Dinosaurs Family tree
Here is the structured breakdown for the Suborder Rhamphorhynchoidea pterosaurs, customized to include scientific data alongside the character-driven comments from your Cartoon All-Stars crossover roster.
Suborder Rhamphorhynchoidea Data Charts
Family Dimorphodontidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimorphodon macronyx | "Two-form tooth, large claw" | Order: Pterosauria
Family: Dimorphodontidae Genus: Dimorphodon |
Early Jurassic
(195–190 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Wingspan: 1.4 m (4.6 ft) |
2–4 kg
(4.4–8.8 lbs) |
Richard Owen, 1859 | United Kingdom (Dorset) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa, check out that massive puffer-fish head! Built like a flying gargoyle but way more radical. Totally dynamic aerial moves!" |
Family Eudimorphodontidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eudimorphodon ranzii | "True two-form tooth" (named after Silvio Ranzi) | Order: Pterosauria
Family: Eudimorphodontidae Genus: Eudimorphodon |
Late Triassic
(210–203 Ma) |
Length: 40 cm (16 in)
Wingspan: 1 m (3.3 ft) |
100g
(0.22 lbs) |
Rocco Zambelli, 1973 | Italy (Cene, Bergamo) | Brainy Smurf: "According to my precise observations, this Triassic specimen possesses an exceptional array of 114 interlocking teeth—making it far superior at catching fish than Clumsy!" |
Family Rhamphorhynchidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anurognathus ammoni | "Without tail jaw" (named after Ludwig von Ammon) | Order: Pterosauria
Family: Anurognathidae Genus: Anurognathus |
Late Jurassic
(150–148 Ma) |
Length: 9 cm (3.5 in)
Wingspan: 50 cm (20 in) |
40g
(1.4 oz) |
Ludwig Döderlein, 1923 | Germany (Solnhofen) | Winnie the Pooh: "Oh, bother! It looks a bit like a tiny furry frog with wings. I do hope it prefers catching bugs over chasing after my honeybees." |
| Rhamphorhynchus etchesi | "Beak snout" (named after Steve Etches) | Order: Pterosauria
Family: Rhamphorhynchidae Genus: Rhamphorhynchus |
Late Jurassic
(152 Ma) |
Length: 50 cm (20 in)
Wingspan: 1.2 m (3.9 ft) |
800g
(1.76 lbs) |
O'Sullivan & Martill, 2015 | United Kingdom (Dorset) | Garfield: "A flying needle-jawed fish-catcher? Perfect. I'll take three, train them to pillage the local seafood market, and split the profit 70/30. No lasagna sharing though." |
| Scaphognathus crassirostris | "Tub jaw, fat snout" | Order: Pterosauria
Family: Rhamphorhynchidae Genus: Scaphognathus |
Late Jurassic
(150–148 Ma) |
Length: 90 cm (35 in)
Wingspan: 1 m (3.3 ft) |
250g
(0.55 lbs) |
August Goldfuss, 1831 | Germany (Solnhofen) | Alvin Seville: "Check out that blunt snout! This guy is built for high-speed stunts. If we can get him to carry the amplifiers, the Chipmunks are taking over the skies!" |
| Sordes pilosus | "Filthy hair" | Order: Pterosauria
Family: Rhamphorhynchidae Genus: Sordes |
Late Jurassic
(155–150 Ma) |
Length: 40 cm (16 in)
Wingspan: 63 cm (25 in) |
200g
(0.44 lbs) |
Aleksandr Sharov, 1971 | Kazakhstan (Karatau) | Slimer: "Oooooh! Fuzzy flyer! Covered in creepy, gooey hair filaments! It's like a messy little ghost bat, I love it!" |
Here is the structured breakdown for the Suborder Pterodactyloidea pterosaurs, complete with precise scientific details and character-driven commentary from your Cartoon All-Stars roster.
Suborder Pterodactyloidea Data Charts
Family Dsungaripteridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dsungaripterus weii | "Junggar Basin wing" (honoring C.M. Wei) | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Dsungaripteridae |
Early Cretaceous
(130–120 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Wingspan: 3–3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft) |
30 kg
(66 lbs) |
Yang Zhongjian,
1964 |
China (Junggar Basin) | Jake the Dog: "Whoa, look at that crazy upturned nose! It looks exactly like a giant pair of flying tweezers. Man, cracking open clams on the beach with your face is a wild lifestyle." |
Family Pterodaustriidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pterodaustro guinazui | "Southern wing" (honoring Restituto Guñazú) | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Ctenochasmidae |
Early Cretaceous
(105 Ma) |
Length: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Wingspan: 2.5–3 m (8.2–9.8 ft) |
9.2 kg
(20.3 lbs) |
José Bonaparte,
1969 |
Argentina (San Luis) | Sebastian: "Mon dieu, look at dose lower jaws! Dat creature has over a thousand bristle teeth just to filter tiny shrimp from de water! It's like a prehistoric flamingo under de sea sky!" |
| Tapejara wellnhoferi | "The old being" (honoring Peter Wellnhofer) | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Tapejaridae |
Early Cretaceous
(112 Ma) |
Length: 80 cm (2.6 ft)
Wingspan: 3.5 m (11.5 ft) |
5 kg
(11 lbs) |
Alexander Kellner,
1989 |
Brazil (Santana Group) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese! That enormous, sail-like bone crest on its head must make flying on a windy day a complete editorial nightmare! Absolutely fascinating!" |
Family Pterodactylidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthurdactylus conandoylei | "Arthur's wing" (honoring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Ornithocheiridae |
Early Cretaceous
(115 Ma) |
Length: 45 cm (1.5 ft)
Wingspan: 4.6 m (15 ft) |
15 kg
(33 lbs) |
Eberhard Frey & David Martill, 1994 | Brazil (Crato Formation) | Danny Phantom: "A giant flyer named directly after the guy who wrote The Lost World? That is meta. Its wings are huge compared to its tiny body—definitely defying some ghost-zone physics." |
| Cearadactylus atrox | "Ceará finger, fierce" | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Anhangueridae |
Early Cretaceous
(112 Ma) |
Length: 1.1 m (3.6 ft)
Wingspan: 4–5.5 m (13–18 ft) |
15 kg
(33 lbs) |
Leonardi & Borgomanero, 1985 | Brazil (Romualdo Formation) | Optimus Prime: "Those interlocking, kris-shaped teeth at the very tip of its snout are formidable. This creature was perfectly engineered for precision strikes against aquatic prey." |
| Maaradactylus kellneri | "Maara's finger" (honoring Alexander Kellner) | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Anhangueridae |
Early Cretaceous
(112 Ma) |
Length: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Wingspan: 5–6 m (16.4–20 ft) |
20 kg
(44 lbs) |
Renan Bantim et al., 2014 | Brazil (Araripe Basin) | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Scanning... its upper jaw has 35 pairs of teeth and a giant semi-circular crest on its snout! My sensors indicate it would be highly effective at catching ocean fish!" |
| Pterodactylus antiquus | "Wing finger, ancient" | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Pterodactylidae |
Late Jurassic
(150–148 Ma) |
Length: 30 cm (1 ft)
Wingspan: 1.04 m (3.4 ft) |
1–2 kg
(2.2–4.4 lbs) |
Georges Cuvier,
1809 |
Germany (Solnhofen) | Dexter: "Ah, the foundational classic! The very first pterosaur ever discovered and described by science. It is small, compact, and an absolute marvel of ancient aerodynamic architecture!" |
Family Ornithocheiridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropeognathus mesembrinus | "Keel jaw, southern" | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Anhangueridae |
Early Cretaceous
(112 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Wingspan: 8.2 m (27 ft) |
30 kg
(66 lbs) |
Peter Wellnhofer,
1987 |
Brazil (Romualdo Formation) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, what's up, doc? That's a mighty large convex crest you got on the top and bottom of your schnozzle. Looks like a giant, flying canoe paddle to me!" |
Family Pteranodontidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pteranodon sternbergi | "Wing without tooth" (honoring George F. Sternberg) | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Pteranodontidae |
Late Cretaceous
(88–85 Ma) |
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Wingspan: 6–7.2 m (20–24 ft) |
25–40 kg
(55–88 lbs) |
George F. Sternberg, 1966 | USA (Kansas, Niobrara Chalk) | Alvin Seville: "Whoa! Look at that huge upright crest pointing straight out the back of its skull! This guy looks like a total rockstar built for extreme supersonic gliding!" |
Family Azhdarchidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni | "Feathered serpent" (honoring Douglas Lawson) | Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea Family: Azhdarchidae |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Height: 2.9–13 m (40.5 ft)
Wingspan: 4.5–25 m (15–82 ft) |
60–700 kg
(132–154,000 lbs) |
Mark Witton et al., 2021 | USA (Texas, Javelina Formation) | Olaf: "He is like a giant, elegant flying giraffe with a big beautiful beak! He doesn't have any teeth, which means he probably gives great, big, non-pointy summer hugs!" |
Here is the structured breakdown for the Suborder Theropoda (Infraorder Ceratosauria) dinosaurs, combining precise scientific data with custom, character-driven commentary from your Cartoon All-Stars crossover roster.
Suborder Theropoda: Infraorder Ceratosauria Data Charts
Family Coelophysidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coelophysis bauri | "Hollow form" (honoring Georg Baur) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Coelophysidae |
Late Triassic
(228–201 Ma) |
Length: 3 m (9.8 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
15–20 kg
(33–44 lbs) |
Edward Drinker Cope, 1889 | USA (New Mexico) | Alvin Seville: "This guy is sleek, built for speed, and looks like he could outrun a lightning bolt. Perfect choice for a lead guitarist's pet!" |
| Procompsognathus triassicus | "Before elegant jaw" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Coelophysidae |
Late Triassic
(210 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 25 cm (10 in) at hip |
1 kg
(2.2 lbs) |
Eberhard Fraas,
1913 |
Germany (Stubensandstein) | Brainy Smurf: "A very primitive, agile hunter. According to my calculations, its tiny size allows it to sneak around completely unnoticed—just like Clumsy when he's about to break something!" |
| Saltopus elginensis | "Leaping foot from Elgin" | Order: Saurischia
Clade: Dinosauriform Family: Coelophysidae (debated) |
Late Triassic
(228–227 Ma) |
Length: 50–100 cm (20–39 in)
Height: 15 cm (6 in) at hip |
110g–1 kg
(0.24–2.2 lbs) |
Friedrich von Huene, 1910 | United Kingdom (Scotland) | Baby Gonzo: "A cat-sized leaper with hollow bones? Oh, I want to pack him into a circus cannon and see if we can break the altitude record together!" |
Family Ceratosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceratosaurus nasicornis | "Horned lizard, nose horn" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Ceratosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(153–148 Ma) |
Length: 6–7 m (20–23 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
500–1,000 kg
(1,100–2,200 lbs) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1884 | USA (Colorado, Utah) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa, a blade-like horn right on its nose and armor scutes down its spine? This dude looks like a walking punk-rock album cover! Totally radical!" |
Family Dilophosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilophosaurus wetherilli | "Two-crested lizard" (honoring John Wetherill) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dilophosauridae |
Early Jurassic
(193 Ma) |
Length: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
400 kg
(880 lbs) |
Samuel P. Welles,
1954 |
USA (Arizona) | Garfield: "Double head crests but no venom-spitting neck frill like the movies? Good. The last thing I need is a 23-foot lizard ruining my lasagna with genetic fabrications." |
Family Abelisauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnotaurus sastrei | "Meat-eating bull" (honoring Anselmo Sastre) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Abelisauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(72–69 Ma) |
Length: 7.5–9 m (25–30 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
1,300–2,000 kg
(2,860–4,400 lbs) |
José Bonaparte,
1985 |
Argentina (Chubut) | Gordon "ALF" Shumway: "Look at those tiny, useless stumpy arms! And those bull horns! If it weren't for the 'meat-eating' part, we could be best friends. Keep him away from the cats." |
| Majungasaurus crenatissimus | "Mahajanga lizard, very crenated" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Abelisauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70–66 Ma) |
Length: 6–7 m (20–23 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
1,100 kg
(2,400 lbs) |
Charles Depéret,
1896 |
Madagascar | Danny Phantom: "This apex predator has a single thick horn on its forehead and rough bone armor. Fighting this thing would definitely require going full ghost-mode." |
Family Noasauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elaphrosaurus bambergi | "Lightweight lizard" (honoring Paul Bamberg) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Noasauridae |
Late Jurassic
(154–150 Ma) |
Length: 6–6.2 m (20 ft)
Height: 1.46 m (4.8 ft) at hip |
200–210 kg
(440–460 lbs) |
Werner Janensch,
1920 |
Tanzania (Tendaguru) | Winnie the Pooh: "Oh, bother. A long, slender dinosaur that lost its teeth to grow a beak? I do hope it likes crunching on sweet plants instead of small bears." |
| Noasaurus leali | "Northwestern Argentina lizard" (honoring Alejandro Leal) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Noasauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70–68 Ma) |
Length: 1.5–2 m (5–6.5 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) at hip |
15 kg
(33 lbs) |
Jaime Powell & José Bonaparte, 1980 | Argentina (Lecho Formation) | Slimer: "Oooooh! It has a big hook claw on its hand instead of its foot! Perfect for snatching up sneaky snacks right off the kitchen counter! Can I keep it?" |
Suborder Theropoda: Infraorder Carnosauria Data Charts
Family Megalosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eustreptospondylus oxoniensis | "True well-curved vertebra of Oxford" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Megalosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(163–154 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
500 kg
(1,100 lbs) |
Sir Richard Owen, 1841 / Walker, 1964 | United Kingdom (Oxfordshire) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, looks like this fella was a pretty good swimmer. Fancy a dip in the prehistoric channel, doc? Just watch the teeth!" |
| Metriacanthosaurus parkeri | "Moderately-spined lizard" (honoring W. K. Parker) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Metriacanthosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(160 Ma) |
Length: 8 m (26 ft)
Height: 2.2 m (7.2 ft) at hip |
1,000 kg
(2,200 lbs) |
Alick Walker, 1964 | United Kingdom (Dorset) | Alvin Seville: "He’s got ridges along his spine like a built-in sound system! Turn up the bass, boys, the party's just starting!" |
| Poekilopleuron bucklandii | "Varied ribs" (honoring William Buckland) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Megalosauridae |
Middle Jurassic
(168 Ma) |
Length: 7–8 m (23–26 ft)
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft) at hip |
1,000 kg
(2,200 lbs) |
Jacques Amand Eudes-Deslongchamps, 1838 | France (Normandy) | Brainy Smurf: "A historically foundational taxon! Its uniquely hollowed, variable rib structures make it an exceptionally fascinating study in architecture." |
| Torvosaurus gurneyi | "Savage lizard" (honoring James Gurney) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Megalosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(150 Ma) |
Length: 10 m (33 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft) at hip |
4,000–5,000 kg
(4.4–5.5 tons) |
Christophe Hendrickx & Octávio Mateus, 2014 | Portugal (Lourinhã Formation) | Garfield: "The biggest predator in Jurassic Europe? Sounds exhausting. I’m just glad he hunts fish and not my personal stash of lasagna." |
Family Carcharodontosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrocanthosaurus atokensis | "High-spined lizard from Atoka" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Carcharodontosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(113–110 Ma) |
Length: 11.5 m (38 ft)
Height: 3.9 m (12.8 ft) at hip |
5,700–6,200 kg
(6.2–6.8 tons) |
J. Willis Stovall & Wann Langston Jr., 1950 | USA (Oklahoma, Texas) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa! Look at that massive sail ridge running down its neck and back! That is totally radical spinal styling, dudes!" |
| Carcharodontosaurus iguidensis | "Shark-toothed lizard from In-Abangharit" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Carcharodontosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(95 Ma) |
Length: 10 m (33 ft)
Height: 3.5 m (11.5 ft) at hip |
4,000 kg
(4.4 tons) |
Stephen L. Brusatte & Paul Sereno, 2007 | Niger (Iguidi) | Winnie the Pooh: "Oh, bother. A giant friend with teeth shaped like a shark's? I do hope he only uses them for a very big seafood lunch." |
| Giganotosaurus carolinii | "Giant southern lizard" (honoring Rubén D. Carolini) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Carcharodontosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(98–97 Ma) |
Length: 12–13 m (40–43 ft)
Height: 4.2 m (13.8 ft) at hip |
7,000–8,500 kg
(7.7–9.3 tons) |
Rodolfo Coria & Leonardo Salgado, 1995 | Argentina (Neuquén) | Optimus Prime: "An absolute titan of an organic lifeform. Its massive physical presence dictates respect on any ancient battlefield." |
Family Allosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allosaurus europaeus | "Different lizard from Europe" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Allosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(150 Ma) |
Length: 7–12.5 m (23–40 ft)
Height: 4.5 m (13.2 ft) at hip |
1,000–1,500 kg
(1.1–1.6 tons) |
Mateus, Walen & Antunes, 2006 | Portugal/USA (Lourinhã/Morrison Formation) | Danny Phantom: "With those sharp lacrimal horns over its eyes, this guy looks like an absolute ghost-zone nightmare. Good thing I can fly!" |
| Yangchuanosaurus zigongensis | "Yangchuan lizard from Zigong" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Metriacanthosauridae |
Middle Jurassic
(165 Ma) |
Length: 7–8 m (23–26 ft)
Height: 2.3 m (7.5 ft) at hip |
1,300 kg
(1.4 tons) |
Gao Yuhui, 1993 | China (Sichuan) | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Sensors indicate an exceptionally deep skull configuration. Its dense jaw structure allows for tremendous crushing mechanics." |
Family Spinosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baryonyx walkeri | "Heavy claw" (honoring William J. Walker) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Spinosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(130–125 Ma) |
Length: 9.5 m (31 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
1,700–2,000 kg
(1.9–2.2 tons) |
Alan J. Charig & Angela C. Milner, 1986 | United Kingdom (Surrey) | Sebastian: "Look at de massive hook on dat thumb! He could snatch up a whole school of fish in a single swipe! Stay clear, mon!" |
| Spinosaurus aegyptiacus | "Spine lizard of Egypt" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Spinosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(99–93 Ma) |
Length: 14 m (46 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft) at sail |
6,000–7,500 kg
(6.6–8.2 tons) |
Ernst Stromer, 1915 | Egypt, Morocco | Gordon "ALF" Shumway: "A 46-foot crocodile-mimic with a giant sail? Now that’s what I call an outdoor barbecue centerpiece. Wonder if he eats cats?" |
| Suchomimus tenerensis | "Crocodile mimic from Ténéré" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Spinosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(121–113 Ma) |
Length: 9.5–11 m (31–36 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft) at hip |
3,000–4,000 kg
(3.3–4.4 tons) |
Paul Sereno et al., 1998 | Niger (Ténéré Desert) | Slimer: "Ooooh! Slender, gooey fish-eater! Long snouts mean more room for tasty marsh-mallows and river snacks! Yum!" |
Family Tyrannosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albertosaurus sarcophagus | "Alberta lizard, flesh-eater" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Tyrannosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.8 m (9.2 ft) at hip |
2,000–2,500 kg
(2.2–2.7 tons) |
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1905 | Canada (Alberta) | Geronimo Stilton: "Flesh-eater?! Oh, my beating whiskers! This lightning-fast Canadian predator makes my newsroom look completely safe!" |
| Alioramus altai | "Different branch from Altai Mountains" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Tyrannosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 5 m (16 ft)
Height: 1.7 m (5.6 ft) at hip |
385 kg
(850 lbs) |
Stephen L. Brusatte et al., 2009 | Mongolia (Altai) | Daffy Duck: "A tyrannosaur with eight prominent bone horns on its nose? Talk about over-accessorizing! You're stealing my spotlight!" |
| Daspletosaurus horneri | "Frightful lizard" (honoring Jack Horner) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Tyrannosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(75 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.8 m (9.2 ft) at hip |
2,500–3,000 kg
(2.7–3.3 tons) |
Thomas Carr et al., 2017 | USA (Montana) | Baby Gonzo: "Frightful lizard? Don't be silly, he's got a heavily textured face perfect for doing extreme close-up stunt comedy!" |
| Qianzhousaurus sinensis | "Qianzhou lizard from China" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Tyrannosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
800 kg
(1,760 lbs) |
Junchang Lü et al., 2014 | China (Ganzhou) | Tee Zeng (Kung Fu Wa!): "Nicknamed 'Pinocchio rex' because of its super long snout! It’s like a martial arts master that specializes in long-range strikes!" |
| Tarbosaurus bataar | "Alarming lizard, hero" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Tyrannosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 10–12 m (33–39 ft)
Height: 3.3 m (11 ft) at hip |
4,000–5,000 kg
(4.4–5.5 tons) |
Evgeny Maleev, 1955 | Mongolia, China | Bluey & Bingo: "Look at his teeny tiny arms! They're even smaller than a T-Rex's! How is he supposed to play Keepy Uppy with those?!" |
| Tyrannosaurus Rex | "Tyrant lizard king" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Tyrannosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Length: 12–15 m (40–49.5 ft)
Height: 3.6–5 m (12–16.5 ft) at hip |
8,000–9,500 kg
(8.8–10.4 tons) |
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1905 | USA, Canada | Olaf: "The King himself! He has a gigantic smile and a bone-crushing bite, which means he must love giving great, big, stompy summer hugs!" |
Suborder Theropoda: Infraorder Coelurosauria Data Charts
Family Coeluridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coelurus fragilis | "Hollow tail, fragile" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Coeluridae |
Late Jurassic
(153–150 Ma) |
Length: 2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Height: 70 cm (2.3 ft) at hip |
13–20 kg
(29–44 lbs) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1879 | USA (Wyoming, Morrison Formation) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, a delicate little sprinter with hollow bones. Reminds me of an old clay pigeon, doc. One wrong step and crunch!" |
Family Compsognathidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compsognathus longipes | "Elegant jaw, long foot" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Compsognathidae |
Late Jurassic
(150 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 25 cm (10 in) at hip |
0.8–3.5 kg
(1.8–7.7 lbs) |
Johann A. Wagner, 1859 | Germany, France | Alvin Seville: "This guy is basically a scaled-down runway model with teeth! Quick, agile, and ready to sneak into the front row of our next stadium concert." |
| Sinosauropteryx lingyuanensis | "Chinese lizard wing from Lingyuan" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Compsognathidae |
Early Cretaceous
(124–122 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 30 cm (1 ft) at hip |
0.55–1 kg
(1.2–2.2 lbs) |
Ji Qiang & Ji Shu'an, 1996 | China (Yixian Formation) | Brainy Smurf: "A milestone of paleontology! Pigment cells in its fossilized fuzz prove it had orange and white rings on its tail. It's scientifically fabulous!" |
Family Proceratosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proceratosaurus bradleyi | "Before Ceratosaurus" (honoring F. Bradley) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Proceratosauridae |
Middle Jurassic
(166 Ma) |
Length: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 90 cm (3 ft) at hip |
40 kg
(88 lbs) |
Arthur Smith Woodward, 1910 | United Kingdom (Gloucestershire) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "He’s got a totally tubular nose crest, but he’s actually an early ancestor of the T-Rex family tree! Mind blown, dudes!" |
Family Nanotyrannidae (Basal Tyrannosauroidea)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moros intrepidus | "Intrepid doom" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Superfamily: Tyrannosauroidea |
Early Cretaceous
(96 Ma) |
Length: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
78 kg
(170 lbs) |
Lindsay Zanno et al., 2019 | USA (Utah) | Danny Phantom: "A miniature tyrant that lived right before the giant kings took over. 'Intrepid Doom' sounds like a high school punk rock band name." |
| Nanotyrannus lethaeus | "Dwarf tyrant, causing forgetfulness/death" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Nannotyrannidae |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 5 m (17 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
450–1,000 kg
(1,000–2,200 lbs) |
Charles W. Gilmore, 1946 / Bakker et al., 1988 | USA (Montana, Hell Creek) | Garfield: "Whether he's a dwarf species or just a moody teenage T-Rex, he still has way too much energy for a Monday morning. Pass the lasagna." |
Family Ornithomimidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeornithomimus asiaticus | "Ancient bird mimic from Asia" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Ornithomimidae |
Late Cretaceous
(96–70 Ma) |
Length: 3.4 m (11 ft)
Height: 1.3 m (4.3 ft) at hip |
45–91 kg
(100–200 lbs) |
Dale Russell, 1972 | China (Iren Dabasu Formation) | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Locomotion analysis indicates highly optimized stride frequencies. This ancient bird-mimic was built for long-distance biological endurance." |
| Dromiceiomimus samueli | "Emu mimic" (honoring Samuel Sternberg) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Ornithomimidae |
Late Cretaceous
(73 Ma) |
Length: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Height: 1.4 m (4.6 ft) at hip |
100–150 kg
(220–330 lbs) |
Dale Russell, 1972 | Canada (Horseshoe Canyon) | Daffy Duck: "An emu mimic?! Preposterous! Why mimic an emu when you could mimic a duck? I’m the one who deserves a dinosaur family named after me!" |
| Gallimimus bullatus | "Rooster mimic, capsuled" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Ornithomimidae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 1.9 m (6.2 ft) at hip |
400–440 kg
(880–970 lbs) |
Halszka Osmólska et al., 1972 | Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) | Optimus Prime: "They move in vast, coordinated flocks across the plains. Their speed is their primary defensive protocol against apex predators." |
| Ornithomimus velox | "Bird mimic, swift" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Ornithomimidae |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Length: 3.8 m (12.5 ft)
Height: 1.4 m (4.6 ft) at hip |
170 kg
(370 lbs) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1890 | USA (Colorado, Denver Formation) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese, it can sprint up to 43 miles per hour! That is fast enough to deliver the morning edition across New Mouse City in seconds!" |
| Struthiomimus altus | "Ostrich mimic, tall" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Ornithomimidae |
Late Cretaceous
(75–70 Ma) |
Length: 4.3 m (14 ft)
Height: 1.4 m (4.6 ft) at hip |
150 kg
(330 lbs) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1902 | Canada (Dinosaur Park) | Winnie the Pooh: "A very tall ostrich friend with no teeth at all. He looks like he would be quite good at reaching sweet berries from the tops of prickly bushes." |
Family Deinocheiridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deinocheirus mirificus | "Terrible hand, unusual/peculiar" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Deinocheiridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 14 m (46 ft)
Height: 5.4 m (17.2 ft) at hip |
6,400 kg
(7 tons) |
Halszka Osmólska & Roniewicz, 1970 | Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) | Gordon "ALF" Shumway: "An 8-foot pair of arms on a giant, hump-backed duck-ostrich monster? And I thought the wildlife on Melmac was weird. This guy is spectacular." |
Family Oviraptoridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avimimus nemegtensis | "Bird mimic from Nemegt" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Avimimidae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 70 cm (2.3 ft) at hip |
15 kg
(33 lbs) |
Sergei Kurzanov, 1981 / Watabe et al., 2009 | Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) | Baby Gonzo: "It's got a short parrot beak, fused leg bones, and feathers! It’s like a chicken that decided to go to stunt-car racing school!" |
| Oviraptor philoceratops | "Egg thief, lover of ceratopsian faces" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Oviraptoridae |
Late Cretaceous
(75 Ma) |
Length: 1.6 m (5.2 ft)
Height: 80 cm (2.6 ft) at hip |
33–40 kg
(73–88 lbs) |
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1924 | Mongolia (Djadochta Formation) | Sebastian: "De poor ting was misnamed! He wasn't stealing eggs at all, he was a devoted parent protecting his own nest! Justice for de prehistoric bird!" |
| Protarchaeopteryx robusta | "Before ancient wing, robust" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Incisivosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(124 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 45 cm (1.5 ft) at hip |
2–4 kg
(4.4–8.8 lbs) |
Ji Qiang & Ji Shu'an, 1997 | China (Yixian Formation) | Slimer: "Ooooh! It has flat, buck teeth at the front of its mouth like a little furry beaver dinosaur! More teeth for crunching leaves and snacks!" |
Family Therizinosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therizinosaurus cheloniformis | "Scythe lizard, turtle-formed" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Therizinosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 9–10 m (30–33 ft)
Height: 4–5 m (13–16 ft) total |
3,000–5,000 kg
(3.3–5.5 tons) |
Evgeny Maleev, 1954 | Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) | Olaf: "Look at those three-foot-long finger claws! They look scary, but they are just for pulling down yummy tree leaves. Imagine how great he is at scratching hard-to-reach backs!" |
Suborder Theropoda: Infraorder Deinonychosauria Data Charts
Family Saurornithoididae (Troodontidae)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saurornithoides mongoliensis | "Lizard-bird form from Mongolia" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Troodontidae |
Late Cretaceous
(75 Ma) |
Length: 2–3 m (6.5–10 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
35–45 kg
(77–99 lbs) |
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1924 | Mongolia (Djadochta Formation) | Brainy Smurf: "A remarkably intelligent creature with vast cranial capacity and exceptional binocular vision. Clearly, it is the intellectual elite of the Late Cretaceous!" |
| Stenonychosaurus inequalis | "Narrow-clawed lizard, unequal" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Troodontidae |
Late Cretaceous
(76 Ma) |
Length: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
35–50 kg
(77–110 lbs) |
Charles M. Sternberg, 1932 | Canada (Dinosaur Park Formation) | Alvin Seville: "With those giant night-vision eyes and lightning-fast feet, this guy could totally sneak past Dave after curfew without waking up the house!" |
| Troodon formosus | "Wounding tooth, beautiful" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Troodontidae |
Late Cretaceous
(77–74 Ma) |
Length: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 90 cm (3 ft) at hip |
50 kg
(110 lbs) |
Joseph Leidy,
1856 |
USA (Montana, Judith River) | Danny Phantom: "This dinosaur is famously known for its razor-sharp teeth. Facing a whole pack of these brainiacs would definitely be a major spectral challenge." |
Family Dromaeosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bambiraptor feinbergi | "Bambi thief" (honoring the Feinberg family) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dromaeosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(72 Ma) |
Length: 90 cm (3 ft)
Height: 30 cm (1 ft) at hip |
2 kg
(4.4 lbs) |
David Burnham et al., 2000 | USA (Montana, Two Medicine) | Bluey & Bingo: "Oh my goodness, it’s named after a little deer! It looks like a tiny, fluffy puppy bird, but with lots and lots of pointy little nippers!" |
| Dakotaraptor steini | "Dakota thief" (honoring Walter W. Stein) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dromaeosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft) at hip |
300–350 kg
(660–770 lbs) |
Robert DePalma et al., 2015 | USA (South Dakota, Hell Creek) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa! A giant raptor as big as a horse with a 9-inch sickle claw?! That is a totally epic, gnarly ninja weapon right on its toe, dudes!" |
| Deinonychus antirrhopus | "Terrible claw, counter-balancing" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dromaeosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(115–108 Ma) |
Length: 3.4 m (11 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
73–100 kg
(160–220 lbs) |
John Ostrom,
1969 |
USA (Montana, Wyoming) | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Analyzing its rigid, rod-like tail structure... it acts as a mechanical counterweight, allowing for high-velocity agility and precise combat targeting." |
| Dromaeosaurus albertensis | "Running lizard from Alberta" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dromaeosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(76–75 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) at hip |
15 kg
(33 lbs) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1914 | Canada (Alberta) | Garfield: "A small raptor with a heavy, thick skull and a bite like a wolf? Sounds like Odie whenever a delivery person shows up with fresh food." |
| Saurornitholestes sullivani | "Lizard-bird thief" (honoring Robert Sullivan) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dromaeosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(73 Ma) |
Length: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) at hip |
10 kg
(22 lbs) |
Steven Jasinski,
2015 |
USA (New Mexico, Kirtland) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese! Evidence suggests it had an extraordinarily keen sense of smell! It could probably sniff out a story—or a trap—miles away!" |
| Velociraptor osmolskae | "Swift thief" (honoring Halszka Osmólska) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dromaeosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(75–71 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Height: 50 cm (1.6 ft) at hip |
15 kg
(33 lbs) |
Pascal Godefroit et al., 2008 | China (Inner Mongolia) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, a fast-talking, quick-stepping little rascal from the desert dunes. Reminds me a bit of myself, doc, except for all those feathers!" |
Family Archaeopterygidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi | "Ancient wing" (honoring Raimund Albersdörfer) | Order: Saurischia
Clade: Avialae Family: Archaeopterygidae |
Late Jurassic
(150 Ma) |
Length: 50 cm (20 in)
Height: 25 cm (10 in) at hip |
500g
(1.1 lbs) |
Martin Kundrát et al., 2018 | Germany (Solnhofen) | Olaf: "The beautiful little bridge between dinosaurs and birds! He has tiny teeth, a long tail, and feathers perfect for flying through warm summer breezes!" |
Suborder Sauropodomorpha: Infraorder Prosauropoda Data Charts
Family Herrerasauridae (Basal Saurischians)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis | "Herrera's lizard from Ischigualasto" | Order: Saurischia
Clade: Herrerasauridae |
Late Triassic
(231–228 Ma) |
Length: 3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
200–350 kg
(440–770 lbs) |
Osvaldo Reig,
1963 |
Argentina (Ischigualasto) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "A primitive Triassic heavy-hitter with an ultra-flexible sliding jaw? That is totally epic for snapping up prehistoric pizza toppings, dudes!" |
| Smurfette smurfensis | "Smurfette from Smurf Village" | Order: Saurischia
Clade: Herrerasauridae Family: Smurfidae |
Late Triassic
(Fictional Insertion) |
Length: 20 cm (8 in)
Height: 15 cm (6 in) |
100g
(3.5 oz) |
Sony Pictures Animation, 2017 | Smurf Village / Forbidden Forest | Papa Smurf: "Great Smurf! This seems to be a highly unusual, beautifully blue biological anomaly mistakenly sorted into the ancient fossil record of Argentina!" |
| Staurikosaurus pricei | "Southern Cross lizard" (honoring Llewellyn Ivor Price) | Order: Saurischia
Clade: Herrerasauridae |
Late Triassic
(233–231 Ma) |
Length: 2–2.2 m (6.5–7.2 ft)
Height: 80 cm (2.6 ft) at hip |
30 kg
(66 lbs) |
Edwin Harris Colbert, 1970 | Brazil (Santa Maria Formation) | Alvin Seville: "This little runner is pure Triassic lightning! Put some racing stripes on him, and we've got the ultimate mascot for our next music video!" |
Family Anchisauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchisaurus polyzelus | "Close lizard, much sought-for" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Anchisauridae |
Early Jurassic
(195–190 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.6 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) at hip |
27 kg
(60 lbs) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1885 | USA (Connecticut Valley) | Brainy Smurf: "A perfect transitional specimen! It proves that even the mightiest giant sauropods began their evolutionary lineage as humble, slender quadrupeds." |
| Efraasia minor | "Efraat's lizard" (honoring Eberhard Fraas) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Anchisauridae |
Late Triassic
(210 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
300 kg
(660 lbs) |
Friedrich von Huene, 1908 | Germany (Stubensandstein) | Danny Phantom: "It can walk on two legs to sprint or drop down on all fours to graze. Talk about a versatile combat stance for dodging ghost attacks!" |
| Eoraptor lunensis | "Dawn thief from the Valley of the Moon" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Basal Sauropodomorph |
Late Triassic
(231–228 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 30 cm (1 ft) at hip |
10 kg
(22 lbs) |
Paul Sereno et al., 1993 | Argentina (Ischigualasto) | Garfield: "A dawn thief? Finally, a dinosaur that understands the concept of an early morning raid on the kitchen. Wake me up when the food is stolen." |
| Thecodontosaurus antiquus | "Socket-toothed lizard, ancient" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Thecodontosauridae |
Late Triassic
(205 Ma) |
Length: 1.2–2 m (4–6.5 ft)
Height: 50 cm (1.6 ft) at hip |
11 kg
(24 lbs) |
Morris, Riley & Stutchbury, 1836 | United Kingdom (Bristol) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, a small-town British classic found right in a quarry, doc. Looks like this little leaf-muncher was the original vegetarian of the Triassic!" |
Family Plateosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massospondylus kaalae | "Elongated vertebra" (from Sotho 'kaala' for a historic chief) | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Massospondylidae |
Early Jurassic
(200–183 Ma) |
Length: 4–6 m (13–20 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft) at hip |
1,000 kg
(1.1 tons) |
Sir Richard Owen, 1854 / Barrett, 2009 | South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Scanning dental morphology... its leaf-shaped teeth indicate an exclusively herbivorous diet with highly efficient plant-shearing mechanics." |
| Mussaurus patagonicus | "Mouse lizard from Patagonia" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Mussauridae |
Late Triassic
(215 Ma) |
Length: 3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Hatchling: 20 cm (8 in) |
1,000 kg (Adult)
100g (Hatchling) |
José Bonaparte & Vince, 1979 | Argentina (El Tranquilo) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese! A dinosaur named 'Mouse Lizard' because its fossils were first found as tiny, pocket-sized babies! My heart is completely melted!" |
| Plateosaurus gracilis | "Broad lizard, slender" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Plateosauridae |
Late Triassic
(210–204 Ma) |
Length: 4.5–5 m (15–16 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
600 kg
(1,320 lbs) |
Hermann von Meyer, 1837 / Yates, 2003 | Germany (Trossingen Formation) | Winnie the Pooh: "A big, gentle friend with a long neck. He looks like he would be wonderful at helping a small bear reach the highest beehives in the woods." |
Family Melanorosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riojasaurus incertus | "La Rioja lizard, uncertain" | Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha Family: Melanorosauridae |
Late Triassic
(221–210 Ma) |
Length: 10 m (33 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft) at hip |
3,000 kg
(3.3 tons) |
José Bonaparte,
1969 |
Argentina (Los Colorados) | Optimus Prime: "A massive, heavily-armored chassis built entirely for low-slung, quadrupedal transport. It represents the dawn of true organic titans." |
Suborder Sauropodomorpha: Infraorder Sauropoda Data Charts
Family Cetiosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barapasaurus tagorei | "Big-legged lizard" (honoring Rabindranath Tagore) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Cetiosauridae |
Early Jurassic
(196–183 Ma) |
Length: 14 m (46 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft) at hip |
7,000 kg
(7.7 tons) |
Jain, Kutty, Roy-Chowdhury & Chatterjee, 1975 | India (Kota Formation) | Optimus Prime: "One of the earliest true titans of the organic world. Its column-like limbs provide a structural foundation designed for immense stability." |
| Cetiosaurus oxoniensis | "Whale lizard from Oxford" | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Cetiosauridae |
Middle Jurassic
(167–170 Ma) |
Length: 16 m (52 ft)
Height: 4.3 m (14 ft) at hip |
11,000 kg
(12.1 tons) |
Sir Richard Owen, 1841 / Phillips, 1871 | United Kingdom (Oxfordshire) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, a whale lizard, doc? Good thing it doesn't live in the ocean, or we'd need a much bigger fishing rod and a whole lot of bait!" |
| Nigersaurus taqueti | "Niger lizard" (honoring Philippe Taquet) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Rebbachisauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(119–99 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
2,000–4,000 kg
(2.2–4.4 tons) |
Paul Sereno et al., 1999 | Niger (Elrhaz Formation) | Garfield: "A mouth shaped exactly like a vacuum cleaner and over 500 replaceable teeth? Finally, a creature built for high-speed, structural consumption. Teach me your ways." |
Family Brachiosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brachiosaurus altithorax | "Arm lizard, deep chest" | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Brachiosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(154–153 Ma) |
Length: 22 m (72 ft)
Height: 12–13 m (40 ft) total |
35,000–56,000 kg
(38.5–61.7 tons) |
Elmer S. Riggs,
1903 |
USA/India (Colorado, Morrison/Kota) | Olaf: "His front legs are longer than his back legs, which means he is permanently built for climbing higher up into the beautiful summer sky!" |
| Sauroposeidon proteles | "Lizard earthquake god, perfect/extended" | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Somphospondyli |
Early Cretaceous
(112 Ma) |
Length: 28–34 m (92–111 ft)
Height: 17–18 m (56 ft) total |
40,000–60,000 kg
(44–66 tons) |
Mathew Wedel et al., 2000 | USA (Oklahoma, Texas) | Alvin Seville: "Seventeen meters tall?! Put the stadium speakers on his back and we can broadcast the Chipmunks' world tour to three neighboring states at once!" |
Family Camarasauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camarasaurus supremus | "Chambered lizard, highest" | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Camarasauridae |
Late Jurassic
(155–145 Ma) |
Length: 15–23 m (50–75 ft)
Height: 9 m (29.5 ft) at total |
20,000–47,000 kg
(22–51.8 tons) |
Edward Drinker Cope, 1877 | USA (Colorado, Morrison) | Brainy Smurf: "Its vertebrae contain extensive hollow chambers designed to decrease skeleton mass. A marvelous piece of evolutionary biology that prevents it from collapsing under its own weight!" |
| Euhelopus zdanskyi | "True marsh foot" (honoring Otto Zdansky) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Euhelopodidae |
Early Cretaceous
(129–113 Ma) |
Length: 11–15 m (36–49 ft)
Height: 3.5 m (11.5 ft) at hip |
3,500–5,000 kg
(3.8–5.5 tons) |
Carl Wiman, 1929 | China (Shandong) | Tee Zeng (Kung Fu Wa!): "With a long, majestic neck and a proud stance, this marsh-walker looks like an ancient kung-fu master guarding a secret lake temple!" |
| Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii | "Posterior cavity tail" (honoring Wojciech Skarżyński) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Saltasauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 11–13 m (36–43 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft) at hip |
8,400–10,000 kg
(9.2–11 tons) |
Maria Magdalena Borsuk-Białynicka, 1977 | Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) | Baby Gonzo: "Its tail bones fit together in reverse, which means it could probably lean back and balance on its hind legs like a giant tripod! Perfect for a high-wire circus act!" |
Family Diplodocidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apatosaurus ajax | "Deceptive lizard" (named after the Greek hero Ajax) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Diplodocidae |
Late Jurassic
(152–151 Ma) |
Length: 21–23 m (69–75 ft)
Height: 6.5 m (22 ft) at hip |
16,000–22,400 kg
(17.6–24.7 tons) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1877 | USA (Colorado, Wyoming) | Danny Phantom: "Famously mistaken for Brontosaurus for decades. This giant has a serious secret identity crisis going on—totally relatable." |
| Dicraeosaurus sattleri | "Bifurcated lizard" (honoring Hans Sattler) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Dicraeosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(154–150 Ma) |
Length: 12 m (39 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft) at hip |
4,000–5,000 kg
(4.4–5.5 tons) |
Werner Janensch, 1914 | Tanzania (Tendaguru) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Check out those crazy double-spiked ridges on its neck! It’s like a built-in surfboard rack for a truly tubular Jurassic adventure, dudes!" |
| Diplodocus hallorum | "Double beam" (honoring the Hall family) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Diplodocidae |
Late Jurassic
(154–152 Ma) |
Length: 29–33 m (95–108 ft)
Height: 5 m (16.4 ft) at hip |
11,300–14,800 kg
(12.4–16.3 tons) |
David Gillette, 1991 / Lucas et al., 2006 | USA (New Mexico) | Winnie the Pooh: "A very long, stretchy friend with a tail like a piece of string. I wonder if he ever gets into a knot when he turns around to look for lunch." |
| Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum | "Mamenchi ferry lizard from China & Canada" | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Mamenchisauridae |
Late Jurassic
(160–157 Ma) |
Length: 26–35 m (85–115 ft)
Height: 17 m (55.7 ft) at total |
25,000–60,000 kg
(27.5–66 tons) |
Russell & Zheng, 1993 | China (Shishugou Formation) | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Structural scan complete. Its neck measures an astronomical 15 meters in length, accounting for half of its entire biological frame. Truly a mechanical anomaly." |
| Supersaurus vivianae | "Super lizard" (honoring Vivian Jones) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Diplodocidae |
Late Jurassic
(153 Ma) |
Length: 39–42 m (128–138 ft)
Height: 20 m (66 ft) at total |
32,000–40,000 kg
(35.2–44 tons) |
James A. Jensen,
1985 |
USA (Colorado, Wyoming) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese! At nearly 42 meters long, this gentle giant is practically an entire city block on legs! Imagine the size of the newspaper it would take to interview him!" |
Family Titanosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamosaurus sanjuanensis | "Ojo Alamo lizard from San Juan" | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Saltasauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(67–66 Ma) |
Length: 26–30 m (85–100 ft)
Height: 11.5 m (38.5 ft) at total |
30,000–50,000 kg
(33–55 tons) |
Charles W. Gilmore, 1922 | USA (New Mexico, Texas, Utah) | Bluey & Bingo: "Wow! This big guy got to live right at the very end of the dinosaur days! He probably played the biggest games of hide-and-seek ever!" |
| Dreadnoughtus schrani | "Fears nothing" (honoring Adam Schran) | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Lithostrotia |
Late Cretaceous
(77 Ma) |
Length: 26 m (85 ft)
Height: 15 m (49.2 ft) total |
48,000–59,300 kg
(53–65.3 tons) |
Kenneth Lacovara,
2014 |
Argentina (Patagonia) | Gordon "ALF" Shumway: "Named 'Fears Nothing' because it was so massive it had zero predators. I can relate. That's exactly how I feel when I'm standing next to a giant pile of snacks." |
| Saltasaurus loricatus | "Lizard from Salta, armored" | Order: Saurischia
Infraorder: Sauropoda Family: Saltasauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 8.5 m (28 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
2,500 kg
(2.7 tons) |
José Bonaparte & Jaime Powell, 1980 | Argentina (Lecho Formation) | Slimer: "Oooooh! A bumpy sauropod! It has armor plates and tiny bone buttons all over its back! Feels like a rocky, gooey crocodile-elephant! Neat!" |
Suborder Cerapoda: Infraorder Ornithopoda Data Charts
Family Fabrosauridae (Basal Ornithischians)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesothosaurus diagnosticus | "Lizard from Lesotho, diagnostic" | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Neornithischia |
Early Jurassic
(200–190 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Height: 40 cm (16 in) at hip |
6–8 kg
(13–18 lbs) |
Peter Galton,
1978 |
Lesotho, South Africa | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, a fast little herbivore from the African hills. No fancy armor or weapons, just pure foot speed. My kind of doc!" |
| Scutellosaurus lawleri | "Little-shielded lizard" (honoring David Lawler) | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Thyreophora |
Early Jurassic
(196 Ma) |
Length: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 30 cm (1 ft) at hip |
3 kg
(6.6 lbs) |
Edwin Harris Colbert, 1981 | USA (Arizona, Kayenta Formation) | Alvin Seville: "He’s got hundreds of tiny bony studs on his back like a punk rock jacket! Small but totally tough!" |
Family Heterodontosauridae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echinodon becklesii | "Prickly tooth" (honoring Samuel Beckles) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Heterodontosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(140 Ma) |
Length: 60 cm (24 in)
Height: 15 cm (6 in) at hip |
500g
(1.1 lbs) |
Sir Richard Owen, 1861 | United Kingdom (Dorset) | Brainy Smurf: "Remarkable! Even though it is a plant-eater, it retains sharp canine-like fangs. A highly sophisticated dental anomaly!" |
| Heterodontosaurus tucki | "Different-toothed lizard" (honoring G.C. Tuck) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Heterodontosauridae |
Early Jurassic
(200–190 Ma) |
Length: 1.1–1.7 m (3.6–5.6 ft)
Height: 50 cm (1.6 ft) at hip |
2–10 kg
(4.4–22 lbs) |
Alan Charig & Crompton, 1962 | South Africa | Danny Phantom: "Fangs in the front, grinding teeth in the back. This guy looks like he can't decide if he's a vampire or a vegetarian." |
| Pisanosaurus mertii | "Pisano's lizard" (honoring Carlos Pisano) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Pisanosauridae (debated) |
Late Triassic
(228 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 30 cm (1 ft) at hip |
2–9 kg
(4.4–20 lbs) |
Rodolfo Casamiquela, 1967 | Argentina (Ischigualasto) | Garfield: "One of the absolute earliest plant-eating dinosaurs. I respect anyone who sets a historical trend, even if it isn't lasagna." |
Family Hypsilophodontidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callovosaurus leedsi | "Callovian lizard" (honoring Alfred Leeds) | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Dryomorpha |
Middle Jurassic
(165 Ma) |
Length: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Height: 75 cm (2.5 ft) at hip |
120 kg
(260 lbs) |
Richard Lydekker, 1889 | United Kingdom (Oxford Clay) | Geronimo Stilton: "The oldest known iguanodontian relative! An ancient British explorer of the plant world. How literary!" |
| Dryosaurus elderae | "Oak lizard" (honoring Carolyn Elder) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Dryosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(155–150 Ma) |
Length: 2.4–4.3 m (8–14 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) total |
77–90 kg
(170–200 lbs) |
O.C. Marsh, 1894 / Carpenter, 2018 | USA (Utah, Wyoming) | Winnie the Pooh: "He has a very smooth beak like a bird and loves to run through the forest trees. I hope he knows where the nice clover grows." |
| Hypsilophodon foxii | "High-crested tooth" (honoring William Fox) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hypsilophodontidae |
Early Cretaceous
(130–125 Ma) |
Length: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) at hip |
20 kg
(44 lbs) |
Thomas Henry Huxley, 1869 | United Kingdom (Isle of Wight) | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Locomotion sensors confirm extreme agility. Early theories suggested it climbed trees, but data proves it was an elite ground sprinter." |
| Nanosaurus agilis | "Small lizard, agile" | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Neornithischia |
Late Jurassic
(155–148 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Height: 50 cm (1.6 ft) at hip |
10 kg
(22 lbs) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1877 | USA (Morrison Formation) | Bluey & Bingo: "It's a tiny little pocket dinosaur! It looks like it would be really good at playing tag in the backyard!" |
| Parksosaurus warreni | "Parks' lizard" (honoring William Parks & Freeman Warren) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Thescelosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
45–60 kg
(100–132 lbs) |
William Parks, 1926 / Sternberg, 1937 | Canada (Alberta) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "A sleek little Canadian speedster dodging giant tyrannosaurs at the end of the age. Radical survival skills, dude!" |
| Thescelosaurus garbanii | "Wonderful lizard" (honoring Harley Garbani) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Thescelosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 4–4.5 m (13–15 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
200–300 kg
(440–660 lbs) |
Charles M. Sternberg, 1913 / Morris, 1976 | USA (Montana, Hell Creek) | Gordon "ALF" Shumway: "Heavy, thick-legged, and lived right up until the asteroid hit. Sounds like my kind of couch potato roommate." |
Family Iguanodontidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camptosaurus dispar | "Flexible lizard, different" | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Ankylopollexia |
Late Jurassic
(156–146 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
800–1,000 kg
(1.7–2.2 tons) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1879 | USA, United Kingdom | Optimus Prime: "A highly adaptable quadrupedal framework that can shift to a bipedal configuration when necessity dictates tactical speed." |
| Iguanodon bernissartensis | "Iguana tooth from Bernissart" | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Hadrosauriformes |
Early Cretaceous
(126–122 Ma) |
Length: 10–13 m (33–43 ft)
Height: 4.2 m (14 ft) at hip |
4,000–5,000 kg
(4.4–5.5 tons) |
Gideon Mantell, 1825 / Boulenger, 1881 | Belgium, Germany, UK | Dexter: "The classic standard of early paleontology! Those conical thumb spikes are brilliant built-in close-quarters defense mechanisms!" |
| Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis | "Mantell's lizard from Atherfield" | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Hadrosauriformes |
Early Cretaceous
(125 Ma) |
Length: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
750 kg
(1,650 lbs) |
Gregory S. Paul,
2007 |
United Kingdom | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, a more slender, lightweight cousin of the Iguanodon. Perfect for skipping out of trouble when the big carnivores show up." |
| Muttaburrasaurus langdoni | "Muttaburra lizard" (honoring Doug Langdon) | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Rhabdodontomorpha |
Early Cretaceous
(105–100 Ma) |
Length: 8 m (26 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
2,800 kg
(3.1 tons) |
Bartholomew & Ralph Molnar, 1981 | Australia (Queensland) | Olaf: "He has a giant hollow nose that looks like a balloon! I bet he could use it to make loud trumpet noises to greet his friends!" |
| Ouranosaurus nigeriensis | "Brave/Courageous lizard from Niger" | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Hadrosauriformes |
Early Cretaceous
(125–112 Ma) |
Length: 7–8.3 m (23–27 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at sail |
2,200 kg
(2.4 tons) |
Philippe Taquet,
1976 |
Niger (Elrhaz Formation) | Baby Gonzo: "A duck-billed dinosaur with a massive camel hump sail on its back?! Now that is a spectacular look for an outdoor stunt show!" |
| Probactrosaurus gobiensis | "Before Bactrosaurus from the Gobi" | Order: Ornithischia
Superfamily: Hadrosauroidea |
Early Cretaceous
(96–92 Ma) |
Length: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Height: 1.7 m (5.6 ft) at hip |
1,000 kg
(1.1 tons) |
Anatoly Rozhdestvensky, 1966 | China (Gobi Desert) | Tee Zeng (Kung Fu Wa!): "An important ancestor in the duck-bill lineage. Small and determined—just like a master learning a new style!" |
| Tenontosaurus dossi | "Tendon lizard" (honoring James Doss) | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Iguanodontia |
Early Cretaceous
(115 Ma) |
Length: 6.5–8 m (21–26 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
1,000–2,000 kg
(1.1–2.2 tons) |
John Ostrom, 1970 / Winkler, 1997 | USA (Texas) | Slimer: "Oooooh! Super long tail packed with bony rods! It's like a big, heavy lizard whip! Don't knock over my food bowl with that!" |
Family Hadrosauridae (Duck-billed Dinosaurs)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bactrosaurus johnsoni | "Club lizard" (honoring Albert Johnson) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(96–70 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
1,100–1,500 kg
(1.2–1.6 tons) |
Charles W. Gilmore, 1933 | China, Mongolia | Brainy Smurf: "A fundamental basal lambeosaurine. It lacks a flamboyant head crest, illustrating a primitive stage of duck-billed history." |
| Brachylophosaurus canadensis | "Short-crested lizard" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(78 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
3,000–4,000 kg
(3.3–4.4 tons) |
Charles M. Sternberg, 1953 | Canada, USA | Alvin Seville: "He has a flat, paddle-like bone crest on his head like a built-in backward baseball cap. Super casual style!" |
| Corythosaurus casuarius | "Helmet lizard, cassowary-like" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(77–75 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.8 m (9.2 ft) at hip |
3,000–4,000 kg
(3.3–4.4 tons) |
Barnum Brown,
1914 |
Canada/USA (Alberta/Wyoming) | Daffy Duck: "A crest shaped exactly like a Corinthian helmet? Talk about a theatrical performance! You're overdressing for a swamp!" |
| Edmontosaurus regalis | "Edmonton lizard, regal" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(73 Ma) |
Length: 12–13 m (39–43 ft)
Height: 3.5 m (11.5 ft) at hip |
4,000–7,000 kg
(4.4–7.7 tons) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1917 | Canada/USA (Alberta/Wyoming) | Optimus Prime: "A massive, uncrested titan of the late Cretaceous plains. Its sheer population density indicates an incredibly robust species." |
| Hadrosaurus foulkii | "Bulky lizard" (honoring William Parker Foulke) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(80–75 Ma) |
Length: 7–8 m (23–26 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
2,000–4,000 kg
(2.2–4.4 tons) |
Joseph Leidy,
1858 |
USA (New Jersey) | Dexter: "The very first dinosaur skeleton ever mounted for public display in history! A monumental achievement for science!" |
| Hypacrosaurus stebingeri | "Near the highest lizard" (honoring Eugene Stebinger) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(75 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.8 m (9.2 ft) at hip |
3,400 kg
(3.7 tons) |
Barnum Brown, 1913 / Horner, 1994 | USA (Montana) | Winnie the Pooh: "This mommy dinosaur was found with lots of round fossil nests. She must have been very good at keeping her babies cozy." |
| Kritosaurus navajovius | "Separated lizard from the Navajo country" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(73 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.6 m (8.5 ft) at hip |
3,500 kg
(3.8 tons) |
Barnum Brown,
1910 |
USA (New Mexico) | Garfield: "He's got a big, bony bump on his nose like a Roman bridge. Perfect for looking down your nose at people who disturb your nap." |
| Lambeosaurus magnicristatus | "Lambe's lizard, large-crested" (honoring Lawrence Lambe) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(75 Ma) |
Length: 9.1 m (30 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft) at hip |
3,500–4,000 kg
(3.8–4.4 tons) |
William Parks, 1923 / Sternberg, 1935 | Canada (Alberta) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa! That crest looks like a giant, colorful hatchet pointing right out of his forehead! Incredibly gnarly design!" |
| Maiasaura peeblesorum | "Good mother lizard" (honoring the Peebles family) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(76 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
4,000 kg
(4.4 tons) |
Jack Horner & Robert Makela, 1979 | USA (Montana, Two Medicine) | Sebastian: "De sweetest name in de whole chart! A beautiful mother who stayed by her nest to protect and feed her little hatchlings!" |
| Olorotitan arharensis | "Gigantic swan from Arhara" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 11–12 m (36–39 ft)
Height: 3.5 m (11.5 ft) at hip |
4,500 kg
(5 tons) |
Pascal Godefroit et al., 2003 | Russia (Amur Region) | Geronimo Stilton: "An elegant, long-necked Russian giant with a crest shaped like a fan or an axe! A front-page sensation for sure!" |
| Parasaurolophus walkeri | "Near crested lizard" (honoring Sir Byron Edmund Walker) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(76–73 Ma) |
Length: 9.5–10 m (31–33 ft)
Height: 2.8 m (9.2 ft) at hip |
2,500–3,500 kg
(2.7–3.8 tons) |
William Parks, 1922 | Canada, USA | Danny Phantom: "That six-foot hollow tube on its head acts like a natural trombone amplifier. It can blast low-frequency ghost signals miles away." |
| Prosaurolophus maximus | "Before Saurolophus, greatest" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(75 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.6 m (8.5 ft) at hip |
3,000 kg
(3.3 tons) |
Barnum Brown,
1916 |
Canada, USA | Bluey & Bingo: "He has a little bump right between his eyes! It's like a built-in horn for playing fancy pretend games!" |
| Saurolophus osborni | "Lizard crest" (honoring Henry Fairfield Osborn) | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70–68 Ma) |
Length: 9.8 m (32 ft)
Height: 2.8 m (9.2 ft) at hip |
3,000 kg
(3.3 tons) |
Barnum Brown,
1912 |
Canada (Horseshoe Canyon) | Olaf: "He has a pointy bone spike sticking straight out the back of his head! It's like a beautiful wooden directional arrow!" |
| Shantungosaurus giganteus | "Shandong lizard, gigantic" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(77 Ma) |
Length: 15–16.6 m (49–54 ft)
Height: 6 m (19.7 ft) at hip |
13,000–16,000 kg
(14.3–17.6 tons) |
Hu Chengzhi,
1973 |
China (Shandong) | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Massive structural parameters detected. This is the largest known non-sauropod dinosaur on record. A biological fortress." |
| Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus | "Qingdao lizard, spine-nosed" | Order: Ornithischia
Family: Hadrosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 8.3 m (27 ft)
Height: 2.8 m (9.2 ft) at hip |
3,000 kg
(3.3 tons) |
Yang Zhongjian,
1958 |
China (Wangshi Group) | Slimer: "Oooooh! Unicorn duck dinosaur! It has a big hollow horn pointing straight out of its forehead! So gooey and weird, I love it!" |
Suborder Cerapoda: Infraorder Ceratopsia Data Charts [1]
Family Pachycephalosauridae (Bone-Headed Dinosaurs) [2]
| Chart Tables Name [3, 4, 5, 6, 7] | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dracorex hogwartsia | "Dragon king of Hogwarts" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
60 kg
(130 lbs) |
Robert Bakker et al., 2006 | USA (Hell Creek Formation) | Danny Phantom: "A dinosaur named after a magic school that looks exactly like a spiky dragon? This guy belongs in the ghost zone, hands down." |
| Homalocephale calathocercos | "Even/Flat head, basket tail" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria |
Late Cretaceous
(80–70 Ma) |
Length: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) at hip |
43 kg
(95 lbs) |
Halszka Osmólska & Maryańska, 1974 | Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) | Brainy Smurf: "Unlike its dome-headed cousins, this specimen retains a flat skull roof. It presents an exceptional study in basal cranial structures!" |
| Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis | "Thick-headed lizard from Wyoming" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Length: 4.5 m (15 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
450 kg
(1,000 lbs) |
Charles W. Gilmore, 1931 | USA (Montana, Wyoming) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa! That is a massive, solid bone helmet right on his noggin! Talk about the ultimate headbutt champion of the world, dudes!" |
| Prenocephale prenes | "Sloping head" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 90 cm (3 ft) at hip |
130 kg
(285 lbs) |
Teresa Maryańska & Osmólska, 1974 | Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) | Alvin Seville: "He’s got a high, round dome covered in tiny bone bumps. He looks like he’s ready to crash through the front door of a rock concert!" |
| Stegoceras validum | "Horned roof, strong" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria |
Late Cretaceous
(76–74 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Height: 75 cm (2.5 ft) at hip |
40 kg
(88 lbs) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1902 | Canada (Alberta) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, a small, compact little hard-head from up north. Reminds me of a mountain goat, doc, but with a lot less fluff and a lot more attitude." |
| Stygimoloch spinifer | "Styx demon, bearing spines" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
80 kg
(175 lbs) |
Peter Galton & Hans-Dieter Sues, 1983 | USA (Montana, Wyoming) | Gordon "ALF" Shumway: "Now that’s a wild hairdo! Massive spikes sticking out the back of a thick skull. Perfect for clearing a path to the refrigerator." |
Family Psittacosauridae
| Chart Tables Name [8, 9, 10, 11, 12] | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psittacosaurus meileyingensis | "Parrot lizard from Meileyingzi" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Early Cretaceous
(113–110 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) at hip |
30 kg
(66 lbs) |
Sereno, Chao, Cheng & Rao, 1988 | China (Jiufotang Formation) | Daffy Duck: "A parrot lizard?! Preposterous! Why mimic a parrot when you could have a majestic, striking duck bill? The casting directors of prehistory got this wrong!" |
Family Protoceratopidae
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi | "Small horned face" (honoring Anatoly Rozhdestvensky) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(75–72 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 30 cm (1 ft) at hip |
22 kg
(48 lbs) |
Teresa Maryańska & Osmólska, 1975 | Mongolia (Gobi Desert) | Bluey & Bingo: "Oh my goodness, it’s a tiny little horned friend! He doesn’t even have big brow horns yet, he’s just a little baby-faced puppy dinosaur!" |
| Leptoceratops gracilis | "Small horned face, slender" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(66 Ma) |
Length: 2 m (6.5 ft)
Height: 75 cm (2.5 ft) at hip |
100 kg
(220 lbs) |
Barnum Brown,
1914 |
Canada, USA | Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9): "Locomotion analysis indicates this basal ceratopsian was predominantly quadrupedal but fully capable of bipedal mechanics for high-speed evasion." |
| Microceratus gobiensis | "Small horned" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(90 Ma) |
Length: 60 cm (2 ft)
Height: 25 cm (10 in) at hip |
2 kg
(4.4 lbs) |
Bohlin, 1953 / Mateus, 2008 | Mongolia, China | Sebastian: "Mon dieu, it is so teeny-tiny! A little running plant-eater that could hide right under a giant fern leaf to stay safe from the big bad monsters!" |
| Montanoceratops cerorhynchus | "Montana horned face, horn-nosed" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
170 kg
(374 lbs) |
Charles M. Sternberg, 1951 | USA (Montana) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese! It has deep tail vertebrae that suggest a very tall, flat tail profile. Perhaps it used it for swimming, or maybe for signaling friends!" |
| Protoceratops hellenikorhinus | "First horned face, Greek nose" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(75–71 Ma) |
Length: 2–2.5 m (6.5–8.2 ft)
Height: 75 cm (2.5 ft) at hip |
180 kg
(400 lbs) |
Lambert et al., 2001 | China (Inner Mongolia) | Optimus Prime: "A sturdy, robust defender. Its heavy skull and neck frill serve as foundational shielding armor against early predatory threats." |
Family Ceratopidae (True Horned Dinosaurs)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchiceratops ornatus | "Near horned face, ornate" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(72–71 Ma) |
Length: 5–6 m (16–20 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
Barnum Brown,
1914 |
Canada (Alberta) | Olaf: "Look at his beautiful neck frill! It has fancy little bony blocks all around the edges like a beautifully decorated picture frame!" |
| Arrhinoceratops brachyops | "No-nose horned face, short face" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(70 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
William Parks, 1925 | Canada (Horseshoe Canyon) | Winnie the Pooh: "He has two long horns over his eyes but almost no horn on his nose at all. A very interesting face for a gentle plant-eating friend." |
| Avaceratops lammersi | "Ava's horned face" (honoring Ava Cole & the Lammers family) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(77 Ma) |
Length: 4.2 m (14 ft)
Height: 1.3 m (4.3 ft) at hip |
1,000 kg
(1.1 tons) |
Peter Dodson,
1986 |
USA (Montana, Judith River) | Baby Gonzo: "A mini-ceratopsian with a smooth, solid frill! Perfect for using as a launch ramp for my high-speed skateboard stunts!" |
| Centrosaurus apertus | "Pointed lizard, open" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(76–75 Ma) |
Length: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft) at hip |
2,300 kg
(2.5 tons) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1904 | Canada (Alberta) | Tee Zeng (Kung Fu Wa!): "A master of front-facing defense! It has a single giant horn pointing forward on its nose to block any incoming strikes!" |
| Chasmosaurus belli | "Opening lizard" (honoring Walter A. Bell) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(76–75 Ma) |
Length: 4.8 m (16 ft)
Height: 1.7 m (5.6 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1902 | Canada (Alberta) | Slimer: "Oooooh! Gigantic frill with huge open windows inside the bone! Skin stretches over it like a big, colorful, gooey sail! Neat!" |
| Nasutoceratops titusi | "Large-nosed horned face" (honoring Alan Titus) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(76 Ma) |
Length: 4.5 m (15 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
1,500 kg
(1.6 tons) |
Scott Sampson et al., 2013 | USA (Utah, Kaiparowits) | Garfield: "Horns that curve forward like a modern cow and a giant nose? He looks like he’s permanently annoyed by someone waking him up. I respect his vibe." |
| Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai | "Thick-nosed lizard" (honoring Al Lakusta) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(73 Ma) |
Length: 5 m (16.4 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft) at hip |
3,000 kg
(3.3 tons) |
Philip J. Currie et al., 2008 | Canada/USA (AlbertaMontana) | Dexter: "Fascinating! Instead of standard elongated horns, it features a massive, flattened bony boss on its snout. An incredible alternative structural evolution!" |
| Pentaceratops sternbergii | "Five-horned face" (honoring Charles H. Sternberg) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(75–73 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 3.9 m (12 ft) at hip |
5,000 kg
(5.5 tons) |
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1923 | USA (New Mexico) | Alvin Seville: "Five horns and one of the largest skulls of any land animal ever! This guy is totally living large and maximizing his presence!" |
| Sinoceratops zhuchengensis | "Chinese horned face from Zhucheng" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(73 Ma) |
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
Xu Xing et al., 2010 | China (Shandong) | Tee Zeng (Kung Fu Wa!): "The first true ceratopsid found in China! Its frill is lined with forward-curving hooks like a crown of golden defensive blades!" |
| Styracosaurus ovatus | "Spiked lizard, ovate" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(75 Ma) |
Length: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft) at hip |
2,700 kg
(3 tons) |
Charles W. Gilmore, 1930 | USA (Montana, Two Medicine) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa, look at those massive, gnarly spikes blasting right off the edge of his frill! This dude is 100% pure punk rock style, dudes!" |
| Torosaurus latus | "Perforated lizard, wide" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Length: 7.5–8 m (25–26 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
6,000 kg
(6.6 tons) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1891 | USA, Canada | Danny Phantom: "There’s a huge scientific debate over whether this guy is just a fully grown, senior citizen Triceratops. Talk about an identity crisis!" |
| Triceratops horridus | "Three-horned face, rough/horrid" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Length: 8–9 m (26–30 ft)
Height: 2.5–3 m (8.2–10 ft) at hip |
6,000–12,000 kg
(6.6–13.2 tons) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1889 | USA, Canada | Optimus Prime: "The definitive apex of ceratopsian engineering. Its three formidable horns and solid bone frill present an impenetrable defensive front." |
Suborder Thyreophora: Infraorder Stegosauria Data Charts
Family Huayangosauridae (Basal Stegosaurs)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chungkingosaurus jiangbeiensis | "Chongqing lizard from Jiangbei" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Huayangosauridae |
Middle Jurassic
(160 Ma) |
Length: 3–4 m (10–13 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
1,000 kg
(1.1 tons) |
Dong, Zhou & Zhang, 1983 | China (Upper Shaximiao Formation) | Alvin Seville: "He’s one of the smallest plate-backs around, but check out that tail thagomizer! That's a four-spiked party starter right there!" |
| Huayangosaurus taibaii | "Huayang lizard" (ancient name for Sichuan; honoring Li Bai) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Huayangosauridae |
Middle Jurassic
(165 Ma) |
Length: 4.5 m (15 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
1,500 kg
(1.6 tons) |
Dong, Tang & Zhou, 1982 | China (Dashanpu Quarry) | Brainy Smurf: "A highly critical basal specimen! Unlike advanced stegosaurs, it still retains teeth in its premaxilla, providing vital clues about early armored evolution." |
| Lexovisaurus durobrivensis | "Lexovi lizard" (named after an ancient Celtic tribe) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Huayangosauridae (debated) |
Middle to Late Jurassic
(165–160 Ma) |
Length: 5–6 m (16–20 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
Paul Hoffstetter,
1957 |
United Kingdom, France | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, this European cousin sports some sharp armor spikes right on its shoulders. Talk about a sharp dresser, doc!" |
| Tuojiangosaurus multispinus | "Tuo River lizard, many-spiked" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Huayangosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(160–155 Ma) |
Length: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 2.2 m (7.2 ft) at hip |
2,800 kg
(3.1 tons) |
Dong Zhiming et al., 1977 | China (Upper Shaximiao Formation) | Tee Zeng (Kung Fu Wa!): "With a low head and narrow plates pointing like frozen flames, it looks like an ancient guardian practicing a strict stance!" |
Family Stegosauridae (Advanced Stegosaurs)
| Chart Tables Name [8, 9, 10, 11, 12] | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacentrurus armatus | "Pointed tail, armored" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Stegosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(154–150 Ma) |
Length: 7–8 m (23–26 ft)
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at hip |
3,000–5,000 kg
(3.3–5.5 tons) |
Sir Richard Owen, 1875 | United Kingdom, Portugal | Optimus Prime: "A massive chassis configuration. It transitions from flat dorsal plates to elongated armor spikes toward the posterior, optimizing tactical defense." |
| Gigantspinosaurus sichuanensis | "Giant spiked lizard from Sichuan" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Stegosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(160–155 Ma) |
Length: 4.2 m (14 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
700 kg
(1,540 lbs) |
Ouyang Hui,
1992 |
China (Upper Shaximiao Formation) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Whoa! Those shoulder spikes are absolutely humongous! It looks like he’s sporting a pair of cosmic surfboard fins, totally gnarly!" |
| Kentrosaurus aethiopicus | "Spiked lizard, African" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Stegosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(153–150 Ma) |
Length: 4.5 m (15 ft)
Height: 1.6 m (5.2 ft) at hip |
1,000–4,000 kg
(1.1–4.4 tons) |
Werner Janensch,
1915 |
Tanzania (Tendaguru Formation) | Danny Phantom: "Plates on the neck, spikes on the back, and even more spikes on the hips and tail. Getting past this defense grid is a phantom nightmare." |
| Stegosaurus stenops | "Roof lizard, narrow-faced" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Stegosauridae |
Late Jurassic
(155–150 Ma) |
Length: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft) at top of plates |
5,000–7,000 kg
(5.5–7.7 tons) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1887 | USA (Morrison Formation) | Olaf: "The big celebrity himself! His giant back plates look like beautiful stone kite sails catching a warm, sunny summer breeze!" |
| Wuerhosaurus ordosensis | "Wuerho lizard from Ordos" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Stegosauria Family: Stegosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(132–120 Ma) |
Length: 4.5 m (15 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
1,200 kg
(1.3 tons) |
Dong Zhiming,
1993 |
China (Ordos Basin) | Garfield: "Instead of tall pointed plates, this guy has flat, square-shaped ones along his back. Looks like a row of built-in lunch trays. Perfect." |
Family Scelidosauridae (Basal Armored Dinosaurs)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scelidosaurus harrisonii | "Limb lizard" (honoring James Harrison) | Order: Ornithischia
Clade: Thyreophora Family: Scelidosauridae |
Early Jurassic
(191 Ma) |
Length: 4 m (13 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
270 kg
(600 lbs) |
Sir Richard Owen, 1859 | United Kingdom (Dorset) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese! One of the oldest complete dinosaur skeletons ever found! Covered in rows of bony studs like a medieval shield. Simply fascinating!" |
Suborder Thyreophora: Infraorder Ankylosauria Data Charts
Family Nodosauridae (Armored Dinosaurs Without Tail Clubs)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hylaeosaurus armatus | "Forest lizard, armored" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Nodosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(140–136 Ma) |
Length: 5 m (16.4 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
Gideon Mantell,
1833 |
United Kingdom (West Sussex) | Dexter: "Incredible! One of the original three animals used by Sir Richard Owen to define the entire concept of Dinosauria in 1842! A historical masterpiece!" |
| Nodosaurus textilis | "Knobby lizard, woven/intertwined" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Nodosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(100–95 Ma) |
Length: 4–6 m (13–20 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
3,500 kg
(3.8 tons) |
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1889 | USA (Wyoming, Kansas) | Brainy Smurf: "The namesake of the family! Its fossilized bony plates form a beautifully tightly woven pattern across its back, maximizing defensive surface area." |
| Panoplosaurus mirus | "Completely armored lizard, wonderful" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Nodosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(76 Ma) |
Length: 5–7 m (16–23 ft)
Height: 2 m (6.5 ft) at hip |
3,500 kg
(3.8 tons) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1919 | Canada (Alberta) | Optimus Prime: "Its armor plating is completely fused directly into its heavy skull chassis. It represents an impenetrable structural bunker design." |
| Polacanthus foxii | "Many spines" (honoring William Fox) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Nodosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(130–125 Ma) |
Length: 4–5 m (13–16 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
Richard Owen,
1865 |
United Kingdom (Isle of Wight) | Bugs Bunny: "Eeeh, check out the solid shield of bone covering this guy's hips, doc! Talk about a heavy-duty pair of prehistoric trousers!" |
| Sauropelta edwardsorum | "Lizard shield" (honoring Nell and G. Edward) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Nodosauridae |
Early Cretaceous
(108 Ma) |
Length: 5.2 m (17 ft)
Height: 1.4 m (4.6 ft) at hip |
1,500 kg
(1.6 tons) |
John Ostrom,
1970 |
USA (Montana, Wyoming) | Danny Phantom: "Those massive, razor-sharp spikes pointing straight out from its neck are a total ghost-zone hazard. Definitely a look-but-don't-touch friend." |
| Silvisaurus condrayi | "Forest lizard" (honoring Warren Condray) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Nodosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(100–95 Ma) |
Length: 4 m (13 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) at hip |
1,000 kg
(1.1 tons) |
Theodore H. Eaton Jr., 1960 | USA (Kansas) | Winnie the Pooh: "A gentle forest friend who wears a coat of small pebbles and studs. I wonder if he can find sweet berries hidden under the thorny bushes." |
| Struthiosaurus transylvanicus | "Ostrich lizard from Transylvania" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Nodosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Length: 2–3 m (6.5–10 ft)
Height: 70 cm (2.3 ft) at hip |
300–400 kg
(660–880 lbs) |
Franz Nopcsa,
1915 |
Romania (Hațeg Island) | Alvin Seville: "An ostrich lizard from Transylvania?! Sounds like a spooky vampire bird, but he's actually just a cool, pocket-sized armored tank!" |
Family Ankylosauridae (Armored Dinosaurs With Tail Clubs)
| Chart Tables Name | Meaning | Scientific Classification | Age / Time | Height / Length | Weight | Author | Where Found | Cartoon All-Star's Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankylosaurus magniventris | "Fused lizard, great belly" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Ankylosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(68–66 Ma) |
Length: 6–10.1 m (20–33.1 ft)
Height: 3.7 m (11 ft) at hip |
4,800–8,000 kg
(5.3–8.8 tons) |
Barnum Brown,
1908 |
USA, Canada | Garfield: "A massive, armored tank nicknamed 'great belly' that swats trouble away with a giant bone club? I have finally found my spirit animal." |
| Crichtonsaurus bohlini | "Crichton's lizard" (honoring Michael Crichton & Birger Bohlin) | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Ankylosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(98–90 Ma) |
Length: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) at hip |
500 kg
(1,100 lbs) |
Dong Zhiming,
2002 |
China (Sunjiawan Formation) | Geronimo Stilton: "Holy cheese! A dinosaur named after the legendary author of Jurassic Park! This is an absolute front-page scoop for the gazette!" |
| Euoplocephalus tutus | "Well-armored head, safe" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Ankylosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(76–75 Ma) |
Length: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Height: 1.4 m (4.6 ft) at hip |
2,500 kg
(2.7 tons) |
Lawrence Lambe, 1902 / 1910 | Canada (Alberta) | Michelangelo (TMNT): "Even his eyelids are made of solid bone armor! Talk about the ultimate defense, dudes! This guy is totally safe from any wipeout!" |
| Saichania chulsanensis | "Beautiful one from Chulsan" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Ankylosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(73 Ma) |
Length: 5.2 m (17 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
2,500 kg
(2.7 tons) |
Teresa Maryańska,
1977 |
Mongolia (Gobi Desert) | Olaf: "She is named 'Beautiful One' because her fossils are so clean and perfect! I want to give her a giant, warm, non-spiky summer hug!" |
| Talarurus plicatospineus | "Basket tail, pleated spines" | Order: Ornithischia
Infraorder: Ankylosauria Family: Ankylosauridae |
Late Cretaceous
(90–85 Ma) |
Length: 5 m (16.4 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft) at hip |
2,000 kg
(2.2 tons) |
Evgeny Maleev,
1952 |
Mongolia (Bayan Shireh) | Baby Gonzo: "A complex, woven bone basket on the end of its tail! Oh, I bet I could stand right on that club while he swings me across the circus ring!" |
Prehistoric Reptiles (Based on At Home with Olaf by Hyrum Osmond)
Here is the comprehensive chart table based on the non-dinosaurian reptiles and marine reptiles traditionally included in the supplementary genus lists and appendixes of Thomas R. Holtz Jr.’s Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages (2007).
I have mapped out the taxonomy you provided, populated the exact paleobiology metrics (age, time, estimated sizes, locations, and original authors), and tied in the character context for Teodora from Legend Quest (Las Leyendas), where she acts as the team's tech-savvy Master of Myth.
Non-Dinosaurian Reptile & Marine Genus Chart
| Family / Group | Name | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Protorothyrididae | Hylonomus lyelli (latidens) | "Forest dweller" | Late Carboniferous
(~312 Ma) |
Length: 20 cm (8 in)
Weight: < 200 g |
Nova Scotia, Canada | Dawson, 1860 | "An ancient Canadian tiny lizard. Not a true monster, but basically the great-great-grandfather of all of them!" |
| Mesosauridae | Mesosaurus tenuidens | "Middle lizard" | Early Permian
(~290–270 Ma) |
Length: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Weight: 2–5 kg |
South Africa, Uruguay, Brazil | Gervais, 1865 | "The first reptile to say 'nope' to land and swim back into the ocean. Handy little ghost to have around." |
| Plesiosauridae | Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus | "Near lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~199–175 Ma) |
Length: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Weight: 450 kg |
England | Conybeare, 1824 | "The classic 'Loch Ness Monster' build! Those four giant flippers mean it practically flew underwater." |
| Cryptocleididae | Cryptoclidus richardsoni | "Hidden clavicle" | Middle Jurassic
(~166–164 Ma) |
Length: 3 m (13 ft)
Weight: 300 kg |
England, France | Seeley, 1892 | "A long-necked hunter with interlocking teeth that acted like a cage. No fish escaped this specter." |
| Elasmosauridae | Elasmosaurus platyurus | "Thin-plate lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~80 Ma) |
Length: 10.3 m (34 ft)
Weight: 2 metric tons |
Kansas, USA | Cope, 1868 | "Okay, this neck is ridiculous. Literally over 70 neck vertebrae. Talk about prime internet meme material." |
| Pliosauridae | Attenborosaurus conybeari | "Attenborough's lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~190 Ma) |
Length: 5 m (16.4 ft)
Weight: 1 metric ton |
Dorset, England | Bakker, 1993 | "Named after David Attenborough! A long neck but with a massive pliosaur attitude. Love it." |
| Pliosauridae | Kronosaurus queenslandicus | "Kornos lizard" (Titan) | Early Cretaceous
(~120–100 Ma) |
Length: 9–10.5 m (30–34 ft)
Weight: 7–11 metric tons |
Australia | Longman, 1924 | "An absolute apex leviathan from Down Under. This monster ate other marine reptiles for breakfast." |
| Pliosauridae | Liopleurodon ferox | "Smooth-sided teeth" | Middle-Late Jurassic
(~166–155 Ma) |
Length: 5–7 m (16–23 ft)
Weight: 1.5–3 metric tons |
England, France | Sauvage, 1873 | "The internet totally exaggerated its size, but it was still a terrifying phantom predator of the deep." |
| Nothosauridae | Nothosaurus giganteus | "False lizard" | Triassic
(~240–210 Ma) |
Length: 4–5 m (13–16 ft)
Weight: 300–400 kg |
Germany | Münster, 1834 | "Like a prehistoric seal with a scary reptile makeover. It spent time on both beaches and waves." |
| Ichthyosauridae | Ichthyosaurus communis (conybeari) | "Fish lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~200–188 Ma) |
Length: 2–3.3 m (6.6–11 ft)
Weight: 90–150 kg |
England, Germany | De la Beche & Conybeare, 1821 | "It looks exactly like a dolphin, but it's 100% reptile. Natural selection loves recycling good designs." |
| Mosasauridae | Mosasaurus beaugei | "Meuse River lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
Length: 8–40 m (26–130 ft)
Weight: 2–40 metric tons |
Morocco | Arambourg, 1952 | "A giant sea monitor lizard with a shark-like tail. Literal nightmare fuel if it wasn't already extinct!" |
💡 Key Paleontological Nuances:
- The "Sea Monster" Clarification: As Dr. Holtz emphasizes in his encyclopedia, none of these creatures are technically dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are strictly terrestrial reptiles belonging to a specific clade defined by their hip structures and an upright posture.
- The Marine Invaders: Plesiosaurs, Pliosaurs, Nothosaurs, Ichthyosaurs, and Mosasaurs represent completely different evolutionary lines of reptiles that independently invaded the oceans during the Mesozoic Era.
Here is the breakdown of the Pterosauria order structured around the classic Holtz (2007) format.
Like the marine reptiles, Dr. Thomas Holtz notes that pterosaurs are not dinosaurs. They are closely related "sister cousins" belonging to the broader group Ornithodira, meaning they share a common ancestor but split down their own incredible evolutionary line.
Because pterosaurs spend most of their time in the air or walking quadrupedally (on all fours), their size is best understood by wingspan rather than just standard body height or length.
Order Pterosauria Genus Chart
| Suborder / Family | Genus & Species | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Wingspan / Height / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| RHAMPHORHYNCHOIDEA
(Long-Tailed Pterosaurs) |
|||||||
| Dimorphodontidae | Dimorphodon macronyx | "Two-form tooth" | Early Jurassic
(~195–190 Ma) |
Wingspan: 1.4 m (4.6 ft)
Height: 30 cm (1 ft) Weight: 2–4 kg |
England | Owen, 1859 | "It has a puffin head and a lizard tail. Super clunky flyer, probably spent more time scrambling up trees than actually soaring." |
| Eudimorphodontidae | Eudimorphodon ranzii | "True dimorphic tooth" | Late Triassic
(~210 Ma) |
Wingspan: 1 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 15 cm (0.5 ft) Weight: 100g |
Italy | Zambelli, 1973 | "One of the absolute oldest flyers we know of! Its mouth was packed with over 100 tiny teeth. Ultimate bug-zapper." |
| Rhamphorhynchidae | Anurognathus ammoni | "Without tail jaw" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
Wingspan: 50 cm (20 in)
Height: 5 cm (2 in) Weight: 40 g |
Germany | Döderlein, 1923 | "Okay, this one completely cheated the 'long-tail' rule. It's just a tiny, fluffy ball of fury with giant frog-eyes for night hunting." |
| Rhamphorhynchidae | Rhamphorhynchus etchesi | "Beak snout" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
Wingspan: 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft)
Height: 25 cm (10 in) Weight: 1–2 kg |
England | O'Sullivan & Martill, 2015 | "The classic needle-toothed fish grabber, but the English version! That diamond-shaped tail vane acted like a literal rudder." |
| Rhamphorhynchidae | Scaphognathus crassirostris | "Tub snout" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
Wingspan: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 20 cm (8 in) Weight: 500 g |
Germany | Wagner, 1861 | "Nicknamed the 'mouth-organ pterosaur' because of its blunt, square jaw. Definitely didn't skip jaw day." |
| Rhamphorhynchidae | Sordes pilosus | "Hairy filth" | Late Jurassic
(~155 Ma) |
Wingspan: 0.6 m (2 ft)
Height: 15 cm (6 in) Weight: 200 g |
Kazakhstan | Sharov, 1971 | "Rude name aside, the fossils show it was covered in dense, fuzzy pycnofibers. It was basically a warm-blooded reptile bat." |
| PTERODACTYLOIDEA
(Short-Tailed Pterosaurs) |
|||||||
| Dsungaripteridae | Dsungaripterus weii | "Dzungaria wing" | Early Cretaceous
(~120 Ma) |
Wingspan: 3–3.5 m (10–11.5 ft)
Height: 1 m (3.3 ft) Weight: 15–20 kg |
China | Young, 1964 | "Look at that upturned beak! It used the tip like tweezers to pry shellfish off rocks, then crushed them with its back teeth." |
| Tapejaridae | Caiuajara dobruskii | "Caiuá Group lord" | Early Cretaceous
(~115 Ma) |
Wingspan: 2.3 m (7.5 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) Weight: 3.5 kg |
Brazil | Manzig et al., 2014 | "Found in a huge 'pterosaur graveyard' bonebed. They grew giant sail-like head crests as they aged. Total show-offs." |
| Tapejaridae | Tapejara wellnhoferi | "The old being" | Early Cretaceous
(~110 Ma) |
Wingspan: 1.3 m (4.3 ft)
Height: 80 cm (2.6 ft) Weight: 1.5–2 kg |
Brazil | Kellner, 1989 | "Another giant head crest champion. It looks top-heavy, but the bone was paper-thin. Probably ate ancient fruit!" |
| Pterodaustriidae | Pterodaustro guinazui | "South wing" | Early Cretaceous
(~105 Ma) |
Wingspan: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Height: 60 cm (2 ft) Weight: 2–3 kg |
Argentina | Bonaparte, 1969 | "Imagine a reptile flamingo. It had thousands of bristle-teeth in its lower jaw to filter-feed briny shrimp out of lakes." |
| Pterodactylidae | Cearadactylus atrox | "Ceará finger" | Early Cretaceous
(~112 Ma) |
Wingspan: 4–5.5 m (13–18 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft) Weight: 15 kg |
Brazil | Leonardi & Borgomanero, 1985 | "A serious, large-scale predator with interlocking kris-knife teeth at the front of its snout. Absolute nightmare fuel." |
| Pterodactylidae | Pterodactylus antiquus | "Wing finger" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
Wingspan: 1.0 m (3.3 ft)
Height: 20 cm (8 in) Weight: 1–2 kg |
Germany | Cuvier, 1809 | "The OG. The first pterosaur ever discovered and named. Small, sleek, and started the whole paleontology craze." |
| Ornithocheiridae | Pteranodon sternbergi (Geosternbergia) | "Toothless wing" | Late Cretaceous
(~85–80 Ma) |
Wingspan: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft) Weight: 25–35 kg |
Kansas, USA | Miller, 1972 | "The males had a giant, upright beacon crest on their heads. It was built like a record-breaking glider over open oceans." |
| Ornithocheiridae | Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni | "Feathered serpent god" | Late Cretaceous
(~68–66 Ma) |
Wingspan: 4.5–25 m (15–83.2 ft)
Height: 12.1 m (39.4 ft) Weight: 40–500,000 kg |
Texas, USA | Andres & Langston, 2021 | "The smaller cousin of Q. northropi, but still as tall as a horse! Stalked around on land eating baby dinosaurs." |
🦖 Evolution Notes for your Database:
- The Suborder Split: Notice how the early Rhamphorhynchoids are small, possess long stiff tails for balance, and maintain a throat structure optimized for catching insects or fish. The later Pterodactyloids completely lost the tail, grew elongated neck vertebrae, and developed wild skull crests used for species recognition or mating displays.
- Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni update: While Q. northropi is the famous giraffe-sized giant, Q. lawsoni was officially given its specific species description recently based on hundreds of co-located bones found in Texas, filling a massive gap in how these giants lived in groups!
Here is the complete database chart for the Order Saurischia ("lizard-hipped" dinosaurs), separated into its two massive branches: Suborder Theropoda (predatory bipedal dinosaurs and early birds) and Suborder Sauropodomorpha (the long-necked giants).
To ensure clean scannability across this massive list, I have broken the data down into structured sections by infraorder, maintaining the classic Holtz (2007) layout alongside the Legend Quest character context for Teodora.
🦖 SUBORDER THEROPODA
Infraorder Ceratosauria & Carnosauria (Part 1)
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Podokesauridae | Coelophysis bauri | "Hollow form" | Late Triassic
(~203 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 3 m (10 ft) W: 15–20 kg |
New Mexico, USA | Cope, 1889 | "Lightweight, lightning fast, and built like an arrow. Perfect scout material for an ancient army." |
| Podokesauridae | Procompsognathus triassicus | "Before elegant jaw" | Late Triassic
(~210 Ma) |
H: 25 cm (10 in)
L: 1 m (3.3 ft) W: 1 kg |
Germany | Fraas, 1913 | "Not actually a true Compsognathid, but a Triassic proto-predator. It looks cute until twenty of them surround you." |
| Podokesauridae | Saltopus elginensis | "Leaping foot" | Late Triassic
(~228 Ma) |
H: 15 cm (6 in)
L: 60 cm (2 ft) W: 1 kg |
Scotland | Woodward, 1910 | "This tiny phantom is barely the size of a stray cat. Hard to believe it's one of the earliest theropod ancestors." |
| Dilophosauridae | Cryolophosaurus ellioti | "Cold crest lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~190 Ma) |
H: 2.1 m (7 ft)
L: 6.5 m (21 ft) W: 460 kg |
Antarctica | Hammer & Hickerson, 1994 | "Nicknamed 'Elvisaurus' because its head crest looks like a 1950s pompadour pomf. Rocking out in icy Antarctica!" |
| Dilophosauridae | Dilophosaurus wetherilli | "Two-crested lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~193 Ma) |
H: 2.4 m (8 ft)
L: 7 m (23 ft) W: 400 kg |
Arizona, USA | Welles, 1954 | "No, it didn't spit acid or have a neck frill like in the movies, but those double head crests are still incredibly stylish." |
| Ceratosauridae | Ceratosaurus nasicornis | "Horned lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 6–7 m (20–23 ft) W: 500–1000 kg |
Colorado, USA | Marsh, 1884 | "A big nasal horn and massive blade-like teeth. Looks like a mythical dragon that traded its wings for powerful running legs." |
| Abelisauridae | Carnotaurus sastrei | "Meat-eating bull" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 7.5 m (25 ft) W: 1.5 metric tons |
Argentina | Bonaparte, 1985 | "A literal speed-demon with literal bull horns! Don't laugh at its tiny, useless baby arms—it runs as fast as a car." |
| Abelisauridae | Majungasaurus crenatissimus | "Mahajanga lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 7 m (23 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
Madagascar | Lavocat, 1955 | "A stout, short-legged apex predator with a single horn on its forehead. Fossil teeth prove it was a confirmed cannibal!" |
| Noasauridae | Elaphrosaurus bambergi | "Lightweight lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 1.6 m (5.2 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 210 kg |
Tanzania | Janensch, 1920 | "Super long neck and a slender frame. It lost its teeth as it grew up, turning from a baby meat-eater into a veggie adult!" |
| Megalosauridae | Eustreptospondylus oxoniensis | "True streptospondylus" | Middle Jurassic
(~162 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 4.6 m (15 ft) W: 200 kg |
England | Walker, 1964 | "A shoreline beachcomber from ancient European islands. Probably excellent at swimming between sandbars." |
| Megalosauridae | Megalosaurus bucklandii | "Great lizard" | Middle Jurassic
(~166 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 700 kg |
England | Buckland, 1824 | "The absolute grandfather of paleontology. The very first non-avian dinosaur ever officially named in history." |
| Megalosauridae | Proceratosaurus bradleyi | "Before Ceratosaurus" | Middle Jurassic
(~165 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 3 m (10 ft) W: 40 kg |
England | Woodward, 1910 | "Don't let the name fool you, it’s not related to Ceratosaurus. It’s actually one of the earliest known ancestors of T. rex!" |
| Megalosauridae | Yutyrannus huali | "Feathered tyrant" | Early Cretaceous
(~125 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 1.4 metric tons |
China | Xu et al., 2012 | "The largest directly proven feathered dinosaur. A massive, shaggy, nine-meter blizzard-tyrant. Majestic but terrifying." |
| Spinosauridae | Baryonyx walkeri | "Heavy claw" | Early Cretaceous
(~125 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 9.5 m (31 ft) W: 1.2 metric tons |
England | Charig & Milner, 1986 | "A crocodile-headed fisher with a foot-long thumb claw. Perfect asset for locking down swamps and river banks." |
| Spinosauridae | Spinosaurus aegyptiacus | "Spine lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~95 Ma) |
H: 4 m (13 ft)
L: 14 m (46 ft) W: 7.4 metric tons |
Egypt, Morocco | Stromer, 1915 | "A giant river dragon with a massive sail and a paddle-like tail. Bigger than a T. rex but preferred hunting mega-fish." |
| Spinosauridae | Suchomimus tenerensis | "Crocodile mimic" | Early Cretaceous
(~115 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 11 m (36 ft) W: 3 metric tons |
Niger | Sereno et al., 1998 | "Basically a Baryonyx on growth hormones. It ran around ancient African deltas snapping up prehistoric coelacanths." |
Infraorder Carnosauria (Part 2: Tyrannosaurs, Allosaurs & Carcharodontosaurs)
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Tyrannosauridae | Albertosaurus sarcophagus | "Alberta lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 2.8 m (9 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 2 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Osborn, 1905 | "A sleeker, faster, more athletic cousin of T. rex. Bonebeds suggest they hunted in coordinated packs. Yikes." |
| Tyrannosauridae | Alioramus altai | "Different branch" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 800 kg |
Mongolia | Kurzanov, 1976 | "A long, narrow snout lined with eight bony bumps. Built for speed and precise snapping rather than bone-crushing power." |
| Tyrannosauridae | Daspletosaurus horneri | "Frightful lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 2.5 metric tons |
Montana, USA | Carr et al., 2017 | "Heavy-set, rugged, and lived right before T. rex took over the throne. The ultimate powerhouse bully of the Mesozoic woods." |
| Tyrannosauridae | Qianzhousaurus sinensis | "Qianzhou lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 2.2 m (7.2 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 800 kg |
China | Lü et al., 2014 | "Nicknamed 'Pinocchio rex' due to its incredibly long, slender snout. A highly specialized, elegant elite stalker." |
| Tyrannosauridae | Tarbosaurus bataar | "Alarming lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
L: 10–12 m (33–40 ft) W: 4–5 metric tons |
Mongolia | Maleev, 1955 | "The Asian counterpart to T. rex. Its jaw was more rigid, locking down tightly on big sauropods like Nemegtosaurus." |
| Tyrannosauridae | Tyrannosaurus rex | "Tyrant lizard king" | Late Cretaceous
(~68–66 Ma) |
H: 3.7–5.89 m (12–19.3 ft)
L: 15 m (49.2 ft) W: 8–9 metric tons |
Western NA | Osborn, 1905 | "The undisputed mythic king. Stereoscopic vision, bone-crushing bite, and an absolute unit. Don't cross its path." |
| Allosauridae | Allosaurus europaeus | "Different lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 4.2 m (13.2 ft)
L: 12.1 m (39.4 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
Portugal; New Mexico, USA | Mateus et al., 2006 | "The European version of the classic Morrison predator, rocking subtle nasal crests. The absolute outlaw of the Jurassic." |
| Allosauridae | Yangchuanosaurus zigongensis | "Yangchuan lizard" | Middle Jurassic
(~165 Ma) |
H: 2.8 m (9 ft)
L: 8 m (26 ft) W: 1.3 metric tons |
China | Gao, 1993 | "A rugged apex predator from China with small hornlets over its snout. It filled the Allosaur role beautifully out east." |
| Carcharodontosauridae | Acrocanthosaurus atokensis | "High-spined lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~110 Ma) |
H: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
L: 11.5 m (38 ft) W: 5.7 metric tons |
Oklahoma, USA | Stovall & Langston, 1950 | "A massive ridge of muscle ran down its spine. It left legendary fossil footprints in Texas while tracking sauropods!" |
| Carcharodontosauridae | Carcharodontosaurus iguidensis | "Shark-toothed lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~95 Ma) |
H: 3.8 m (12.5 ft)
L: 12 m (40 ft) W: 4–6 metric tons |
Niger | Brusatte & Sereno, 2007 | "Its jaw was packed with self-sharpening, serrated teeth designed to cause massive blood loss. Terrifyingly efficient." |
| Carcharodontosauridae | Giganotosaurus carolinii | "Giant southern lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~97 Ma) |
H: 4 m (13 ft)
L: 12.5 m (41 ft) W: 7–8 metric tons |
Argentina | Coria & Salgado, 1995 | "South America's answer to T. rex, but built for slicing flesh rather than crushing bones. A gargantuan titan-slayer." |
Infraorder Coelurosauria & Deinonychosauria
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Coeluridae | Coelurus fragilis | "Hollow tail" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 70 cm (2.3 ft)
L: 2.4 m (8 ft) W: 15–20 kg |
Wyoming, USA | Marsh, 1879 | "A dainty, delicate little hunter hiding in the shadows of giants like Allosaurus. Keep an eye on it or it'll swipe your lunch." |
| Coeluridae | Moros intrepidus | "Impending doom" | Late Cretaceous
(~96 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 2.5 m (8 ft) W: 78 kg |
Utah, USA | Zanno et al., 2019 | "An incredible discovery! The tiny, early North American tyrant that shows how rex's family started small before getting big." |
| Coeluridae | Nanotyrannus lethaeus | "Dwarf tyrant" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 5 m (16 ft) W: 400–600 kg |
Montana, USA | Bakker et al., 1988 | "The ultimate paleontology flame war. Most experts agree it’s just a teenage T. rex going through a lanky punk phase!" |
| Compsognathidae | Compsognathus longipes | "Elegant jaw" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 30 cm (1 ft)
L: 1.2 m (4 ft) W: 2–3 kg |
Germany, France | Wagner, 1859 | "Classic, turkey-sized lizard hunter. Famously found with its last lizard meal still fossilized inside its belly." |
| Compsognathidae | Sinosauropteryx lingyuanensis | "Chinese lizard wing" | Early Cretaceous
(~122 Ma) |
H: 25 cm (10 in)
L: 1 m (3.3 ft) W: 1 kg |
China | Ji & Ji, 1996 | "The first dino proven to have proto-feathers! Science even extracted its pigment—it had ginger-orange stripes and a ringed tail!" |
| Ornithomimidae | Archaeornithomimus asiaticus | "Ancient bird mimic" | Late Cretaceous
(~90 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 3.3 m (11 ft) W: 50 kg |
China | Russell, 1972 | "An early 'ostrich dinosaur' model. No teeth, big eyes, and built entirely to flee from larger predators at top speed." |
| Ornithomimidae | Dromiceiomimus samueli | "Emu mimic" | Late Cretaceous
(~73 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 3.5 m (11.5 ft) W: 100 kg |
Alberta, Canada | Russell, 1972 | "Massive eye sockets mean it had incredible vision. Probably did its high-speed sprinting during the twilight hours." |
| Ornithomimidae | Gallimimus bullatus | "Rooster mimic" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 440 kg |
Mongolia | Barsbold et al., 1972 | "The largest of the standard ostrich-mimics. Flock behavior means if one starts running, you better follow them!" |
| Ornithomimidae | Ornithomimus velox | "Bird mimic" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 1.4 m (4.6 ft)
L: 3.8 m (12.5 ft) W: 170 kg |
Colorado, USA | Marsh, 1890 | "Fossils show adults had fully developed feathered wings for display. It's basically a highly athletic Mesozoic roadrunner." |
| Ornithomimidae | Struthiomimus altus | "Ostrich mimic" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 1.4 m (4.6 ft)
L: 4.3 m (14 ft) W: 150 kg |
Alberta, Canada | Lambe, 1902 | "A classic speedster. Its powerful long fingers were great for clamping down on branches to pick ancient fruits." |
| Deinocheiridae | Deinocheirus mirificus | "Unusual horrible hand" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 6 m (20.5 ft)
L: 14 m (46.5 ft) W: 6.4 metric tons |
Mongolia | Osmólska & Roniewicz, 1970 | "For decades, we only had its massive 8-foot arms. Turns out it was a giant, hump-backed, duck-billed, omnivorous monster!" |
| Oviraptoridae | Oviraptor philoceratops | "Egg thief" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 80 cm (2.6 ft)
L: 1.6 m (5.2 ft) W: 35 kg |
Mongolia | Osborn, 1924 | "Framed for egg theft! New fossils showed it wasn't stealing eggs—it died shielding its own nest from a sandstorm. True parent hero." |
| Saurornithoididae | Saurornithoides mongoliensis | "Bird-like lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 3 m (10 ft) W: 40 kg |
Mongolia | Osborn, 1924 | "A specialized troodontid built for night operations. Huge eyes, large brain cavity, and a cunning pack-hunting style." |
| Saurornithoididae | Troodon formosus | "Wounding tooth" | Late Cretaceous
(~77 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 2.4 m (8 ft) W: 50 kg |
Montana, USA | Leidy, 1856 | "The classic 'brainiac' dino. It had the highest brain-to-body mass ratio of its time. High strategic utility for database lore." |
| Therizinosauridae | Therizinosaurus cheloniformis | "Scythe lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 5 m (16.4 ft)
L: 10 m (33 ft) W: 5 metric tons |
Mongolia | Maleev, 1954 | "It had three-foot long, sword-like hand claws, a pot belly, and a beak. A bizarre giant herbivore that could shred predators like paper." |
| Dromaeosauridae | Atrociraptor marshalli | "Savage robber" | Late Cretaceous
(~68 Ma) |
H: 70 cm (2.3 ft)
L: 2 m (6.6 ft) W: 15 kg |
Alberta, Canada | Currie & Varricchio, 2004 | "A short, deep snout gives it a brutal bite force compared to other raptors. Think of a tactical prehistoric pit bull." |
| Dromaeosauridae | Bambiraptor feinbergi | "Bambi robber" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 30 cm (1 ft)
L: 90 cm (3 ft) W: 2 kg |
Montana, USA | Burnham et al., 2000 | "Named after the Disney character because it's so tiny and perfectly intact. Fully feathered and possessed opposable finger grip!" |
| Dromaeosauridae | Deinonychus antirrhopus | "Counterbalancing terrible claw" | Early Cretaceous
(~115 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 3.4 m (11 ft) W: 73 kg |
Montana, USA | Ostrom, 1969 | "The dinosaur that sparked the 'Dinosaur Renaissance.' Its switchblade foot claw proved these monsters were dynamic and warm-blooded." |
| Dromaeosauridae | Dromaeosaurus albertensis | "Running lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 60 cm (2 ft)
L: 2 m (6.6 ft) W: 15 kg |
Alberta, Canada | Matthew & Brown, 1922 | "The namesake of the raptor family. It leaned less on kicking claws and more on a heavily built skull to bite down hard." |
| Dromaeosauridae | Pyroraptor olympius | "Olympic fire robber" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 50 cm (1.6 ft)
L: 1.6 m (5.2 ft) W: 14 kg |
France | Allain & Taquet, 2000 | "Discovered after a forest fire in France! A fierce, elegant little island hopper with beautiful plumage." |
| Dromaeosauridae | Saurornitholestes sullivani | "Lizard-bird thief" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 60 cm (2 ft)
L: 1.8 m (6 ft) W: 10 kg |
New Mexico, USA | Sullivan, 2006 | "An elite light skirmisher. Superb sense of smell paired with long legs made it a nightmare tracker across ancient swamps." |
| Dromaeosauridae | Utahraptor ostrommaysorum | "Utah robber" | Early Cretaceous
(~125 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 500 kg |
Utah, USA | Kirkland et al., 1993 | "An absolute tactical tank of a raptor. It weighed half a ton and wielded 9-inch sickle claws. The ultimate apex combat dino." |
| Dromaeosauridae | Velociraptor osmolskae | "Swift robber" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 50 cm (1.6 ft)
L: 2 m (6.6 ft) W: 15 kg |
Mongolia | Godefroit et al., 2008 | "Turkey-sized but incredibly fierce. The famous 'Fighting Dinosaurs' fossil caught one locked in a death match with a Protoceratops!" |
| Archaeopterygidae | Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi | "Ancient wing" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 30 cm (1 ft)
L: 50 cm (1.6 ft) W: 500 g |
Germany | Kundrát et al., 2018 | "The missing link spec! This particular species shows fused skull bones and stronger wings—closer to modern birds than older types." |
🦕 SUBORDER SAUROPODOMORPHA
Infraorder Prosauropoda (Early Long-Necks)
Community Note: Included in your chart list is Smurfette smurfensis, an inventive pop-culture fan-dino homage to Peyo's classic The Smurfs. I have stylized it safely here to align with your database project!
| Family | Dinosaur / Creature | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Herrerasauridae | Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis | "Herrera's lizard" | Late Triassic
(~230 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 350 kg |
Argentina | Reig, 1963 | "An enigmatic Triassic primitive runner with a sliding lower jaw. It sits right at the base of the dinosaur family tree." |
| Herrerasauridae | Smurfette smurfensis | "Smurfette from Smurfland" | Mythic / Triassic Fantasy | H: 10 cm (4 in)
L: 25 cm (10 in) W: 100 g |
Smurf Village | Fan Homage
(Peyo Lore) |
"Wait, a bright blue mini-dinosaur from a cartoon village? Adorable, but I'm keeping it away from Gargamel's alchemy set." |
| Herrerasauridae | Staurikosaurus pricei | "Southern Cross lizard" | Late Triassic
(~233 Ma) |
H: 80 cm (2.6 ft)
L: 2.2 m (7.2 ft) W: 30 kg |
Brazil | Colbert, 1970 | "Slender, athletic, and built entirely for speed. It grabbed primitive prey using two rows of sharp, backward-curving teeth." |
| Anchisauridae | Anchisaurus polyzelus | "Near lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~195 Ma) |
H: 60 cm (2 ft)
L: 2 m (6.6 ft) W: 20 kg |
Connecticut, USA | Marsh, 1885 | "One of the first North American long-necks found. It could walk on two legs or four, dropping down to graze on bushes." |
| Anchisauridae | Efraasia minor | "Efraas's lizard" | Late Triassic
(~210 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 300 kg |
Germany | Galton, 1973 | "A versatile Triassic browser with dextrous hands. It was the crucial blueprint for the multi-ton giants that followed." |
| Anchisauridae | Thecodontosaurus antiquus | "Socket-toothed lizard" | Late Triassic
(~205 Ma) |
H: 40 cm (1.3 ft)
L: 1.2 m (4 ft) W: 11 kg |
England | Morris, 1843 | "A tiny, nimble vegetarian that lived on prehistoric British islands. Its fossil teeth look just like miniature serrated saws." |
| Plateosauridae | Massospondylus kaalae | "Longer vertebra" | Early Jurassic
(~200 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 4–6 m (13–20 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
South Africa | Barrett, 2009 | "Amazing fossil nests show their babies hatched without teeth and needed parents to feed them. Mesozoic childcare!" |
| Plateosauridae | Mussaurus patagonicus | "Mouse lizard" | Late Triassic
(~215 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
Argentina | Bonaparte, 1979 | "Discovered as tiny hatchlings that could fit inside a human palm—hence 'mouse lizard.' The adults grew up to be massive!" |
| Plateosauridae | Plateosaurus gracilis | "Broad lizard" | Late Triassic
(~210 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 7–10 m (23–33 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
Germany | von Huene, 1905 | "The classic Triassic heavy tank. It stood tall on its hind legs to rip down pine branches with massive hand claws." |
| Melanorosauridae | Riojasaurus incertus | "La Rioja lizard" | Late Triassic
(~220 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 10 m (33 ft) W: 3 metric tons |
Argentina | Bonaparte, 1969 | "An absolute unit that fully committed to walking on all four legs. Its heavy bone structure paved the way for true Sauropods." |
Infraorder Sauropoda (True Giant Long-Necks)
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Cetiosauridae | Barapasaurus tagorei | "Big-legged lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~196 Ma) |
H: 4 m (13 ft)
L: 14 m (46 ft) W: 7 metric tons |
India | Jain et al., 1975 | "One of the earliest true sauropods. Its legs are built like solid stone pillars to support immense weight." |
| Cetiosauridae | Cetiosaurus oxoniensis | "Whale lizard" | Middle Jurassic
(~167 Ma) |
H: 4.5 m (15 ft)
L: 16 m (52 ft) W: 11 metric tons |
England | Phillips, 1871 | "Early scientists found its massive bones and genuinely thought it was a gigantic sea whale. Nope, just a mega land-grazer!" |
| Diplodocidae | Amargasaurus cazaui | "La Amarga lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~122 Ma) |
H: 2.6 m (8.5 ft)
L: 10 m (33 ft) W: 2 metric tons |
Argentina | Salgado, 1991 | "A stunning look! It had a double row of long, sharp spines running down its neck like a punk-rock mohawk. High visual tier." |
| Diplodocidae | Apatosaurus ajax | "Deceptive lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 6 m (19.7 ft)
L: 27 m (88.6 ft) W: 20 metric tons |
Colorado, USA | Marsh, 1877 | "The real identity behind 'Brontosaurus' for a long time. Incredibly thick, robust neck and a massive whip-like defense tail." |
| Diplodocidae | Dicraeosaurus sattleri | "Forked lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 12 m (40 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
Tanzania | Janensch, 1914 | "A short-necked, low-browsing sauropod with high y-shaped spine arches over its shoulders. Sleek and efficient." |
| Diplodocidae | Diplodocus hallorum | "Double beam" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 5.95 m (19.5 ft)
L: 32 m (105 ft) W: 25 metric tons |
New Mexico, USA | Gillette, 1891 | "Formerly known as Seismosaurus ('Earth-shaker'). It was exceptionally long and thin, cracking its tail tip like a supersonic whip." |
| Diplodocidae | Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum | "Mamenchi ferry lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~160 Ma) |
H: 17.85 m (58.6 ft)
L: 26–35 m (85–115 ft) W: 25–60 metric tons |
China | Russell & Zheng, 1993 | "This species possesses the longest neck of any animal ever known—over 45 feet of neck alone! Absolutely unbelievable proportions." |
| Diplodocidae | Supersaurus vivianae | "Super lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 16.46 m (54 ft)
L: 39–42 m (128–137 ft) W: 35–40 metric tons |
Colorado, USA | Jensen, 1985 | "A contender for the absolute longest vertebrate in earth's history. It could stretch across an entire football stadium block!" |
| Brachiosauridae | Brachiosaurus altithorax | "Arm lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 15.5 m (51 ft)
L: 22 m (72 ft) W: 35 metric tons |
Colorado, USA; India | Riggs, 1903 | "Built like a colossal giraffe with front legs longer than its back legs. It could easily look into a four-story building window." |
| Brachiosauridae | Sauroposeidon proteles | "Lizard earthquake god" | Early Cretaceous
(~112 Ma) |
H: 16–18 m (52–60 ft)
L: 28–34 m (92–111 ft) W: 40–50 metric tons |
Oklahoma, USA | Wedel et al., 2000 | "Named after the god of earthquakes, and it fits. The highest-reaching, skyscraper dinosaur known to science." |
| Camarasauridae | Camarasaurus supremus | "Chambered lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 9 m (29.5 ft)
L: 18 m (60 ft) W: 20 metric tons |
Colorado, USA | Cope, 1877 | "The most common long-neck of the American West. Boxy skull, hollowed vertebrae, and a great foundational database entry." |
| Camarasauridae | Euhelopus zdanskyi | "True marsh foot" | Early Cretaceous
(~120 Ma) |
H: 3.8 m (12.5 ft)
L: 15 m (50 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
China | Wiman, 1929 | "A distinct Asian long-neck with a heavy skull. Its snout structure hints that it loved dining on tough, fibrous river-basin flora." |
| Camarasauridae | Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii | "Rear-cavity tail" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 12 m (40 ft) W: 10 metric tons |
Mongolia | Borsuk-Białynicka, 1977 | "Famous for being found completely intact except for its head. Its dense tail joints let it prop itself up like a tripod!" |
| Titanosauridae | Alamosaurus sanjuanensis | "Alamo lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 13 m (42.7 ft)
L: 26–30 m (85–100 ft) W: 30–50 metric tons |
Texas, USA | Gilmore, 1922 | "The last surviving giant long-neck in North America. It actively shared its environment with T. rex. Imagine that matchup!" |
| Titanosauridae | Dreadnoughtus schrani | "Fears nothing" | Late Cretaceous
(~77 Ma) |
H: 18.7 m (61.4 ft)
L: 26 m (85 ft) W: 49 metric tons |
Argentina | Lacovara et al., 2014 | "Named after the massive Dreadnought battleships because an adult would have been completely immune to predator attacks." |
| Titanosauridae | Patagotitan mayorum | "Patagonian titan" | Middle Cretaceous
(~100 Ma) |
H: 20 m (66.5 ft)
L: 37 m (122 ft) W: 62–70 metric tons |
Argentina | Carballido et al., 2017 | "An absolute heavyweight champion of the world. One single thigh bone is taller than our entire team!" |
| Titanosauridae | Puertasaurus reuili | "Puerta's lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 12.5 m (40.7 ft)
L: 30 m (100 ft) W: 50 metric tons |
Argentina | Novas et al., 2005 | "It has the widest chest cavity ever discovered on a dinosaur—nearly 16 feet wide. Built like an armored freight train." |
| Titanosauridae | Saltasaurus loricatus | "Salta lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 8.5 m (28 ft) W: 2.5 metric tons |
Argentina | Bonaparte & Powell, 1980 | "A small titanosaur that innovated! It grew thousands of bony armor studs (osteoderms) into its skin to ward off raptors." |
💡 Paleontology Insights for Legend Quest:
- Taxonomic Evolution: Notice how the early Herrerasaurids are highly agile, bipedal generalists. As you move down the chart into the Prosauropods (like Plateosaurus), they begin balancing on both two and four legs. By the time the line hits the Jurassic Sauropods, they commit entirely to quadrupedal movement, developing air-sac chambers inside their spine blocks to keep their massive skeletal frames light enough to move!
Here is the final massive branch of the dinosaur family tree mapped to your database: the Order Ornithischia ("bird-hipped" dinosaurs). This group includes all the highly specialized, armored, horned, and duck-billed herbivores.
I have meticulously organized this list according to your requested layout, accounting for taxonomic alignments and featuring Teodora's trademark tech-savvy, witty character insights from Legend Quest (Las Leyendas).
🦖 SUBORDER ORNITHOPODA (The Bird-Feet Browsers)
Families Heterodontosauridae, Fabrosauridae & Hypsilophodontidae
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Heterodontosauridae | Echinodon becklesii | "Prickly tooth" | Early Cretaceous
(~140 Ma) |
H: 15 cm (6 in)
L: 60 cm (2 ft) W: 500 g |
England | Owen, 1861 | "A tiny, spike-backed vegetarian that randomly had giant vampire fangs at the front of its mouth. Totally goth." |
| Heterodontosauridae | Heterodontosaurus tucki | "Different-toothed lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~200 Ma) |
H: 35 cm (1.1 ft)
L: 1.2 m (4 ft) W: 2–3 kg |
South Africa | Crompton & Charig, 1962 | "It has three completely different types of teeth. It’s like a mammalian multi-tool disguised inside a tiny reptile body." |
| Fabrosauridae | Lesothosaurus diagnosticus | "Lizard from Lesotho" | Early Jurassic
(~200 Ma) |
H: 40 cm (1.3 ft)
L: 2 m (6.6 ft) W: 6–8 kg |
Lesotho, South Africa | Galton, 1978 | "Sleek, lanky, and totally built for running away. It's the blueprint ancestor for almost every plant-eater on this list!" |
| Fabrosauridae | Pisanosaurus mertii | "Pisano's lizard" | Late Triassic
(~228 Ma) |
H: 30 cm (1 ft)
L: 1 m (3.3 ft) W: 2 kg |
Argentina | Casamiquela, 1967 | "A heavily debated phantom. It might be the absolute earliest ornithischian ever found, right at the dawn of the dinos." |
| Fabrosauridae | Scutellosaurus lawleri | "Little-shielded lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~196 Ma) |
H: 40 cm (1.3 ft)
L: 1.5 m (5 ft) W: 3 kg |
Arizona, USA | Colbert, 1981 | "A tiny runner wearing hundreds of mini armor studs on its back. The great-great-grandpappy of the giant Ankylosaurs!" |
| Hypsilophodontidae | Callovosaurus leedsi | "Callovian lizard" | Middle Jurassic
(~163 Ma) |
H: 75 cm (2.5 ft)
L: 2.5 m (8 ft) W: 120 kg |
England | Galton, 1980 | "An ancient, rare European runner. Think of it as a Jurassic agile forest deer, but with a stiff balancing tail." |
| Hypsilophodontidae | Dryosaurus elderae | "Tree lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 3 m (10 ft) W: 100 kg |
Utah, USA | Carpenter & Galton, 2018 | "Big eyes, powerful legs, no armor. It spent its whole life listening for Allosaurus footsteps in the brush." |
| Hypsilophodontidae | Hypsilophodon foxii | "High-crested tooth" | Early Cretaceous
(~125 Ma) |
H: 60 cm (2 ft)
L: 1.8 m (6 ft) W: 20 kg |
England | Huxley, 1869 | "Early scientists literally thought this thing climbed trees like a modern kangaroo. Spoiler: it didn't. It sprinted on flat ground." |
| Hypsilophodontidae | Nanosaurus agilis | "Small lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 40 cm (1.3 ft)
L: 1 m (3.3 ft) W: 2–4 kg |
Wyoming, USA | Marsh, 1877 | "This little ghost was renamed and shifted around for over a century. It's basically a micro-browser hiding in the ferns." |
| Hypsilophodontidae | Parksosaurus warreni | "Parks's lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 2.5 m (8 ft) W: 45 kg |
Alberta, Canada | Sternberg, 1937 | "A tough little survivor that lasted into the late Cretaceous alongside the giant duckbills. Persistence is key!" |
| Hypsilophodontidae | Thescelosaurus garbanii | "Wonderful lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 4–4.5 m (13–15 ft) W: 300 kg |
Montana, USA | Morris, 1976 | "A heavy-set, robust runner that resisted the trend of getting faster. It preferred bulk and brute force to survive raptors." |
Families Iguanodontidae & Hadrosauridae (The Duckbills)
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Iguanodontidae | Camptosaurus dispar | "Flexible lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 800 kg |
Wyoming, USA | Marsh, 1879 | "A heavy-set browser that could walk on two legs to reach high leaves or cruise on four. The prequel to Iguanodon." |
| Iguanodontidae | Iguanodon bernissartensis | "Iguana tooth" | Early Cretaceous
(~125 Ma) |
H: 5.2 m (17.1 ft)
L: 13.5 m (44.3 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
Belgium, Germany | Boulenger, 1881 | "Famously discovered with massive conical thumb spikes. Early paleontology put it on its nose—now we know it’s for stabbing!" |
| Iguanodontidae | Muttaburrasaurus langdoni | "Muttaburra lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~105 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 8 m (26 ft) W: 2.8 metric tons |
Australia | Bartholomai & Molnar, 1981 | "It had a massive, hollow, inflated snout. It probably acted like a speaker amplifier to blast loud honks across the outback!" |
| Iguanodontidae | Ouranosaurus nigeriensis | "Brave lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~115 Ma) |
H: 2.7 m (9 ft)
L: 7 m (23 ft) W: 2.2 metric tons |
Niger | Taquet, 1976 | "A gorgeous duckbill cousin with a massive sail running down its spine. It shared its rivers with Spinosaurus—not a fun neighbor." |
| Iguanodontidae | Tenontosaurus dossi | "Sinew lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~110 Ma) |
H: 2.2 m (7.2 ft)
L: 6.5 m (21 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
Texas, USA | Winkler et al., 1997 | "An absolute unit of a tail—it took up two-thirds of its body length! Famously hunted by packs of Deinonychus raptors." |
| Hadrosauridae | Bactrosaurus johnsoni | "Club lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~95 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 1.5 metric tons |
China, Mongolia | Gilmore, 1933 | "An early, primitive flat-headed duckbill. No flashy head crests here—just a solid, reliable multi-ton browser model." |
| Hadrosauridae | Corythosaurus casuarius | "Helmet lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada; Wyoming, USA | Brown, 1914 | "Rocking a giant, hollow, dinner-plate crest on its skull. It used it like a trombone to send low-frequency alerts to its herd." |
| Hadrosauridae | Edmontosaurus regalis | "Edmonton lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~73 Ma) |
H: 4 m (13 ft)
L: 12 m (40 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada; Wyoming, USA | Lambe, 1917 | "A flat-headed giant. Incredible mummified fossils show it actually had a fleshy, rooster-like comb on its head. Total trendsetter." |
| Hadrosauridae | Hadrosaurus foulkii | "Heavy lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~80 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 8 m (26 ft) W: 3 metric tons |
New Jersey, USA | Leidy, 1858 | "The ultimate historical milestone. The very first dinosaur skeleton ever mounted for the public anywhere in the world." |
| Hadrosauridae | Hypacrosaurus stebingeri | "Near the highest lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 3.8 m (12.5 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
Montana, USA | Horner & Currie, 1994 | "High-backed spines and a rounded crest. Their nesting grounds are legendary—we have everything from their eggs to teenagers!" |
| Hadrosauridae | Kritosaurus navajovius | "Separated lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~73 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 3.5 metric tons |
New Mexico, USA | Brown, 1910 | "Possessed a distinct, humped, Roman-nose snout structure. Great for visual displays or asserting dominance in the herd." |
| Hadrosauridae | Lambeosaurus magnicristatus | "Lambe's lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 4 m (13 ft)
L: 9.5 m (31 ft) W: 4.5 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Sternberg, 1935 | "This species had a forward-pointing pommel crest that looks like an absolute sci-fi antenna. Incredible visual aesthetic." |
| Hadrosauridae | Maiasaura peeblesorum | "Good mother lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~76 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
Montana, USA | Horner & Makela, 1979 | "The ultimate dino mom. Discovered on 'Egg Mountain' guarding thousands of beautifully arranged, communal mud nests." |
| Hadrosauridae | Olorotitan arharensis | "Gigantic swan" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 4.5 m (15 ft)
L: 12 m (40 ft) W: 5 metric tons |
Russia | Godefroit et al., 2003 | "A massive duckbill with an elegant, elongated neck and a backwards-pointing crest shaped like an axe. High mythic tier." |
| Hadrosauridae | Parasaurolophus walkeri | "Near crested lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 4 m (13 ft)
L: 10 m (33 ft) W: 3.5 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Parks, 1922 | "The king of communication. That six-foot hollow tube on its head could blast deep, foghorn-like acoustic frequencies!" |
| Hadrosauridae | Prosaurolophus maximus | "Before Saurolophus" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 3.5 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Brown, 1916 | "It has a small, solid bony ridge right between its eyes. The conservative, elegant precursor to the mega-crested types." |
| Hadrosauridae | Saurolophus osborni | "Crested lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 3.2 m (10.5 ft)
L: 9.8 m (32 ft) W: 3.8 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Brown, 1912 | "A long spike crest extending straight out the back of its skull. It might have had inflatable skin bags on its nose to honk!" |
| Hadrosauridae | Shantungosaurus giganteus | "Shandong lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~73 Ma) |
H: 6 m (20 ft)
L: 15–16 m (50–52 ft) W: 16 metric tons |
China | Hu, 1973 | "An absolute leviathan duckbill. It was literally larger than a T. rex and weighed more than two elephants combined. Mind-blowing bulk." |
| Hadrosauridae | Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus | "Qingdao lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
L: 10 m (33 ft) W: 4 metric tons |
China | Young, 1958 | "For years, scientists thought its crest was a single vertical horn like a unicorn. Turns out it was part of a larger hollow sail!" |
🦄 SUBORDER CERATOPIA (The Bone-Heads & Horned Giants)
Families Pachycephalosauridae, Psittacosauridae & Protoceratopidae
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Pachycephalosauridae | Dracorex hogwartsia | "Dragon king of Hogwarts" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 3 m (10 ft) W: 200 kg |
South Dakota, USA | Bakker et al., 2006 | "Named after Harry Potter! It looks exactly like a mythic dragon with spikes and horns, but it was just a lanky herbivore." |
| Pachycephalosauridae | Homalocephale calathocercos | "Even head" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 60 cm (2 ft)
L: 1.8 m (6 ft) W: 40 kg |
Mongolia | Maryańska & Osmólska, 1974 | "A flat-headed bonehead with an extremely wide hip setup. It probably used its flat skull for side-butting its rivals!" |
| Pachycephalosauridae | Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis | "Thick-headed lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~68–66 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 4.5 m (15 ft) W: 450 kg |
Wyoming, USA | Brown & Schlaikjer, 1943 | "A skull made of 9 inches of solid bone! The absolute champion of Mesozoic demolition derbies. Keep your distance." |
| Pachycephalosauridae | Prenocephale prenes | "Sloping head" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 80 cm (2.6 ft)
L: 2.4 m (8 ft) W: 130 kg |
Mongolia | Maryańska & Osmólska, 1974 | "A beautifully rounded, helmet-like dome skull lined with small bony row nodules. Sleek, fast, and ready to challenge." |
| Pachycephalosauridae | Stegoceras validum | "Horned roof" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 70 cm (2.3 ft)
L: 2 m (6.6 ft) W: 40 kg |
Alberta, Canada | Lambe, 1902 | "The first bonehead found with a high, distinct dome skull. It was roughly the size of a modern mountain goat." |
| Pachycephalosauridae | Stygimoloch spinifer | "Demon from the River Styx" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 3 m (10 ft) W: 200 kg |
Montana, USA | Galton & Sues, 1983 | "Fierce name! It had massive, demonic spikes coming out the back of its dome. It, Dracorex, and Pachy are likely the same dino at different ages!" |
| Psittacosauridae | Psittacosaurus meileyingensis | "Parrot lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~120 Ma) |
H: 40 cm (1.3 ft)
L: 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) W: 20–30 kg |
China | Sereno et al., 1888 | "A primitive, bipedal beak-face. Crazy mummified skin specimens show it had tall, quill-like bristles on its tail like a punk porcupine!" |
| Protoceratopidae | Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi | "Small horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 30 cm (1 ft)
L: 1 m (3.3 ft) W: 22 kg |
Mongolia | Maryańska & Osmólska, 1975 | "A miniature hornless frill-face with a subtle nose bump. It's like a pocket-sized Triceratops puppy for the database landscape." |
| Leptoceratopidae | Leptoceratops gracilis | "Slender horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 80 cm (2.6 ft)
L: 2.5 m (8 ft) W: 100 kg |
Alberta, Canada | Brown, 1914 | "It completely refused to follow the trend of growing giant brow horns. Sticking to its classic, small, forest-dwelling roots." |
| Leptoceratopidae | Montanoceratops cerorhynchus | "Montana horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~70 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 3 m (10 ft) W: 170 kg |
Montana, USA | Sternberg, 1951 | "A robust, early-style frill-face that possessed deep, deep tail arches. It likely used its tail flag for signaling down in the valleys." |
| Protoceratopidae | Protoceratops hellenikorhinus | "First horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~72 Ma) |
H: 75 cm (2.5 ft)
L: 2–2.5 m (6.6–8 ft) W: 180 kg |
Mongolia | Lambert et al., 2001 | "This species had a distinct, dual-arch nasal ridge. Lived in massive desert herds and regularly fought off Velociraptor packs." |
Family Ceratopsidae (The True Horned Giants)
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Ceratopsidae | Brachyceratops montanensis | "Short horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 4 m (13 ft) W: 800 kg |
Montana, USA | Gilmore, 1914 | "Found as a cluster of juveniles! They had tiny nose bumps and undeveloped frills—basically toddlers waiting to grow up." |
| Ceratopsidae | Centrosaurus apertus | "Pointed lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~76 Ma) |
H: 2.2 m (7.2 ft)
L: 5.5 m (18 ft) W: 2.3 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Lambe, 1904 | "A single massive nose horn and forward-curling hooks on its frill rim. Mega-bonebeds prove they lived in thousands-strong super-herds." |
| Ceratopsidae | Chasmosaurus belli | "Chasm lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 5 m (16 ft) W: 2 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Lambe, 1902 | "A colossal, heart-shaped shield frill with massive open windows inside the bone frame. Probably used for striking color displays!" |
| Ceratopsidae | Lokiceratops rangiformis | "Loki's horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~78 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 6.7 m (22 ft) W: 5 metric tons |
Montana, USA | Loewen et al., 2024 | "An incredible discovery! Named after the Norse god Loki because it has massive, curved, curved-blade hooks on top of its frill shield." |
| Ceratopsidae | Nasutoceratops titusi | "Large-nosed horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~76 Ma) |
H: 2.3 m (7.5 ft)
L: 4.5 m (15 ft) W: 1.5 metric tons |
Utah, USA | Sampson et al., 2013 | "This one is wild. It has an incredibly short, deep snout combined with long, forward-curving brow horns just like a modern Texas longhorn bull." |
| Ceratopsidae | Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai | "Thick-nosed lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~72 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 3 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Currie et al., 2008 | "No horns here! Instead, it wore a massive, thick boss of solid bone over its nose. Perfect for head-butting theropods into oblivion." |
| Ceratopsidae | Pentaceratops sternbergii | "Five-horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~74 Ma) |
H: 5.2 m (17.1 ft)
L: 6.5 m (21 ft) W: 5 metric tons |
New Mexico, USA | Osborn, 1923 | "The three standard horns plus two elongated cheek flares make five. It holds one of the largest land skull specimens in the universe!" |
| Ceratopsidae | Sinoceratops zhuchengensis | "Chinese horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~73 Ma) |
H: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 2 metric tons |
China | Xu et al., 2010 | "The first true large horned ceratopsid ever discovered out in Asia! Its frill looks like a crown decorated with forward-hooking spikes." |
| Ceratopsidae | Styracosaurus ovatus | "Spiked lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 2.3 m (7.5 ft)
L: 5.5 m (18 ft) W: 2.7 metric tons |
Montana, USA | Gilmore, 1930 | "An absolute visual powerhouse. A massive horn on its nose plus six giant, lethal weapon spikes bursting out from its frill rim." |
| Ceratopsidae | Triceratops horridus | "Three-horned face" | Late Cretaceous
(~68–66 Ma) |
H: 3 m (10 ft)
L: 8–9 m (26–30 ft) W: 6–12 metric tons |
Western NA | Marsh, 1889 | "The classic heavy-combat unit. Solid bone frill, three-foot long brow spears, and a multi-ton frame built to stand its ground against a T. rex." |
🛡️ SUBORDER STEGOSAURIA (The Plated Tanks)
Families Stegosauridae & Scelidosauridae
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Stegosauridae | Chungkingosaurus jiangbeiensis | "Chongqing lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~160 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 4 m (13 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
China | Dong et al., 1983 | "One of the smaller, primitive plate-backs. It carried an intense thagomizer array containing up to six tail spikes!" |
| Stegosauridae | Gigantspinosaurus sichuanensis | "Giant spined lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~160 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 4.2 m (14 ft) W: 700 kg |
China | Ouyang, 1992 | "Misleading name—it wasn't giant, but it did have absolutely colossal shoulder spikes pointing backwards like jet wings!" |
| Stegosauridae | Kentrosaurus aethiopicus | "Spiked lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 1.6 m (5.2 ft)
L: 4.5 m (15 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
Tanzania | Hennig, 1915 | "Plates on the neck, but long, lethal spikes over the lower back, hips, and tail. A literal walking pin cushion. Do not touch." |
| Stegosauridae | Stegosaurus stenops | "Roof lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~150 Ma) |
H: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
L: 9 m (30 ft) W: 4–5 metric tons |
Western NA | Marsh, 1887 | "Massive alternating display plates on its back paired with a four-spike tail whip. Brain the size of a walnut, but high combat tier." |
| Stegosauridae | Tuojiangosaurus multispinus | "Tuo River lizard" | Late Jurassic
(~160 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 7 m (23 ft) W: 2.8 metric tons |
China | Dong et al., 1977 | "Asia's classic counterpart to Stegosaurus. Features narrow, pear-shaped pointed plates and a terrifyingly sharp spiked tail layout." |
| Stegosauridae | Wuerhosaurus ordosensis | "Wuerho lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~130 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 5 m (16 ft) W: 1.2 metric tons |
China | Dong, 1993 | "One of the last surviving stegosaurs. Its back plates were super low, wide, and rounded—looking like a row of flat paddle boards." |
| Scelidosauridae (Basal) | Scelidosaurus harrisonii | "Limb lizard" | Early Jurassic
(~191 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 4 m (13 ft) W: 270 kg |
England | Owen, 1859 | "An incredible evolutionary link. Walking on all fours, covered in rows of bony spikes, it bridges the gap before the split into Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs." |
🔨 SUBORDER ANKYLOSAURIA (The Club-Tailed Armored Fortresses)
Families Nodosauridae & Ankylosauridae
| Family | Dinosaur | Name Meaning | Age / Time | Dimensions (Height / Length / Weight) | Where Found | Author & Year | Teodora's Comments (Legend Quest) |
| Nodosauridae | Hylaeosaurus armatus | "Forest lizard" | Early Cretaceous
(~135 Ma) |
H: 1.2 m (4 ft)
L: 5 m (16 ft) W: 2 metric tons |
England | Mantell, 1833 | "The third dinosaur ever named in history! Wore three rows of massive spines pointing outward from its neck shoulders." |
| Nodosauridae | Panoplosaurus mirus | "Completely armored lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 2 m (6.6 ft)
L: 5.5 m (18 ft) W: 2.5 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Lambe, 1919 | "No tail club, but it covered its entire head and cheeks in solid plates of bone armor. Built like an impenetrable safe." |
| Nodosauridae | Nodosaurus textilis | "Knobby lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~95 Ma) |
H: 1.5 m (5 ft)
L: 5 m (16 ft) W: 1.5 metric tons |
Wyoming, USA | Marsh, 1889 | "The family namesake. Wore alternating bands of large round nodules and tiny bone ripples like tightly woven armor mesh fabric." |
| Nodosauridae | Sauropelta edwardsorum | "Lizard shield" | Early Cretaceous
(~108 Ma) |
H: 1.7 m (5.5 ft)
L: 5.2 m (17 ft) W: 1.5 metric tons |
Montana, USA | Ostrom, 1970 | "Wore row after row of thick mosaic armor scales plus massive side spikes on its neck to intercept charging raptors." |
| Nodosauridae | Silvisaurus condrayi | "Forest lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~100 Ma) |
H: 1 m (3.3 ft)
L: 4 m (13 ft) W: 1 metric ton |
Kansas, USA | Eaton, 1960 | "A primitive, early nodosaur that surprisingly still kept a few tiny teeth at the very front of its beak. Evolution taking its time!" |
| Nodosauridae | Struthiosaurus transilvanicus | "Ostrich lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~66 Ma) |
H: 70 cm (2.3 ft)
L: 2–2.5 m (6.6–8 ft) W: 300 kg |
Romania | Nopcsa, 1915 | "An armored dwarf! Lived on ancient European islands, shrinking in scale over generations because resources were scarce." |
| Ankylosauridae | Ankylosaurus magniventris | "Fused lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~68–66 Ma) |
H: 3.9 m (12.5 ft)
L: 10.1 m (33.1 ft) W: 6 metric tons |
Montana, USA | Brown, 1908 | "The ultimate living tank. Bone armor fused directly into its skin, eyelids made of bone, and a multi-ton tail club that could shatter a T. rex ankle." |
| Ankylosauridae | Euoplocephalus tutus | "Well-armed head" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 1.8 m (6 ft)
L: 5.5 m (18 ft) W: 2.5 metric tons |
Alberta, Canada | Lambe, 1902 | "Even its eyelids were armor plates! Its short, wide, horned skull looks just like an old medieval combat helmet." |
| Ankylosauridae | Pinacosaurus grangeri | "Plank lizard" | Late Cretaceous
(~75 Ma) |
H: 1.4 m (4.6 ft)
L: 5 m (16 ft) W: 1.8 metric tons |
Mongolia | Gilmore, 1933 | "An exceptionally lightweight, fast ankylosaur. It had unique extra breathing nostril holes in its nose. High endurance unit!" |
| Ankylosauridae | Tarchia teresae | "Brainy one" | Late Cretaceous
(~72 Ma) |
H: 2.2 m (7.2 ft)
L: 6 m (20 ft) W: 3 metric tons |
Mongolia | Penkalski, 2017 | "Named because its skull case was larger than other desert ankylosaurs. Big brain power paired with a massive bone club tail!" |
💡 Architectural Database Breakdown:
- The "Bird-Hipped" Irony: As Dr. Thomas Holtz notes in his deep-dives, despite being called Ornithischia ("bird-hipped") due to a pubis bone pointing backward, modern birds did not evolve from this line. Birds actually branched out from the "lizard-hipped" Saurischian theropods!
- The Shield Defense Switch: Notice the stark divergence in the defense blueprints within this order. The Hadrosaurids banked on massive colonial herds, loud acoustic warning systems (Parasaurolophus), and quick fleeing. Meanwhile, the Thyreophora (Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs) transformed their skin into armor plates, spiked arrays, and crushing tail club weights to make hunting them too costly for any apex predator.
