaur genus named from Scandinavian remains. Dubreuillosaurus Jurassic carnivore France Found in France. Duriatitan Jurassic herbivore England Formerly a species of Cetiosaurus. Duriavenator Jurassic carnivore England Formerly a species of Megalosaurus. Also informally known as "Walkersaurus". Dryosaurus Jurassic herbivore Portugal & USA May be intermediate. Echinodon Cretaceous omnivore England The latest surviving heterodontosaurid. Efraasia Triassic herbivore Germany Mixed up with a lot of other reptiles throughout its history. Elopteryx Cretaceous carnivore Romania Either a troodontid or alvarezsaur. Emausaurus Jurassic herbivore Germany A basal thyreophoran that may be either bipedal or quadrupedal. Eotyrannus Cretaceous carnivore England A tyrannosauroid. Eousdryosaurus Jurassic herbivore Portugal A dryosaurid ornithopod. Erectopus Cretaceous carnivore France A basal carnosaur. Eucamerotus Cretaceous herbivore England A sauropod with a convoluted history. Eucercosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England Possibly an ornithopod. Euronychodon Cretaceous carnivore Portugal & Uzbekistan A tooth taxon that may be a troodontid. Europasaurus Jurassic herbivore Germany An island-living sauropod that grew to small sizes. Europatitan Cretaceous herbivore Spain A large sauropod. Europelta Cretaceous herbivore Spain Represents Europe's most completely known ankylosaur. Eustreptospondylus Jurassic carnivore England Some have suggested it could swim. Galvesaurus Jurassic/Cretaceous herbivore Spain Also spelled "Galveosaurus". See article for more information. Genusaurus Cretaceous carnivore France An abelisaur. Gideonmantellia Cretaceous herbivore Spain A basal ornithopod similar to Hypsilophodon. Gigantosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England Not to be confused with Giganotosaurus. This is a sauropod. Halticosaurus Triassic carnivore Germany A dubious theropod. Heptasteornis Cretaceous carnivore Romania Possibly an alvarezsaur.s Histriasaurus Cretaceous herbivore Croatia One of the oldest rebbachisaurids. Horshamosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England Formerly a species of Polacanthus. Hungarosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Hungary A nodosaur. Huxleysaurus Cretaceous herbivore England Named after scientists Thomas Henry Huxley. Hylaeosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England The third animal recognized as a non-avian dinosaur. Hypselosaurus Cretaceous herbivore France The first titanosaur known to science. Hypselospinus Cretaceous herbivore England An iguanodont. Hypsilophodon Cretaceous herbivore England One of the more well-known basal ornithischians. Iguanodon Cretaceous herbivore England, Belgium, USA, France, Mongolia & Spain The second non-avian dinosaur known to science, and the first known herbivorous non-avian dinosaur. Iliosuchus Cretaceous carnivore England Possibly a tyrannosauroid. "Ischyrosaurus" Jurassic herbivore England This name is preoccupied, but by what is unknown. Iuticosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England A sauropod. Juratyrant Jurassic carnivore England 4 r A tyrannosauroid. Juravenator Jurassic carnivore Germany It shows evidence of having both scales and feathers. Kukufeldia Cretaceous herbivore England Named after Cuckfield in England. Lexovisaurus Jurassic herbivore England, France A stegosaur from the Middle Jurassic. Liassaurus Jurassic (unknown) England May be the same as Sarcosaurus. Liliensternus Triassic carnivore Germany An early predator with a short, double cfgcrest on its snout. Lirainosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Spain A lithostrotian titanosaur. Lophostropheus Triassic/Jurassic carnivore France One of the few dinosaurs that lived in two separate geologic periods. Loricatosaurus Jurassic herbivore England and France Most Lexovisaurus remains have been transferred to this animal. Losillasaurus Jurassic/Cretaceous herbivore Spain A large sauropod. Lourinhanosaurus Jurassic carnivore Portugal A bizarre theropod that may have swallowed gastroliths. Lourinhasaurus Jurassic herbivore Portugal A camarasaurid sauropod. Lusitanosaurus Jurassic herbivore Portugal Possibly dubious. Lusotitan Jurassic herbivore Portugal Formerly thought to represent European remains of Brachiosaurus. Lusovenator Jurassic carnivore Portugal A carcharodontosaurian theropod. Macrurosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England Possibly a sauropod. Magnamanus Cretaceous herbivore Spain An iguanodont with unusually large hands. Magnosaurus Jurassic carnivore England A megalosaurid theropod. Magyarosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Romania One of the smallest adult sauropods, reaching up to a maximum 6 meters (20 feet) in length. Mantellisaurus Cretaceous herbivore Belgium, England, Germany A common ornithopod. Mantellodon Cretaceous herbivore England May be the same as another English ornithopod. Matheronodon Cretaceous herbivore France An ornithopod with two unusually large teeth. Megalosaurus Jurassic carnivore England, France, Austria, Romania, Belgium The first non-avian dinosaur known to science. Merosaurus Jurassic carnivore England Once thought to belong to Scelidosaurus. Metriacanthosaurus Jurassic carnivore England A close relative of Allosaurus. Miragaia Jurassic herbivore Portugal A stegosaur with an unusually long neck. Mochlodon Cretaceous herbivore Austria A rhabdodontid. Morelladon Cretaceous herbivore Spain An ornithopod with a sail which is not as high as that in Ouranosaurus. Morinosaurus Cretaceous herbivore France A sauropod. Neosodon Jurassic herbivore France Unlike practically all taxonomic genera, this has no referred species to it. Neovenator Cretaceous carnivore England A large predator. Newtonsaurus Triassic carnivore England Formerly "Zanclodon cambrensis". Normanniasaurus Cretaceous herbivore France A sauropod. Nuthetes Cretaceous carnivore England A dromaeosaur. Ohmdenosaurus Jurassic herbivore Germany A small basal sauropod. Oplosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England A sauropod. Ornithodesmus Cretaceous carnivore England A dromaeosaur formerly considered to represent a pterosaur. Ornithopsis Cretaceous herbivore England A sauropod. Orthomerus Cretaceous herbivore Netherlands, Belgium A possibly dubious ornithopod from the Netherlands. Owenodon Cretaceous herbivore England An ornithopod. Paludititan Cretaceous herbivore Romania A contemporary of Magyarosaurus. Pantydraco Triassic herbivore Wales A small basal sauropodomorph. Pararhabdodon Cretaceous herbivore Spain The first known lambeosaurine from Europe. Pelecanimimus Cretaceous carnivore Spain A primitive ornithomimosaur with 200 teeth. Pelorosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England & Portugal A sauropod with a confusing taxonomy. Phyllodon Jurassic herbivore Portugal Tooth taxon; probably an ornithopod. Piveteausaurus Jurassic carnivore France A theropod. Plateosaurus Triassic herbivore Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway, & Greenland Fossils of this genus have been found widespread across Europe. Pneumatoraptor Cretaceous carnivore Hungary An indeterminate paravian. Poekilopleuron Jurassic carnivore England A close relative of Megalosaurus. Polacanthus Cretaceous herbivore England A relatively well known nodosaur. Priodontognathus Jurassic herbivore England A dubious ankylosaur. Proa Cretaceous herbivore Spain Named for its prow-shaped jaw. Proceratosaurus Jurassic carnivore England A tyrannosauroid. Procompsognathus Triassic carnivore Germany A coelophysoid. Proplanicoxa Cretaceous herbivore England Probably the same as Mantellisaurus. Pterospondylus Triassic carnivore Germany A possibly dubious coelophysoid. Pyroraptor Cretaceous carnivore France Named because it was found after a forest fire took place. Regnosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England One of the first stegosaurs discovered. Rhabdodon Cretaceous herbivore France, Czech Republic, Romania, Spain A common ornithopod. Rhadinosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Austria, Romania, France, Hungary Either a synonym of Struthiosaurus or a crocodilian. Riabininohadros Cretaceous herbivore Russia Formerly assigned to Orthomerus. Ruehleia Triassic herbivore Germany A plateosaurian sauropodomorph ("prosauropod"). Saltriovenator Jurassic carnivore Italy A ceratosaur, appeared for eighteen years as a nomen nudum called "Saltriosaurus". It was possibly the biggest predator of its time. Sarcolestes Jurassic herbivore England A Jurassic` ankylosaur. Sarcosaurus Jurassic carnivore England Either a ceratosaur or a coelophysoid. Scelidosaurus Jurassic herbivore England A primitive thyreophoran. Schleitheimia triassic herbivore Switzerland An early member of Sauropodiformes. Scipionyx Cretaceous carnivore Italy The first dinosaur described from Italy. Preserved internal organs of this genus have been found. Sciurumimus Jurassic carnivore Germany Once considered a megalosaurid; it is known for its feathered tail. Sellacoxa Cretaceous herbivore England An ornithopod. Soriatitan Cretaceous herbivore Spain A large, recently discovered sauropod. Stegosaurus Jurassic herbivore Portugal & USA Remains have been found in Portugal. Stenopelix Cretaceous herbivore Germany A basal ceratopsian. Streptospondylus Jurassic carnivore France The second non-avian theropod known to science. Struthiosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Austria, France, Romania, Hungary One of the smallest ankylosaurs. Suchosaurus Cretaceous carnivore England Possibly the same as Baryonyx. Tanystrosuchus Triassic carnivore Germany A dubious theropod. Tarascosaurus Cretaceous carnivore France Possibly an abelisaur. Tastavinsaurus Cretaceous herbivore Spain Sometimes considered to be part of a unique clade called "Laurasiformes". Taveirosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Portugal, Spain An indeterminate ornithischian. Teinurosaurus Jurassic carnivore Portugal A theropod. Telmatosaurus Cretaceous herbivore Romania A small basal hadrosauromorph. Tethyshadros Cretaceous herbivore Italy One of the smallest known hadrosauromorphs. Thecocoelurus Cretaceous carnivore England Possibly an early ornithomimosaur. Thecodontosaurus Triassic herbivore England Sometimes found in Carboniferous deposits. Thecospondylus Cretaceous (carnivore) England Scientists are not sure if it is a saurischian or an ornithischian. Therosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England The original Iguanodon teeth have been referred to this genus. Torvosaurus Jurassic carnivore Portugal & USA A species of Torvosaurus has been found in Portugal (T. gurneyi). Trimucrodon Jurassic herbivore Portugal Possibly an ornithischian. Turiasaurus Jurassic/Cretaceous herbivore Spain, Portugal One of the largest known dinosaurs. Valdoraptor Cretaceous carnivore England Possibly an early ornithomimosaur. Valdosaurus Cretaceous herbivore England A dryosaurid. Vallibonavenatrix Cretaceous carnivore Spain The first spinosaurid named since Ichthyovenator in 2012. Variraptor Cretaceous carnivore England A dromaeosaur. Velocipes Triassic carnivore Poland Its dinosaurian status has been questioned. Vouivria Jurassic herbivore France Formerly thought to represent Bothriospondylus. Wellnhoferia Jurassic carnivore Germany May be the same as Archaeopteryx. Xenoposeidon Cretaceous herbivore England Possibly an early rebbachisaur. Yaverlandia Cretaceous carnivore England Once thought to represent a pachycephalosaur, now thought to be a maniraptor. Zalmoxes Cretaceous herbivore Romania A rhabdodontid. Zby Jurassic herbivore Portugal A large sauropod.
Timeline
This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.
See also
- Category: Cretaceous paleontological sites of Europe
- List of European birds
Notes
- Manchester Metropolitan University Archived 2009-05-25 at the Wayback Machine
- Diet is sometimes hard to determine for dinosaurs and should be considered a "best guess"