After the Dinosauria
Order Pelycosauria & Order Therapsida (The Synapsid Pioneers)
Our evolutionary transit has officially left true reptiles behind to explore the Synapsida (the mammal-like lineages that eventually led to us!). Below is the comprehensive data chart tracking sail-backed pelycosaurs, tusked dicynodonts, and tiny Cretaceous marsupialiforms.
Sarcastic, style-conscious, and ancestral-weary commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Order Pelycosauria
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| Dimetrodon grandis
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"Two measures of teeth, magnificent"
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Early Permian (Artinskian to Kungurian)
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~280–270 Ma
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1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 3.5–4 m (11.5–13 ft) long
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200–250 kg (440–550 lbs)
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Edward Drinker Cope, 1878
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Red Beds of Texas / Arroyo Formation (Texas, USA)
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"Everyone throws this into toy dinosaur bins, but it's more related to my cat than a T-Rex! The giant skin sail looks like a built-in solar panel. Bold fashion choice for the Permian, honestly."
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| Order Therapsida
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| Lystrosaurus curvatus
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"Shovel lizard, curved"
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Late Permian to Early Triassic
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~252–250 Ma
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0.4 m (1.3 ft) tall / 1 m (3.3 ft) long
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40–90 kg (90–200 lbs)
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Sir Richard Owen, 1859 / E.C. Case, 1908
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Balfour Formation (South Africa) / Fremouw Formation (Antarctica)
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"This little tusked bucket survived the worst mass extinction in earth's history. It basically inherited the entire empty world. If a global apocalypse happens, I bet Pablo survives the exact same way—by eating garbage and being too stubborn to leave."
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| Bulbasaurus phylloxyron
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"Bulbous reptile, leaf razor"
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Late Permian (Lopingian)
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~259–254 Ma
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0.3 m (1 ft) tall / 0.6 m (2 ft) long
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2–5 kg (4.4–11 lbs)
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Christian Kammerer et al., 2017
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Beaufort Group / Karoo Basin (South Africa)
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"Its species name literally means 'leaf razor' and it has giant bulbous nose pads. The paleontologists swear it wasn't named after the Pokémon Bulbasaur, but come on! They aren't fooling anybody."
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| Alphadon halleyi
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"First tooth" (honoring astronomer Edmond Halley)
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Late Cretaceous (Judithian)
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~77–73 Ma
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0.1 m (0.3 ft) tall / 0.3 m (1 ft) long
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20–30 g (0.04–0.06 lbs)
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Ashok Sahni, 1972
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Judith River Formation (Montana, USA)
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"A tiny Cretaceous opossum cousin that lived right under the feet of giant duck-bills. It's essentially a fuzzy little escape artist. I want ten of them as pets, assuming they don't chew through our cockpit wires."
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Ancient Predatory Fish (Lamniformes & Arthrodira)
The terrifying rulers of the ancient oceans and shores have arrived! Below are the compiled data charts for apex predatory fish, armored placoderms, marine reptiles, and giant terrestrial squamates. Sarcastic, security-obsessed, and travel-weary commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Family Otodontidae
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| Otodus megalodon
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"Giant tooth"
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Miocene to Pliocene
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~23–3.6 Ma
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15–20 m (49–65 ft) long
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48,000–100,000 kg (53–110 tons)
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Louis Agassiz, 1843
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Multiple global marine deposits
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"A shark the size of a city bus with teeth bigger than my entire hand. If Pablo tries to take us swimming in water where this thing lived, I am leaving him there."
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| Family Dunkleosteidae
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| Dunkleosteus amblyodoratus
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"Dunkle's bone, blunt spear" (honoring David Dunkle)
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Late Devonian (Famennian)
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~360 Ma
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1–1.2 m (3.3–4 ft) long
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10–15 kg (22–33 lbs)
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Robert Carr & Hlavin, 2010
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Kettle Point Formation (Ontario, Canada)
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"A mini version of the famous giant Dunkleosteus. It still had those self-sharpening bone blades for jaws instead of actual teeth. A compact, bite-sized nightmare fish!"
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Order Ichthyosauria (The Fish-Lizards)
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Family Ichthyosauridae
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| Ichthyosaurus conybeari
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"Fish lizard" (honoring William Conybeare)
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Early Jurassic
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~200–190 Ma
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2–2.5 m (6.5–8.2 ft) long
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80–120 kg (176–264 lbs)
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Lydekker, 1888
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Blue Lias Formation (England)
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"It looks exactly like a dolphin but with giant reptilian eyes. Prehistoric nature completely ran out of unique character designs on this one."
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| Family Leptonectidae
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| Eurhinosaurus huenei
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"Well-nosed lizard" (honoring Friedrich von Huene)
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Early Jurassic (Toarcian)
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~180 Ma
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6 m (20 ft) long
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1,000 kg (2,200 lbs)
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Abel, 1909
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Posidonia Shale (Germany)
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"Its upper jaw is twice as long as its lower jaw! It looks like a swordfish that fundamentally misunderstood its own blueprint. A total fashion disaster."
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| Family Ophthalmosauridae
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| Ophthalmosaurus icenicus
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"Eye lizard" (named after the Iceni tribe)
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Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)
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~165–160 Ma
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4–6 m (13–20 ft) long
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900–3,000 kg (2,000–6,600 lbs)
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Harry Govier Seeley, 1874
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Oxford Clay Formation (England)
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"Its eyes were the size of giant dinner plates! Imagine trying to blink with an eye that massive. It probably saw every embarrassing thing Pablo did from a mile away."
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Order Plesiosauria (The Long-Necks & Big-Jaws)
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Family Plesiosauridae
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| Elasmosaurus platyurus
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"Thin-plate lizard, flat-tailed"
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Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
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~80 Ma
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10.3 m (34 ft) long
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2,000 kg (4,400 lbs)
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Edward Drinker Cope, 1868
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Pierre Shale (Kansas, USA)
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"The original paleontologist put the head on the tail end of the skeleton by accident. Honestly, sounds exactly like a mistake Uncle Leo would make on our map."
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| Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus
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"Near-lizard, long-necked"
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Early Jurassic (Sinemurian)
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~199–191 Ma
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3.5 m (11.5 ft) long
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450 kg (1,000 lbs)
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William Conybeare, 1824
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Blue Lias Formation (England)
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"The famous 'snake threaded through a turtle shell' creature. It has a neck long enough to poke its nose right into our cockpit window. Instant panic."
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| Trinacromerum kirki
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"Three-tipped femur" (honoring E.E. Kirk)
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Late Cretaceous (Turonian)
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~93 Ma
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3 m (10 ft) long
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400 kg (880 lbs)
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Cragin, 1888
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Greenhorn Limestone (Kansas, USA)
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"A short-necked plesiosaur built like a high-speed submarine torpedo. It looks infinitely more aerodynamic than the DaVincibiloplane, that's for sure."
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| Family Pliosauridae
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| Attenborosaurus conybeari
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"Attenborough's lizard" (honoring David Attenborough)
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Early Jurassic (Sinemurian)
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~190 Ma
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4.3 m (14 ft) long
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500 kg (1,100 lbs)
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W. J. Sollas, 1881 / Bakker, 1993
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Charmouth Mudstone (England)
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"Named after the legendary documentary guy! The original fossil was completely blown up in World War II museum bombings. Tragic historical loss."
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| Kronosaurus queenslandicus
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"Titan Kronos lizard"
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Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian)
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~120–110 Ma
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9–10.5 m (30–34 ft) long
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7,000–11,000 kg (15,400–24,200 lbs)
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Heber Longman, 1924
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Toolebuc Formation (Queensland, Australia)
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"A massive ocean killer with teeth the size of bananas. It’s named after a god who ate his own children. A completely brutal vibe."
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| Liopleurodon ferox
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"Smooth-sided teeth, ferocious"
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Late Jurassic (Callovian to Kimmeridgian)
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~166–155 Ma
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5–7 m (16–23 ft) long
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1,000–1,700 kg (2,200–3,740 lbs)
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Henri Émile Sauvage, 1873
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Oxford Clay (France/UK)
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"The movies exaggerated its size to absurd lengths, but the real one was still a terrifying stealth hunter. Keep your arms and legs inside the boat."
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Order Squamata (Giant Marine & Terrestrial Lizards)
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Family Mosasauridae
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| Clidastes propython
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"Key-locked vertebrae"
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Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
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~82 Ma
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2–4 m (6.5–13 ft) long
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50–100 kg (110–220 lbs)
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Edward Drinker Cope, 1868
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Mooreville Chalk Formation (Alabama, USA)
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"The smallest and sleekest of the true mosasaurs. It looks like an angry, flippered monitor lizard. Pablo would definitely try to pull its tail."
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| Jormungandr walhallaensis
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"The Midgard sea serpent from Walhalla"
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Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
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~80 Ma
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7 m (24 ft) long
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1,500–2,000 kg (3,300–4,400 lbs)
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Zietlow et al., 2023
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Pierre Shale Formation (North Dakota, USA)
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"A newly discovered species named after a literal mythical world-ending Norse serpent! It has a bony skull ridge that gives it 'angry eyebrows'. Very relatable expression."
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| Mosasaurus beaugei
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"Meuse River lizard" (honoring Commander Beaugé)
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Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
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~66 Ma
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8–23 m (26–75 ft) long
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4,000–50,000 kg (18,800–110,000 lbs)
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Camille Arambourg, 1952
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Oulad Abdoun Basin (Morocco)
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"A massive, broad-headed killer from Africa. If Quba manages to paint one of these things back to life, we're going to need a much bigger net."
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| Family Varanidae
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| Megalania priscus
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"Ancient giant roamer"
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Pleistocene
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~50,000 Years Ago
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5.5–7 m (18–23 ft) long
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600–1,900 kg (1,320–4,200 lbs)
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Sir Richard Owen, 1859
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Absolute global modern deposits (Australia)
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"An absolute monster of a Komodo dragon that lived alongside early humans! If this giant venomous crawling rug shows up at our campsite, I am sleeping on the roof."
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Order Pterosauria (Pterosaurs) • Suborder Pterodactyloidea (The Advanced Flyers)
The short-tailed, high-fashion masters of the Mesozoic skies have arrived! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the highly specialized Pterodactyloidea lineage, featuring giant crests, filter-feeding strainers, and mountain-sized gliders. Sarcastic, accessory-focused, and travel-weary commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Families Tapejaridae, Anhangueridae, Ornithocheiridae & Pterodaustriidae
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Wingspan / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Family Tapejaridae
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| Caiuajara dobruskii
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"Caiuá old being" (honoring Alexandre and João Dobruski)
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Late Cretaceous (Coniacian to Santonian)
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~85 Ma
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0.8 m (2.6 ft) tall / 2.35 m (7.7 ft) wingspan
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4–6 kg (9–13 lbs)
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Paulo Manzig et al., 2014
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Goio-Erê Formation (Paraná, Brazil)
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"They found hundreds of these together in an ancient desert oasis. Its head has a giant bony sail that looks exactly like a shark fin. Talk about an aggressive over-accessorized look."
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| Family Anhangueridae
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| Cearadactylus atrox
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"Ceará finger, savage"
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Early Cretaceous (Albian)
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~112 Ma
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1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 4–5.5 m (13–18 ft) wingspan
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15 kg (33 lbs)
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Alexander Kellner & Campos, 1985
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Romualdo Formation (Araripe Basin, Brazil)
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"It has an interlocking basket of long, crooked teeth at the very tip of its snout. It’s a literal biological nightmare. It looks like what happens when Pablo tries to fix his own teeth with wire."
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| Family Ornithocheiridae / Pteranodontidae
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| Geosternbergia sternbergi
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"George Sternberg's flyer"
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Late Cretaceous (Coniacian)
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~88–85 Ma
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2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 6–7.2 m (20–24 ft) wingspan
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25–35 kg (55–77 lbs)
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George F. Sternberg, 1978 / Chris Bennett, 1994
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Niobrara Formation (Kansas, USA)
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"The males had a massive, bulbous, backward-facing crest that looks like an abstract art sculpture. It is incredibly dramatic. I bet it spent all day trying to balance its head in a stiff breeze."
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| Pteranodon longiceps
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"Winged without teeth, long-headed"
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Late Cretaceous (Coniacian to Campanian)
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~86–84 Ma
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1.8 m (6 ft) tall / 5.6–6.2 m (18–20 ft) wingspan
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20–30 kg (44–66 lbs)
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Othniel Charles Marsh, 1876
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Niobrara Formation (Kansas, USA)
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"The total classic. A toothless spear-beak and a sleek pointed crest. It’s got that aerodynamic, high-end minimalist design that actually looks elegant on a runway."
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| Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni
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"Quetzalcoatl serpent god" (honoring Douglas Lawson)
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Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
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~68–66 Ma
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13.5 m (44.5 ft) tall / 4.5–25.5 m (15–84.5 ft) wingspan
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60–70,000 kg (130–154,000 lbs)
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Brian Andres & Wann Langston Jr., 2021
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Javelina Formation (Texas, USA)
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"The slightly smaller cousin of the mountain-sized Q. northropi. It stood as tall as a giraffe on the ground and hunted like a giant, terrifying stork. If I saw this walking toward me, I’m calling a taxi immediately."
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| Family Pterodaustriidae
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| Pterodaustro guinazui
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"Southern wing" (honoring Roman Guiñazú)
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Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
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~105 Ma
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0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall / 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wingspan
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2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lbs)
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José Bonaparte, 1969
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Lagarcito Formation (San Luis, Argentina)
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"It has over a thousand bristle-like teeth on its lower jaw to filter-feed on microscopic shrimp. It literally has a mustache made of whale baleen. The single weirdest facial accessory in history."
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Order Saurischia (“Lizard-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Theropoda • Infraorder Ceratosauria
The requested dinosaur chart has been compiled using standard paleontological data. To capture the fun spirit of the 2010 animated series The DaVincibles, custom in-character comments have been integrated for Zoë DaVinci (the stylish, sarcastic, and easily annoyed 15-year-old protagonist who travels the world with her brother Pablo and Uncle Leo hunting for artifacts).
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Family Podokesauridae
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| Coelophysis bauri
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"Hollow form" (named after paleontologist Georg Baur)
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Late Triassic (Norian to Rhaetian)
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~215–201 Million Years Ago
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1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 3 m (9.8 ft) long
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15–30 kg (33–66 lbs)
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Edward Drinker Cope, 1889
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Chinle Formation / Ghost Ranch (New Mexico, USA)
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"A skinny, bony nightmare. Literally just skin, teeth, and feathers. It looks exactly like what Pablo's bedroom smells like."
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| Podokesaurus holyokensis
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"Swift-footed lizard of Holyoke"
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Early Jurassic
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~195–180 Million Years Ago
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0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall / 1–1.8 m (3–6 ft) long
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1–40 kg (2–90 lbs) (fragmentary estimates)
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Mignon Talbot, 1911
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Portland Formation (Massachusetts, USA)
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"Discovered by a woman named Mignon! Too bad the original fossil burned down in 1917. Sounds like something Uncle Leo would cause accidentally."
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| Procompsognathus triassicus
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"Before elegant jaw of the Triassic"
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Late Triassic (Norian)
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~210 Million Years Ago
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0.3 m (1 ft) tall / 1 m (3.3 ft) long
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1 kg (2.2 lbs)
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Eberhard Fraas, 1913
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Löwenstein Formation (Germany)
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"Ugh, a fancy name for a Triassic rat. It's basically a chicken with teeth. If Quba tried to paint it, he'd still find a way to mess it up."
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| Family Ceratosauridae
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| Ceratosaurus nasicornis
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"Horned lizard with a nose horn"
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Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
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~155–145 Million Years Ago
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2–3 m (6.5–10 ft) tall / 5.5–7 m (18–23 ft) long
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700–1,000 kg (1,540–2,200 lbs)
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Othniel Charles Marsh, 1884
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Morrison Formation (Colorado/Utah, USA)
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"An actual horn right on its nose! Honestly, a total fashion disaster, but at least it has an aggressive vibe I can respect."
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| Family Dilophosauridae
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| Dilophosaurus wetherilli
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"Two-crested lizard" (honoring John Wetherill)
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Early Jurassic
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~186 Million Years Ago
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2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 6–7 m (20–23 ft) long
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300–400 kg (660–880 lbs)
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Samuel P. Welles, 1970
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Kayenta Formation (Arizona, USA)
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"Those double crests are dramatic! And no, movies lie—it didn't actually spit venom or have a neck frill. Real history is way cooler."
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| Family Abelisauridae
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| Carnotaurus sastrei
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"Meat-eating bull" (honoring Angel Sastre)
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Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
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~72–69 Million Years Ago
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2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 7.5–9 m (24.6–30 ft) long
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1,350–1,500 kg (3,000–3,300 lbs)
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José F. Bonaparte, 1985
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La Colonia Formation (Chubut, Argentina)
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"Bull horns and arms so tiny they make a T-Rex look jacked. What does it even do with those? It can't even hold a shopping bag!"
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| Majungasaurus crenatissimus
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"Mahajanga lizard, very notched"
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Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
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~70–66 Million Years Ago
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2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 6–8 m (20–26 ft) long
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1,000–1,100 kg (2,200–2,400 lbs)
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Charles Depéret, 1896 (as Megalosaurus) / René Lavocat, 1955
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Maevarano Formation (Madagascar)
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"A single rounded horn on its head. Apparently, it was a cannibal too. Totally brutal. Remind me never to visit Cretaceous Madagascar."
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Family Megalosauridae & Family Carcharodontosauridae
The dinosaur data charts have been generated with the requested parameters. Sarcastic, adventure-weary, and fashion-conscious commentary has been added from Zoë DaVinci, the 15-year-old globe-trotting heroine of The DaVincibles.
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
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Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Eustreptospondylus oxoniensis
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"Well-curved vertebra of Oxford"
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Middle Jurassic (Callovian)
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~163 Ma
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1.8 m (6 ft) tall / 4.5–6 m (15–20 ft) long
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500 kg (1,100 lbs)
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Sir Richard Owen, 1841 / Alick Walker, 1964
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Oxford Clay Formation (England)
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"Found as a single skeleton of a teenager on a prehistoric island. I relate to this dinosaur on a spiritual level. Sometimes you just need to get away from your family."
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| Poekilopleuron bucklandii
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"Varied ribs" (honoring William Buckland)
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Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)
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~167 Ma
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2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 7 m (23 ft) long
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1,000 kg (2,200 lbs)
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Jacques Amand Eudes-Deslongchamps, 1838
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Calcaire de Caen (France)
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"The original fossil was completely blown up in World War II. Honestly, if Uncle Leo and Pablo were left in charge of a museum, this is exactly what would happen to our artifacts."
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| Torvosaurus gurneyi
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"Savage lizard" (honoring James Gurney)
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Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
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~150 Ma
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3 m (10 ft) tall / 10 m (33 ft) long
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4,000–5,000 kg (8,800–11,000 lbs)
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Christophe Hendrickx & Octávio Mateus, 2014
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Lourinhã Formation (Portugal) / Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry (Utah, USA)
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"Named after the guy who wrote Dinotopia! Too bad real ones didn't let humans ride on their backs. This thing would bite your head off before you could even say 'extinction'."
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| Acrocanthosaurus atokensis
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"High-spined lizard from Atoka County"
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Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian)
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~113–110 Ma
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4 m (13 ft) tall / 11.5 m (38 ft) long
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5,700–6,200 kg (12,500–13,700 lbs)
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J. Willis Stovall & Wann Langston Jr., 1950
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Antlers Formation (Oklahoma, USA)
|
"It has a giant ridge of spines running down its back like an edgy mohawk. A total fashion statement. Definite points for style, even if it is a terrifying apex predator."
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| Giganotosaurus carolinii
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"Giant southern lizard" (honoring Rubén Carolini)
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Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
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~98–97 Ma
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4.2 m (14 ft) tall / 12–13 m (40–43 ft) long
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7,000–8,000 kg (15,400–17,600 lbs)
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Rodolfo Coria & Leonardo Salgado, 1995
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Candeleros Formation (Argentina)
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"Bigger than a T-Rex but with a brain the size of a banana. Reminds me a lot of Pablo when he tries to think of a plan to outsmart Quba."
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Family Allosauridae & Family Spinosauridae
| Taxon
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Meaning
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Age
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Time
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Height / Length
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Weight
|
Author
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Formation
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Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
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| Allosaurus europaeus
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"Different European lizard"
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Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
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~150 Ma
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3.8 m (12.5 ft) tall / 7–12.0 m (23–39.4 ft) long
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1,000–6,500 kg (2,200–9,300 lbs)
|
Octávio Mateus et al., 2006
|
Lourinhã Formation (Portugal) / Morrison Formation, (New Mexico, USA)
|
"The American Allosaurus gets all the movies, but the European version has that continental flair. Still basic, though. It’s the vanilla latte of the Jurassic world."
|
| Yangchuanosaurus zigongensis
|
"Yangchuan lizard from Zigong"
|
Middle Jurassic (Bathonian to Callovian)
|
~165 Ma
|
3.5 m (11.5 ft) tall / 8 m (26 ft) long
|
1,300 kg (2,800 lbs)
|
Gao Yuhui, 1993
|
Lower Shaximiao Formation (China)
|
"It has multiple ridges and knobs all over its face. Someone desperately needs a skincare routine. I get a single pimple and panic; imagine waking up with a skull like that."
|
| Baryonyx walkeri
|
"Heavy claw" (honoring William Walker)
|
Early Cretaceous (Barremian)
|
~125–121 Ma
|
2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 9 m (30 ft) long
|
1,200–1,700 kg (2,600–3,700 lbs)
|
Alan J. Charig & Angela C. Milner, 1986
|
Weald Clay Structure (England)
|
"A dinosaur with a face like a crocodile that literally just stands in water eating fish all day. Honestly, sounds like a pretty relaxing vacation compared to my life."
|
| Spinosaurus aegyptiacus
|
"Spine lizard of Egypt"
|
Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
|
~99–93 Ma
|
4.5 m (15 ft) tall / 14 m (46 ft) long
|
6,000–7,400 kg (13,200–16,300 lbs)
|
Ernst Stromer, 1915
|
Bahariya Formation (Egypt)
|
"A 14-meter-long river monster with a giant sail on its back. Paleontologists argue about how it walked every single year. Make up your minds already, science!"
|
| Suchomimus tenerensis
|
"Crocodile mimic from the Ténéré desert"
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
|
~121–112 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 9.5–11 m (31–36 ft) long
|
2,500–3,000 kg (5,500–6,600 lbs)
|
Paul Sereno et al., 1998
|
Elrhaz Formation (Niger)
|
"A 'crocodile mimic' found in a desert that used to be a swamp. Tracking down this fossil sounds exactly like the wild goose chases Uncle Leo drags us on."
|
Family Tyrannosauridae
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Albertosaurus sarcophagus
|
"Alberta lizard flesh-eater"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70–68 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 8–9 m (26–30 ft) long
|
1,300–1,700 kg (2,800–3,700 lbs)
|
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1905
|
Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Canada)
|
"A sleeker, faster version of T-Rex from Canada. Probably much more polite than its American cousin, though the 'flesh-eater' part makes me doubt it."
|
| Gorgosaurus libratus
|
"Dreadful lizard"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76–75 Ma
|
2.8 m (9.2 ft) tall / 8–9 m (26–30 ft) long
|
1,200–1,500 kg (2,600–3,300 lbs)
|
Lawrence Lambe, 1914
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada)
|
"They found legs on this thing that prove it was built for pure sprinting. Running away from this would be impossible. I'll stick to running away from my responsibilities."
|
| Qianzhousaurus sinensis
|
"Qianzhou lizard"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~67–66 Ma
|
2.2 m (7.2 ft) tall / 6.3–7.5 m (21–25 ft) long
|
750–800 kg (1,650–1,760 lbs)
|
Junchang Lü et al., 2014
|
Nanxiong Formation (China)
|
"Its literal nickname is 'Pinocchio Rex' because of its insanely long snout. I wonder if its nose grew every time it lied about not eating its neighbors?"
|
| Tarbosaurus bataar
|
"Alarming lizard hero"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
3.5 m (11.5 ft) tall / 10–12 m (33–39 ft) long
|
4,000–5,000 kg (8,800–11,000 lbs)
|
Evgeny Maleev, 1955
|
Nemegt Formation (Mongolia)
|
"The Asian equivalent of a T-Rex, but with even smaller, punier arms. Seriously, its arms are so useless it couldn't even text on a cell phone."
|
| Tyrannosaurus rex
|
"Tyrant lizard king"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~68–66 Ma
|
3.6–6.0 m (12–19.7 ft) tall / 12–15.55 m (40–51 ft) long
|
8,000–9,500 kg (17,600–21,000 lbs)
|
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1905
|
Hell Creek Formation, Lance Formation (Montana, Wyoming, USA)
|
"The King itself. Bone-crushing teeth, bad attitude, and zero chill. If Quba ever managed to clone one of these, we'd be in serious, serious trouble."
|
Families Coeluridae, Tyrannosauroidea, Compsognathidae & Proceratosauridae
Here is the next installment of your dinosaur chart focusing on the diverse and bird-like Coelurosauria group. It features fully updated paleontological data and more sarcastic, fashion-conscious commentary from Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Coelurus fragilis
|
"Hollow tail, fragile"
|
Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
|
~150 Ma
|
0.8 m (2.6 ft) tall / 2.4 m (8 ft) long
|
13–20 kg (29–44 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1879
|
Morrison Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"A tiny, fragile little thing that spent its whole life hiding from Allosaurus. Honestly, its vibe is identical to Pablo whenever Uncle Leo brings home an artifact that looks slightly cursed."
|
| Ornitholestes hermanni
|
"Bird robber" (honoring Adam Hermann)
|
Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
|
~150 Ma
|
0.8 m (2.6 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
12–15 kg (26–33 lbs)
|
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1903
|
Morrison Formation, Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry (Wyoming, Utah, USA)
|
"A 'bird robber' that lived before modern birds even existed. Sounds like a total identity crisis. Maybe it should have robbed a salon instead to fix that boring brown color scheme."
|
| Moros intrepidus
|
"Intrepid doom"
|
Early Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
|
~96 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long
|
78 kg (172 lbs)
|
Lindsay Zanno et al., 2019
|
Cedar Mountain Formation (Utah, USA)
|
"'Intrepid Doom' is an incredibly dramatic name for a creature that's basically a killer turkey. I respect the theatricality, though. It definitely knows how to make an entrance."
|
| Nanotyrannus lethaeus
|
"Dwarf tyrant, causing forgetfulness"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~66 Ma
|
1.8 m (6 ft) tall / 5 m (17 ft) long
|
400–600 kg (880–1,320 lbs)
|
Charles W. Gilmore, 1946 / Robert T. Bakker et al., 1988
|
Hell Creek Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"Paleontologists have been arguing for decades if this is its own species or just a teenage T-Rex throwing a tantrum. Take it from me: teenagers are dangerous. Do not underestimate them."
|
| Compsognathus longipes
|
"Elegant jaw, long foot"
|
Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
|
~150 Ma
|
0.3 m (1 ft) tall / 1 m (3.3 ft) long
|
1–3.5 kg (2–8 lbs)
|
Johann A. Wagner, 1859
|
Solnhofen Archipelago (Germany)
|
"'Elegant jaw' is right! It's petite, it's sleek, and it has great bone structure. It's just a shame it spends its day eating lizards instead of walking a high-fashion runway."
|
| Proceratosaurus bradleyi
|
"Before Ceratosaurus" (honoring F. Bradley)
|
Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)
|
~166 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 3 m (10 ft) long
|
40 kg (90 lbs)
|
Arthur Smith Woodward, 1910 / Friedrich von Huene, 1926
|
Great Oolite Group (England)
|
"They named it because they thought it was the ancestor of Ceratosaurus, but surprise! It’s actually an early ancestor of the T-Rex. Talk about an extreme family plot twist."
|
| Yutyrannus huali
|
"Beautiful feathered tyrant"
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
|
~125 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 9 m (30 ft) long
|
1,400 kg (3,100 lbs)
|
Xu Xing et al., 2012
|
Yixian Formation (Liaoning, China)
|
"A massive, one-ton fluffball covered in feathers. It looks like a giant, angry winter coat with teeth. Honestly, it's kind of a look. I'd wear it if it weren't trying to eat me."
|
Families Ornithomimidae & Deinocheiridae (The "Ostrich" Dinosaurs)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Archaeornithomimus asiaticus
|
"Ancient bird mimic from Asia"
|
Late Cretaceous (Turonian)
|
~90 Ma
|
1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 3.3 m (11 ft) long
|
45–50 kg (100–110 lbs)
|
Dale Russell, 1972
|
Iren Dabasu Formation (Inner Mongolia, China)
|
"An ancient mimic. So it's basically the prehistoric version of Pablo repeating everything I say just to irritate me. Only this one can run at 40 miles per hour."
|
| Dromiceiomimus samueli
|
"Emu mimic" (honoring E.W. Samuel)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~73 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 3.5 m (11.5 ft) long
|
100–150 kg (220–330 lbs)
|
Dale Russell, 1972
|
Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"It had huge eyes and a giant brain for a dinosaur. So naturally, it used all that brainpower to do exactly what an emu does: run around looking completely startled."
|
| Gallimimus bullatus
|
"Rooster mimic, capsule-bearing"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 6 m (20 ft) long
|
400–450 kg (880–1,000 lbs)
|
Halszka Osmólska et al., 1972
|
Nemegt Formation (Mongolia)
|
"Ah, the famous flocking dinosaur from the movies. It has a toothless beak like a bird. If Quba tried to ride one, it would definitely dump him face-first into a mud puddle."
|
| Ornithomimus velox
|
"Swift bird mimic"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~66 Ma
|
1.6 m (5.2 ft) tall / 3.8 m (12.5 ft) long
|
170 kg (370 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1890
|
Denver Formation (Colorado, USA)
|
"We found evidence that this one had actual wing feathers but couldn't fly. Why have gorgeous wings if you can't even use them to escape annoying family vacations?"
|
| Struthiomimus altus
|
"Ostrich mimic, tall"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
1.4 m (4.6 ft) tall / 4.3 m (14 ft) long
|
150 kg (330 lbs)
|
Lawrence Lambe, 1902
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada) / Lance Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"Its hands were shaped like little hooks, probably for grabbing leaves and branches. Or, if it lived today, snatching smoothies right out of my hand while I'm walking."
|
| Deinocheirus mirificus
|
"Unusual horrible hand"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
6 m (19.7 ft) tall / 15 m (49.2 ft) long
|
6,400 kg (14,000 lbs)
|
Halszka Osmólska & Ewa Roniewicz, 1970
|
Nemegt Formation (Mongolia)
|
"For decades they only found its massive 8-foot arms, and it turned out to be a giant, hump-backed, duck-billed, feathery weirdo. It looks like a cartoon character someone drew by accident."
|
Families Oviraptoridae, Saurornithoididae & Therizinosauridae
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Chirostenotes pergracilis
|
"Narrow-handed, very graceful"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long
|
40 kg (90 lbs)
|
Lawrence Lambe, 1924
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada)
|
"Finally, a dinosaur that understands the importance of being 'very graceful.' It had long, slender fingers perfect for wearing rings, though its actual diet consisted of lizards and bugs. Gross."
|
| Oviraptor philoceratops
|
"Egg thief, ceratopsian-loving"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
0.8 m (2.6 ft) tall / 1.6 m (5.2 ft) long
|
35–40 kg (77–88 lbs)
|
Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1924
|
Djadochta Formation (Mongolia)
|
"They named it 'Egg Thief' because they found it sitting on a nest, but it turns out it was just a good parent protecting its own eggs! Science totally slandered this poor creature."
|
| Troodon formosus
|
"Wounding tooth, beautiful"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~77 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 2.4 m (8 ft) long
|
50 kg (110 lbs)
|
Joseph Leidy, 1856
|
Judith River Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"Supposedly the smartest dinosaur ever. If it hadn't gone extinct, it would probably be running the world by now. Or at the very least, it could do Pablo’s homework for him."
|
| Therizinosaurus cheloniformis
|
"Scythe lizard, turtle-shaped"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
4–5 m (13–16 ft) tall / 9–10 m (30–33 ft) long
|
5,000 kg (11,000 lbs)
|
Evgeny Maleev, 1954
|
Nemegt Formation (Mongolia)
|
"Look at those three-foot-long giant claws! You’d think it was a brutal slasher villain, but it actually just used them to prune bushes. The ultimate dramatic over-design."
|
Family Dromaeosauridae (The True Raptors)
The dinosaur and early avian data charts have been assembled below. Sarcastic, fashion-focused, and adventure-weary commentary has been provided by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Atrociraptor marshalli
|
"Savage robber" (honoring Wayne Marshall)
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~68.5 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
15 kg (33 lbs)
|
Philip J. Currie & Varricchio, 2004
|
Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"Unlike other raptors, this one has a short, deep snout that gives it a permanent boxy overbite. It looks like it’s constantly judging my outfit. I hate it."
|
| Deinonychus antirrhopus
|
"Terrible claw, counter-balancing"
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian)
|
~115–108 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 3.4 m (11 ft) long
|
73–100 kg (160–220 lbs)
|
John Ostrom, 1969
|
Cloverly Formation (Montana/Wyoming, USA)
|
"The actual dinosaur that inspired the 'Velociraptors' in Hollywood movies! Huge, smart, and pack-hunting. If one of Quba's spray paints brought this to life, we'd be doomed."
|
| Hesperonychus elizabethae
|
"Western claw" (honoring Elizabeth Nicholls)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76.5 Ma
|
0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall / 1 m (3.3 ft) long
|
2 kg (4.4 lbs)
|
Nicholas R. Longrich & Philip J. Currie, 2009
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"One of the smallest known raptors in North America. It’s basically a weaponized, scaly house cat with toe-swords. Pablo would definitely try to feed it a cracker and lose a finger."
|
| Pyroraptor olympius
|
"Fire robber of Mount Olympus"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian to Maastrichtian)
|
~70.6 Ma
|
0.6 m (2 ft) tall / 1.6 m (5.2 ft) long
|
30 kg (66 lbs)
|
Ronan Allain & Philippe Taquet, 2000
|
Argiles Rutilantes Formation (France)
|
"They found it after a forest fire, so it gets an incredibly epic name. A literal fire-raptor from Europe. It sounds like a character from one of Pablo’s video games."
|
| Saurornitholestes sullivani
|
"Lizard-bird robber" (honoring Robert Sullivan)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~73 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 1.8 m (6 ft) long
|
10 kg (22 lbs)
|
Hans-Dieter Sues, 1978 / Sullivan & Lucas, 2006
|
Kirtland Formation (New Mexico, USA)
|
"They found out this raptor had an incredibly massive sense of smell. It could probably smell Uncle Leo’s terrible cooking from an entire geological epoch away."
|
| Utahraptor ostrommaysi
|
"Utah robber" (honoring John Ostrom & Chris Mays)
|
Early Cretaceous (Barremian)
|
~126 Ma
|
2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 5.5–7 m (18–23 ft) long
|
500–600 kg (1,100–1,300 lbs)
|
Kirkland, Gaston, & Burge, 1993
|
Cedar Mountain Formation (Utah, USA)
|
"A raptor the size of a grizzly bear with a nine-inch switchblade claw on its foot. Absolute nightmare fuel. Running away from this is not an option; it's a structural impossibility."
|
| Velociraptor osmolskae
|
"Swift robber" (honoring Halszka Osmólska)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
15 kg (33 lbs)
|
Pascal Godefroit et al., 2008
|
Bayan Mandahu Formation (Inner Mongolia, China)
|
"The actual Velociraptor was just a fluffy, angry turkey-goose from the desert. Hollywood completely lied about its height, but honestly, the feathers look way more stylish anyway."
|
Families Archaeopterygidae & Alexornithidae (The First Birds)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi
|
"Ancient wing" (honoring Raimund Albersdörfer)
|
Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
|
~150 Ma
|
0.3 m (1 ft) tall / 0.5 m (1.6 ft) long
|
0.5–1 kg (1.1–2.2 lbs)
|
Martin Kundrát et al., 2018
|
Solnhofen Limestone (Bavaria, Germany)
|
"This specific species is physically much closer to modern birds than reptiles. It’s the ultimate missing link. It had teeth, wings, and a serious lack of real flight skills. Truly relatable."
|
| Alexornis antecedens
|
"Alex's ancestral bird" (honoring Alexander Wetmore)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~73 Ma
|
0.15 m (0.5 ft) tall / 0.2 m (0.7 ft) long
|
20–40 g (0.04–0.08 lbs)
|
Pierce Brodkorb, 1976
|
Bocana Roja Formation (Baja California, Mexico)
|
"A tiny bird the size of a sparrow. The paleontologist accidentally described its shoulder bones backward at first—which sounds exactly like the kind of mistake Uncle Leo makes on our map coordinates."
|
Families Herrerasauridae & Anchisauridae
The dinosaur data charts for the primitive, long-necked Sauropodomorpha lineages (historically called "prosauropods") have been meticulously detailed below.
Sarcastic, adventure-weary, and pop-culture-aware commentary has been provided by Zoë DaVinci, the 15-year-old fashionista and heroine of The DaVincibles.
Note on Smurfette smurfiness: Zoë has stepped in to aggressively correct the data here, as this is completely fictitious.
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis
|
"Herrera's lizard from Ischigualasto" (honoring Victorino Herrera)
|
Late Triassic (Carnian)
|
~231.4 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 3.7–6 m (12–20 ft) long
|
200–350 kg (440–770 lbs)
|
Osvaldo Reig, 1963
|
Ischigualasto Formation (Argentina)
|
"One of the earliest dinosaurs ever! It’s so ancient that scientists can't even agree if it’s a theropod or a sauropodomorph. Talk about a major identity crisis."
|
| Anchisaurus polyzelus
|
"Much-sought-after near lizard"
|
Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian to Toarcian)
|
~190–174 Ma
|
0.6 m (2 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
27 kg (60 lbs)
|
Edward Hitchcock, 1865 / Othniel Charles Marsh, 1885
|
Portland Formation (Connecticut, USA)
|
"People kept mistaking its bones for human skeletons in the 1800s. Honestly, if you mistake a 6-foot reptilian tail-dragger for a human, you need an eye exam."
|
| Efraasia minor
|
"Efraas's minor lizard" (honoring Eberhard Fraas)
|
Late Triassic (Norian)
|
~210 Ma
|
1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 6 m (20 ft) long
|
300 kg (660 lbs)
|
Friedrich von Huene, 1908 / Galton, 1973
|
Löwenstein Formation (Germany)
|
"It could walk on two legs or four legs depending on how fast it wanted to move. I wish I could do that when I'm running late to catch our flight out of Paris."
|
| "Smurfette smurfiness" (Invalid Entry)
|
"Smurf-like essence"
|
N/A
|
Current Pop Culture
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Fictional / Joke Entry
|
None (Cartoon Reality)
|
"Okay, who let Pablo edit the dinosaur charts? Smurfette is a cartoon character created by Peyo, not a Late Triassic reptile. Go back to your video games, little brother!"
|
| Thecodontosaurus antiquus
|
"Ancient socket-toothed lizard"
|
Late Triassic (Rhaetian)
|
~205–201 Ma
|
0.3 m (1 ft) tall / 1.2–2.5 m (4–8 ft) long
|
11 kg (24 lbs)
|
Riley & Samuel Stutchbury, 1836
|
Magnesian Conglomerate (Bristol, England)
|
"The fourth dinosaur ever named in history! Its fossils were found in an English quarry. It's basically a pint-sized vegan iguana with a long tail. Kind of cute, actually."
|
Families Plateosauridae & Melanorosauridae
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Massospondylus kaalae
|
"Longer vertebra from Kaala"
|
Early Jurassic (Hettangian to Sinemurian)
|
~200–195 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 4–5 m (13–16 ft) long
|
300 kg (660 lbs)
|
Barrett, 2009
|
Upper Elliot Formation (South Africa)
|
"This specific species has a shorter, rounder face than its famous cousin M. carinatus. It gives it a permanent pouty expression. I totally get it—I look exactly like that when Uncle Leo starts lecturing."
|
| Plateosaurus gracilis
|
"Slender broad lizard"
|
Late Triassic (Norian)
|
~227–220 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 4–5 m (13–16 ft) long
|
600 kg (1,300 lbs)
|
Friedrich von Huene, 1926
|
Trossingen Formation (Germany)
|
"Historically called Sellosaurus, it had big, sharp claws on its thumbs. Probably used them to rip down high-up branches, or to slash at predators who tried to ruin its look."
|
| Riojasaurus incertus
|
"Uncertain La Rioja lizard"
|
Late Triassic (Norian)
|
~221–210 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 10 m (33 ft) long
|
3,000 kg (6,600 lbs)
|
José Bonaparte, 1969
|
Los Colorados Formation (Argentina)
|
"This thing was so heavy that it physically couldn't run on two legs at all—it was completely stuck on all fours. It's basically a living, breathing, Triassic dump truck."
|
Order Saurischia (“Lizard-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Sauropodomorpha • Infraorder Sauropoda
The true titans of the ancient world have arrived! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the massive, long-necked Sauropoda lineages. Sarcastic, world-weary, and fashion-conscious commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Families Cetiosauridae, Brachiosauridae & Camarasauridae
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Family Cetiosauridae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Barapasaurus tagorei
|
"Big-legged lizard" (honoring poet Rabindranath Tagore)
|
Early Jurassic (Sinemurian to Pliensbachian)
|
~196–183 Ma
|
6 m (20 ft) tall / 12–14 m (40–46 ft) long
|
7,000 kg (15,400 lbs)
|
Jain, Kutty, Roy-Chowdhury & Chatterjee, 1975
|
Kota Formation (India)
|
"Named after a famous poet! A very artistic start to the list, but it’s basically just four thick legs carrying a giant neck around. Total lack of elegance."
|
| Family Brachiosauridae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brachiosaurus altithorax
|
"Arm lizard with a deep chest"
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~154–150 Ma
|
12–16 m (40–52.5 ft) tall / 20–24 m (65–79 ft) long
|
28,000–45,000 kg (62,000–87,000 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1903
|
Morrison Formation (Colorado, USA) / Kota Formation (India)
|
"The iconic giant with front legs longer than its back legs. It’s built like a prehistoric giraffe. Standing next to it would make me look even shorter than Pablo, which I do not appreciate."
|
| Sauroposeidon proteles
|
"Lizard earthquake god, perfect before the end"
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian)
|
~118–110 Ma
|
17–18 m (56–60 ft) tall / 28–34 m (92–111 ft) long
|
50,000–60,000 kg (110,000–132,000 lbs)
|
Wedel, Cifelli & Sanders, 2000
|
Antlers Formation (Oklahoma, USA)
|
"An earthquake god?! Okay, that name goes hard. Its neck alone is longer than a school bus. Imagine trying to buy a scarf for this thing—the fabric budget would ruin us."
|
| Family Camarasauridae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Camarasaurus supremus
|
"Chambered lizard, the highest"
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~155–145 Ma
|
7–8 m (23–26 ft) tall / 15–23 m (50–75 ft) long
|
15,000–20,000 kg (33,000–44,000 lbs)
|
Edward Drinker Cope, 1877
|
Morrison Formation (Colorado, USA)
|
"It has hollow chambers in its vertebrae to make it lighter. Too bad it didn't have hollow chambers in its skull to give it a better personality. It’s a very basic-looking sauropod."
|
| Euhelopus zdanskyi
|
"True marsh foot" (honoring Otto Zdansky)
|
Early Cretaceous (Barremian to Aptian)
|
~129–113 Ma
|
4–5 m (13–16 ft) tall / 11–15 m (36–49 ft) long
|
3,500–4,000 kg (7,700–8,800 lbs)
|
Carl Wiman, 1929
|
Mengyin Formation (Shandong, China)
|
"It spent its life wandering around muddy marshes. Can you imagine the absolute state of its feet? The pedicure bill alone would take a literal miracle to pay off."
|
| Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii
|
"Posterior cavity tail" (honoring Wojciech Skarżyński)
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
4 m (13 ft) tall / 11.5–13 m (38–43 ft) long
|
8,400–10,000 kg (18,500–22,000 lbs)
|
Halszka Osmólska & Ewa Roniewicz, 1977
|
Nemegt Formation (Mongolia)
|
"They never found its neck or head, just a ridiculously rigid, muscular tail. It probably used it like a tripod stool to sit down. Finally, a dinosaur that appreciates comfort over style."
|
Family Diplodocidae (The Whip-Tails)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Apatosaurus ajax
|
"Deceptive lizard, Ajax"
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~152–151 Ma
|
6.72 m (22 ft) tall / 21–27 m (70–88.6 ft) long
|
16,000–22,000 kg (35,000–48,500 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1877
|
Morrison Formation (Colorado, USA)
|
"This is the actual scientific name for what everyone calls a Brontosaurus. 'Deceptive lizard' is a perfect name for something that caused a hundred-year identity crisis in museums."
|
| Diplodocus hallorum
|
"Double-beam" (honoring Jim und Carol Hall)
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~154–152 Ma
|
5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall / 29–33 m (95–108 ft) long
|
12,000–15,000 kg (26,000–33,000 lbs)
|
David Gillette, 1991
|
Morrison Formation (New Mexico, USA)
|
"Historically called Seismosaurus because it was so long it shook the earth. It has a tail that functions exactly like a supersonic whip. Do not get on its bad side."
|
| Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum
|
"Mamenxi lizard from China and Canada"
|
Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)
|
~160–157 Ma
|
16.46 m (54 ft) tall / 26–35 m (85–115 ft) long
|
25,000–60,000 kg (55,000–132,000 lbs)
|
Russell & Zheng, 1993
|
Shishugou Formation (Xinjiang, China)
|
"This specific species has an absurdly long neck—nearly 50 feet! It is literally 50% neck. It’s like a living crane. How does blood even pump all the way up there?!"
|
| Supersaurus vivianae
|
"Super lizard" (honoring Vivian Jones)
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~153 Ma
|
6–17.85 m (20–58.6 ft) tall / 35–40 m (115–131 ft) long
|
32,000–40,000 kg (70,500–88,000 lbs)
|
James A. Jensen, 1985
|
Morrison Formation (Colorado, USA)
|
"They literally just gave up on creative naming and called it 'Super Lizard.' Creative design team must have been on vacation that week. Points for size, zero points for branding."
|
Family Titanosauridae (The Ultimate Giants)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Dreadnoughtus schrani
|
"Fears nothing" (honoring Adam Schran)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian to Maastrichtian)
|
~76–70 Ma
|
18.7 m (61.4 ft) tall / 26 m (85 ft) long
|
38,000–49,000 kg (83,000–108,000 lbs)
|
Kenneth Lacovara et al., 2014
|
Cerro Fortaleza Formation (Argentina)
|
"Named after a literal battleship because it was so massive it had absolutely zero natural predators. I need that kind of confidence when dealing with high school drama."
|
| Patagotitan mayorum
|
"Patagonian titan" (honoring the Mayo family)
|
Early Cretaceous (Albian)
|
~101 Ma
|
12 m (40 ft) tall / 31–37 m (102–121 ft) long
|
50,000–70,000 kg (110,000–154,000 lbs)
|
Carballido, Pol et al., 2017
|
Cerro Barcino Formation (Argentina)
|
"One of the absolute largest land animals to ever exist in earth's history. It’s basically a walking mountain. If Uncle Leo tried to pack this in our artifact crate, the plane wouldn't even lift off."
|
| Saltasaurus loricatus
|
"Lizard from Salta, armored"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70–66 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 8.5 m (28 ft) long
|
2,500–3,500 kg (5,500–7,700 lbs)
|
José F. Bonaparte & Jaime Powell, 1980
|
Lecho Formation (Salta, Argentina)
|
"A sauropod that grew its own suit of armor plating! Bony studs all over its back like a punk rock jacket. Finally, a giant herbivore that understands the power of accessorizing!"
|
Order Ornithischia (“Bird-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Cerapoda • Infraorder Ornithopodat
We have officially moved into the "bird-hipped" branch of the dinosaur family tree! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the early, agile, and often small-bodied Ornithopoda and basal ornithischian lineages. Sarcastic, high-fashion, and sibling-weary commentary has been provided by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Families Fabrosauridae & Heterodontosauridae
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Family Fabrosauridae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lesothosaurus diagnosticus
|
"Lizard from Lesotho, diagnostic"
|
Early Jurassic (Hettangian to Sinemurian)
|
~200–190 Ma
|
0.4 m (1.3 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
6–8 kg (13–18 lbs)
|
Peter Galton, 1978
|
Upper Elliot Formation (Lesotho / South Africa)
|
"A tiny, basic herbivore that ran away from everything. It looks like a giant, hairless gerbil on two legs. Honestly, its defense strategy is identical to Pablo's whenever it's his turn to do the dishes."
|
| Scutellosaurus lawleri
|
"Little-shielded lizard" (honoring David Lawler)
|
Early Jurassic (Hettangian to Sinemurian)
|
~196 Ma
|
0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall / 1.2–1.5 m (4–5 ft) long
|
3 kg (6.6 lbs)
|
Edwin Harris Colbert, 1981
|
Kayenta Formation (Arizona, USA)
|
"It has hundreds of tiny bony studs running down its back. It’s like a studded punk rock belt but across its entire spine. A bit excessive for a creature that's the size of a toy poodle, but okay."
|
| Family Heterodontosauridae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Echinodon becklesii
|
"Prickly tooth" (honoring Samuel Beckles)
|
Early Cretaceous (Berremian)
|
~140 Ma
|
0.2 m (0.7 ft) tall / 0.6 m (2 ft) long
|
0.5 kg (1.1 lbs)
|
Sir Richard Owen, 1861
|
Purbeck Group (England)
|
"A plant-eater with sharp fangs like a vampire bat. Why do you need fangs to chew on ferns? This thing definitely went through a gothic phase and just never grew out of it."
|
| Heterodontosaurus tucki
|
"Different-toothed lizard" (honoring G.C. Tuck)
|
Early Jurassic (Hettangian to Sinemurian)
|
~200–190 Ma
|
0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall / 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft) long
|
2–10 kg (4.4–22 lbs)
|
Alan Charig & Alfred Crompton, 1962
|
Upper Elliot Formation (South Africa)
|
"It had three completely different types of teeth in its mouth at the same time. Trying to get braces for this thing would give an orthodontist a literal nervous breakdown."
|
Family Hypsilophodontidae (The Fast-Running Browsers)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Dryosaurus elderae
|
"Oak lizard" (honoring Ann Elder)
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~155–150 Ma
|
1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft) long
|
70–90 kg (150–200 lbs)
|
Kenneth Carpenter & Peter Galton, 2018
|
Morrison Formation (Utah/Wyoming, USA)
|
"It has no teeth in the front of its mouth, just a beak. It looks like it's constantly pursing its lips for a selfie, but completely forgot to apply lip gloss first. Disaster."
|
| Hypsilophodon foxii
|
"High-crested tooth" (honoring William Fox)
|
Early Cretaceous (Barremian)
|
~125 Ma
|
0.6 m (2 ft) tall / 1.8 m (6 ft) long
|
20 kg (44 lbs)
|
Thomas Henry Huxley, 1869
|
Wessex Formation (Isle of Wight, England)
|
"Victorian scientists actually thought this thing lived in trees like a giant scaly koala because of its long fingers. It didn't. They just completely misread its anatomy. Classic Uncle Leo move."
|
| Parksosaurus warreni
|
"Parks's lizard" (honoring William Parks & Freeman Warren)
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long
|
45–60 kg (100–132 lbs)
|
Loris Russell, 1937
|
Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Alberta, Canada) / Hell Creek Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"A dinosaur named after a guy who was named after parks. That is some inception-level naming laziness. It ran fast, ate leaves, and had zero main-character energy."
|
| Tenontosaurus dossi
|
"Sinew lizard" (honoring rancher Clyde Doss)
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian)
|
~115–108 Ma
|
2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 6.5–7 m (21–23 ft) long
|
600–1,000 kg (1,300–2,200 lbs)
|
Winkler, Murray & Jacobs, 1997
|
Twin Mountains Formation (Texas, USA)
|
"This species is famous for having an absurdly long, heavy tail reinforced with bony tendons. It basically dragged a massive heavy log behind it everywhere it went. Imagine the posture issues!"
|
| Thescelosaurus garbanii
|
"Wonderful lizard" (honoring Harley Garbani)
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~66 Ma
|
1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 4–4.5 m (13–15 ft) long
|
200–300 kg (440–660 lbs)
|
William J. Morris, 1976
|
Hell Creek Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"They call it 'wonderful' but it was honestly one of the last and clunkiest ornithopods left before the asteroid hit. It looked like a very heavy, disgruntled goose. Not what I'd call wonderful."
|
Order Ornithischia (“Bird-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Cerapoda • Infraorder Ornithopoda
The duck-bills and thumb-spikes have arrived! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the advanced, plant-crunching Iguanodontidae and the highly musical Hadrosauridae (duck-billed dinosaurs). Sarcastic, fashion-conscious, and adventure-weary commentary has been filed by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Family Iguanodontidae (The Thumb-Spike Crew)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Camptosaurus dispar
|
"Flexible lizard, dissimilar"
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~156–146 Ma
|
2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 6 m (20 ft) long
|
800–1,000 kg (1,760–2,200 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1879
|
Morrison Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"A prototype duck-bill that could walk on two legs or four. It had zero armor and zero offensive weapons, meaning its entire personality was basically 'please don't eat me, Allosaurus.'"
|
| Iguanodon bernissartensis
|
"Iguana tooth from Bernissart"
|
Early Cretaceous (Barremian to Aptian)
|
~126–122 Ma
|
5.2 m (17.1 ft) tall / 9–11.96 m (30–39.2 ft) long
|
3,500–4,500 kg (7,700–9,900 lbs)
|
Gideon Mantell, 1825 / George Albert Boulenger, 1881
|
Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation (Belgium)
|
"Famous for having a giant, weaponized spike right on its thumb. Victorian scientists originally found the spike and stuck it on the dinosaur's nose like a horn. Classic museum blunder!"
|
| Muttaburrasaurus langdoni
|
"Muttaburra lizard" (honoring Doug Langdon)
|
Early Cretaceous (Albian)
|
~105–100 Ma
|
2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 7–8 m (23–26 ft) long
|
2,800–3,000 kg (6,100–6,600 lbs)
|
Bartholomai & Ralph Molnar, 1981
|
Mackunda Formation (Queensland, Australia)
|
"It had a giant, hollow, bulbous snout that it probably used to make loud hooting noises across Australia. It’s basically a walking megaphone. Imagine trying to sleep with that outside your tent."
|
| Ouranosaurus nigeriensis
|
"Brave lizard from Niger"
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian)
|
~125–112 Ma
|
2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 7–8.3 m (23–27 ft) long
|
2,200–2,500 kg (4,850–5,500 lbs)
|
Philippe Taquet, 1976
|
Elrhaz Formation (Niger)
|
"An iguanodontian with a giant sail running down its entire back! Some scientists think it was a camel-like hump for storing fat. A camel-lizard with thumb-spikes. Creative design choice."
|
Family Hadrosauridae (The Duck-Billed Dinosaurs)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Corythosaurus casuarius
|
"Helmet lizard, cassowary-like"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~77–75 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 8–9 m (26–30 ft) long
|
3,000–4,000 kg (6,600–8,800 lbs)
|
Barnum Brown, 1914
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada) / Lance Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"It has a giant crest on its head shaped exactly like a dinner plate or a Corinthian helmet. A bit too theatrical for walking around a swamp, but hey, I respect a bold headwear choice."
|
| Edmontosaurus regalis
|
"Edmonton lizard, regal"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~73–66 Ma
|
3.5 m (11.5 ft) tall / 12–13 m (40–43 ft) long
|
4,000–7,000 kg (8,800–15,400 lbs)
|
Lawrence Lambe, 1917
|
Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Alberta, Canada) / Lance Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"Mummified fossils show this giant duck-bill actually had a fleshy, rooster-like comb on its head. A giant, twelve-meter-long swamp chicken. Good luck trying to cage that, Quba."
|
| Lambeosaurus magnicristatus
|
"Lambe's lizard, large-crested" (honoring Lawrence Lambe)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
3.2 m (10.5 ft) tall / 9 m (30 ft) long
|
3,300–4,000 kg (7,300–8,800 lbs)
|
Charles M. Sternberg, 1935
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"This one’s crest looks like a giant backward-facing hatchet or a really bad 80s pompadour hairstyle. Definitely wins the award for the most awkward skull shape in the Cretaceous."
|
| Maiasaura peeblesorum
|
"Good mother lizard" (honoring the Peebles family)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76.7 Ma
|
2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 9 m (30 ft) long
|
3,000–4,000 kg (6,600–8,800 lbs)
|
Jack Horner & Robert Makela, 1979
|
Two Medicine Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"Named 'Good Mother' because they found giant nesting grounds proving they nurtured their babies. Unlike Uncle Leo, who routinely forgets where he parked the DaVincibiloplane."
|
| Parasaurolophus walkeri
|
"Near crested lizard" (honoring Sir Byron Edmund Walker)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76.5–73 Ma
|
3.5 m (11.5 ft) tall / 9.5–10 m (31–33 ft) long
|
2,500–3,500 kg (5,500–7,700 lbs)
|
William Parks, 1922
|
Kaiparowits Formation (Utah, USA) / Nemegt Formation (Gobi Desert, Mongolia)
|
"The undisputed king of headgear. It has a six-foot hollow tube blasting out of the back of its skull like a trombone. It used it to honk at its friends. Prehistoric band practice sounds awful."
|
| Saurolophus osborni
|
"Crested lizard" (honoring Henry Fairfield Osborn)
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70–68 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 8.5–9.8 m (28–32 ft) long
|
2,800–3,800 kg (6,100–8,300 lbs)
|
Barnum Brown, 1912
|
Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"A spike-crested duck-bill that might have had inflatable skin sacs on its nose to make noises. It's basically a walking bagpipe. Why are all these herbivores so incredibly loud?!"
|
| Shantungosaurus giganteus
|
"Shandong lizard, gigantic"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~73 Ma
|
5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall / 15–16.6 m (49–54 ft) long
|
13,000–16,000 kg (28,600–35,200 lbs)
|
Hu Chengzhi, 1973
|
Wangshi Group (Shandong, China)
|
"The absolute biggest non-sauropod dinosaur to ever live. This thing is a duck-billed dinosaur the size of a commercial tour bus! Imagine the absolute mountain of salad it had to eat daily."
|
| Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus
|
"Qingdao lizard, thorn nose"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~73 Ma
|
3.5 m (11.5 ft) tall / 8.3–10 m (27–33 ft) long
|
3,000–4,000 kg (6,600–8,800 lbs)
|
C.C. Young, 1958
|
Wangshi Group (Shandong, China)
|
"For years, scientists thought it had a single, upright horn right between its eyes like a scaly unicorn. Turns out it was just a broken piece of its actual hollow crest. Tragic. The unicorn vibe was better."
|
Order Ornithischia (“Bird-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Cerapoda • Infraorder Ceratopia / Pachycephalosauria
The boneheads and dome-skulls have officially arrived! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the hard-headed Pachycephalosauridae branch. Sarcastic, pop-culture-obsessed, and fashion-conscious commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Family Pachycephalosauridae (The Dome-Heads)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Dracorex hogwartsia
|
"Dragon king of Hogwarts"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~66 Ma
|
1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 3 m (10 ft) long
|
45–50 kg (100–110 lbs)
|
Bob Bakker et al., 2006
|
Hell Creek Formation (South Dakota, USA)
|
"Named after Harry Potter! It has a flat skull covered in spiky horns and looks exactly like a fairy-tale dragon. Too bad some scientists think it's just a teenage Pachycephalosaurus growing up. Ruined the magic, guys."
|
| Homalocephale calathocercos
|
"Even head, basket tail"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75–80 Ma
|
0.6 m (2 ft) tall / 1.8 m (6 ft) long
|
40 kg (90 lbs)
|
Halszka Osmólska & Teresa Maryańska, 1974
|
Nemegt Formation (Mongolia)
|
"Unlike its cousins, this one has a completely flat, broad skull instead of a round dome. It’s shaped perfectly like a coffee table. You could literally rest a soda can on its head while it walks."
|
| Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis
|
"Thick-headed lizard from Wyoming"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~68–66 Ma
|
1.5–1.8 m (5–6 ft) tall / 4.5 m (15 ft) long
|
450 kg (1,000 lbs)
|
Joseph Leidy, 1856 / Charles W. Gilmore, 1931
|
Hell Creek Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"The undisputed king of the headbutters. It has a nine-inch-thick solid bone dome on its skull. Honestly, having a built-in helmet seems incredibly useful for dealing with Pablo's daily shenanigans."
|
| Prenocephale prenes
|
"Sloping head"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 2.4 m (8 ft) long
|
130 kg (285 lbs)
|
Teresa Maryańska & Halszka Osmólska, 1974
|
Nemegt Formation (Mongolia)
|
"It has a high, rounded, pristine dome surrounded by a neat little row of bony spikes. It looks like it spent hours getting its hair done at a prehistoric salon. Easily the most well-groomed dome-head."
|
| Stygimoloch spinifer
|
"Stygian demon with thorns"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~66 Ma
|
1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 3 m (10 ft) long
|
80 kg (175 lbs)
|
Hans-Dieter Sues & Peter Galton, 1983
|
Hell Creek Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"A name meaning 'demon from the river of death' because of its giant, terrifying spikes. Super goth, super dramatic. But just like Dracorex, scientists suspect it’s just another Pachycephalosaurus going through an edgy phase."
|
Order Ornithischia (“Bird-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Cerapoda • Infraorder Ceratopia
The horned, frilled, and shield-headed superstars have arrived! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the diverse Ceratopia lineage, tracking everything from early parrot-lizards to the ultimate multi-ton horned behemoths. Sarcastic, high-fashion, and artifact-hunting commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Families Psittacosauridae & Protoceratopidae (The Basal Ceratopsians)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Family Psittacosauridae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Psittacosaurus meileyingensis
|
"Parrot lizard from Meileyingzi"
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
|
~120 Ma
|
0.6 m (2 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
30 kg (66 lbs)
|
Sereno et al., 1988
|
Jiufotang Formation (China)
|
"It’s literally a bipedal reptile with a parrot beak and weird bristle-quills on its tail. It looks less like a dinosaur and more like a poorly rendered video game glitch."
|
| Family Protoceratopidae
|
|
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| Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi
|
"Small horned face" (honoring A.K. Rozhdestvensky)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall / 1 m (3.3 ft) long
|
22 kg (48 lbs)
|
Teresa Maryańska & Osmólska, 1975
|
Barun Goyot Formation (Mongolia)
|
"A miniature Triceratops cousin without any actual brow horns. It has a tiny little bump on its nose. It looks like a grumpy, scaly French Bulldog."
|
| Leptoceratops gracilis
|
"Slender horned face, graceful"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~66 Ma
|
0.8 m (2.6 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
100 kg (220 lbs)
|
Barnum Brown, 1914
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Scollard Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"They call it graceful, but it was a heavy, tail-heavy quadruped that could hop on two legs if it panicked. Walking around with that posture looks exhausting."
|
| Microceratus gobiensis
|
"Small horned one from the Gobi"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
0.25 m (0.8 ft) tall / 0.6 m (2 ft) long
|
2 kg (4.4 lbs)
|
Bohlin, 1953 / Mateus, 2008
|
Minhe Formation (Mongolia)
|
"This thing is the size of a teacup puppy! It spent its entire life running away from raptors in the desert. I kind of want to put it in a designer handbag."
|
| Montanoceratops cerorhynchus
|
"Montana horned face, horn-nosed"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~70 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 3 m (10 ft) long
|
170 kg (374 lbs)
|
Sternberg, 1951
|
St. Mary River Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"It has massive claws and a giant deep tail. Some scientists think it was a great swimmer. A swimming, parrot-beaked swamp cow. Nature is weird."
|
| Protoceratops hellenikorhinus
|
"First horned face, Greek nose"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~72 Ma
|
0.7 m (2.3 ft) tall / 2 m (6.5 ft) long
|
180 kg (400 lbs)
|
Lambert et al., 2001
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Bayan Mandahu Formation (China)
|
"This specific species has a wild, double-crested nose bump. It completely ruined the classic Protoceratops look. Definitely an over-designed accessory choice."
|
Family Ceratopidae (The True Horned Giants)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Centrosaurus apertus
|
"Sharp-point lizard, uncovered"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76 Ma
|
2.3 m (7.5 ft) tall / 5.5 m (18 ft) long
|
2,300 kg (5,000 lbs)
|
Lawrence Lambe, 1904
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada)
|
"It has a giant single horn on its nose and hooks curling forward on its frill. It looks like a walking coat rack. Super messy silhouette."
|
| Chasmosaurus belli
|
"Chasm lizard" (honoring Walter Bell)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76 Ma
|
2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 4.8 m (16 ft) long
|
2,000 kg (4,400 lbs)
|
Lawrence Lambe, 1914
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada)
|
"The frill on this thing is absolutely humongous and shaped like a giant heart. Points for the Valentine's Day theme, but it was just covered in skin. Total target for predators."
|
| Lokiceratops rangiformis
|
"Loki's horned face shaped like a reindeer"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~78 Ma
|
2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 6.7 m (22 ft) long
|
5,000 kg (11,000 lbs)
|
Lowen et al., 2024
|
Judith River Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"Named after the Norse god Loki! It has giant, curved, asymmetric frill horns that look like a villain's crown. Easily the most dramatic and stylish dinosaur on this list."
|
| Nasutoceratops titusi
|
"Large-nosed horned face" (honoring Alan Titus)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
2.2 m (7.2 ft) tall / 4.5 m (15 ft) long
|
1,500 kg (3,300 lbs)
|
Sampson et al., 2013
|
Kaiparowits Formation (Utah, USA)
|
"It has giant, sweeping brow horns that curve forward exactly like a Texas Longhorn bull. And a giant nose. It’s basically the cowboy of the Cretaceous."
|
| Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai
|
"Thick-nosed lizard" (honoring Al Lakusta)
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~73 Ma
|
2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 5 m (16.4 ft) long
|
3,000 kg (6,600 lbs)
|
Philip J. Currie et al., 2008
|
Wapiti Formation (Alberta, Canada) / Hell Creek Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"Instead of a horn, it has a giant, flat, bumpy bone pad on its nose. It looks like it crashed face-first into a brick wall. A major downgrade from cool horns."
|
| Sinoceratops zhuchengensis
|
"Chinese horned face from Zhucheng"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~73 Ma
|
2.6 m (8.5 ft) tall / 6 m (20 ft) long
|
2,000 kg (4,400 lbs)
|
Xu Xing et al., 2010
|
Xingezhuang Formation (China)
|
"The first true ceratopsid found outside North America! It has a bunch of tiny, curved hooks decorating the top of its frill like a crown of thorns. Very regal."
|
| Styracosaurus ovatus
|
"Spiked lizard, egg-shaped"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
2.3 m (7.5 ft) tall / 5.5 m (18 ft) long
|
2,500 kg (5,500 lbs)
|
Charles Gilmore, 1930 / McDonald, 2010
|
Two Medicine Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"This species has frill spikes that curve inward toward each other instead of straight out. It’s like it went to a punk rock salon and asked for a custom hair styling."
|
| Torosaurus latus
|
"Perforated lizard, wide"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~68–66 Ma
|
2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall / 7.5–8 m (25–26 ft) long
|
6,000 kg (13,200 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1891
|
Hell Creek Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"It has one of the largest skulls of any land animal ever. The frill is so long it stretches halfway down its back! Imagine trying to balance a head that heavy. Major neck pain."
|
| Triceratops horridus
|
"Three-horned face, horrible"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~68–66 Ma
|
3 m (10 ft) tall / 8–9 m (26–30 ft) long
|
6,000–9,000 kg (13,200–19,800 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1889
|
Hell Creek Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"The ultimate classic. Three solid spears on its face and a solid bone shield. If Quba tries to bring an army of these to life, I'm hiding in the DaVincibiloplane until it's over."
|
Order Ornithischia (“Bird-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Thyreophora • Infraorder Stegosauria
The plated and spiked armor-wearers have arrived! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the spectacular Stegosauridae and their basal armored ancestor, Scelidosauridae. Sarcastic, fashion-focused, and adventure-weary commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Families Stegosauridae & Scelidosauridae
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Family Stegosauridae
|
|
|
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|
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| Chungkingosaurus jiangbeiensis
|
"Chongqing lizard from Jiangbei"
|
Late Jurassic (Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian)
|
~160–155 Ma
|
1.2 m (4 ft) tall / 3–4 m (10–13 ft) long
|
500–700 kg (1,100–1,540 lbs)
|
Dong Zhiming et al., 1983
|
Upper Shaximiao Formation (China)
|
"One of the smallest stegosaurs ever. It has a high, narrow skull and small plates. It's basically a compact, economy-sized model of a Stegosaurus. Perfect for tight city parking."
|
| Gigantspinosaurus sichuanensis
|
"Giant-spined lizard from Sichuan"
|
Late Jurassic (Oxfordian)
|
~160 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 4.2 m (14 ft) long
|
700 kg (1,540 lbs)
|
Ouyang Hui, 1992
|
Upper Shaximiao Formation (China)
|
"It has two completely ridiculous, massive spikes growing directly out of its shoulders like oversized shoulder pads. A total 1980s fashion disaster. Dial it back, buddy!"
|
| Kentrosaurus aethiopicus
|
"Spiked lizard from Africa"
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~152 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 4.5 m (15 ft) long
|
1,000–1,500 kg (2,200–3,300 lbs)
|
Edwin Hennig, 1915
|
Tendaguru Formation (Tanzania)
|
"Plates in the front, and giant, vicious needles in the back. It looks like a walking pin cushion. Running into this thing would literally ruin your whole day."
|
| Stegosaurus stenops
|
"Roof lizard, narrow-faced"
|
Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)
|
~155–150 Ma
|
3–4.93 m (10–16.2 ft) tall / 7–10.1 m (23–33.1 ft) long
|
3,500–5,000 kg (7,700–11,000 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1887
|
Morrison Formation (Colorado/Utah, USA)
|
"The iconic superstar. Giant diamond-shaped plates on its back and a walnut-sized brain. It's the ultimate 'all style, no substance' influencer of the Jurassic period."
|
| Tuojiangosaurus multispinus
|
"Tuo River lizard, many-spiked"
|
Late Jurassic (Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian)
|
~160–155 Ma
|
2 m (6.5 ft) tall / 7 m (23 ft) long
|
2,500–2,800 kg (5,500–6,170 lbs)
|
Dong Zhiming et al., 1977
|
Upper Shaximiao Formation (China)
|
"Its plates are narrow and shaped like little pointy triangles instead of flat diamonds. It looks much sleeker and more aerodynamic. Definitely gets a passing grade for silhouette design."
|
| Family Scelidosauridae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scelidosaurus harrisonii
|
"Limb lizard" (honoring James Harrison)
|
Early Jurassic (Sinemurian to Pliensbachian)
|
~191 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 4 m (13 ft) long
|
250–270 kg (550–600 lbs)
|
Sir Richard Owen, 1859
|
Charmouth Mudstone Formation (England)
|
"The great grandfather of both stegosaurs and ankylosaurs. It’s covered in neat little rows of bony studs. A totally classic, minimalist armor design before things got overly complicated."
|
Order Ornithischia (“Bird-Hipped” Dinosaurs) • Suborder Thyreophora • Infraorder Ankylosauria
The walking battle tanks of the Mesozoic have arrived! Below is the comprehensive data chart for the heavily armored Nodosauridae and the weaponized, club-tailed Ankylosauridae. Sarcastic, security-obsessed, and fashion-conscious commentary has been logged by Zoë DaVinci from The DaVincibles.
Family Nodosauridae (The Spike-Shouldered Tanks)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Edmontonia rugosidens
|
"From Edmonton, rough-toothed"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76–75 Ma
|
1.6 m (5.2 ft) tall / 6 m (20 ft) long
|
2,300–3,000 kg (5,000–6,600 lbs)
|
Charles M. Sternberg, 1928 / Gilmore, 1930
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"It has giant, forward-pointing spikes on its shoulders like a defensive leather jacket. If anyone tries to squeeze past it in a crowd, they are getting a serious puncture wound."
|
| Nodosaurus textilis
|
"Knobby lizard, woven"
|
Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
|
~100–95 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 4–6 m (13–20 ft) long
|
3,500 kg (7,700 lbs)
|
Othniel Charles Marsh, 1889
|
Frontier Formation (Wyoming, USA)
|
"The plates on its back are arranged in a super neat, woven pattern. It looks less like a dinosaur and more like a high-end designer wicker basket. Points for clean texture design!"
|
| Sauropelta edwardsorum
|
"Lizard shield" (honoring Nell & G.E. Edwards)
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian to Albian)
|
~108 Ma
|
1.4 m (4.6 ft) tall / 5.2 m (17 ft) long
|
1,500 kg (3,300 lbs)
|
John Ostrom, 1970
|
Cloverly Formation (Montana/Wyoming, USA)
|
"It has an intensely long tail that makes up half its entire body length. No tail club, but those massive neck spines more than make up for it. Do not try to hug this animal."
|
| Silvisaurus condrayi
|
"Forest lizard" (honoring Warren Condray)
|
Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
|
~100 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 4 m (13 ft) long
|
1,000 kg (2,200 lbs)
|
Theodore H. Eaton Jr., 1960
|
Dakota Formation (Kansas, USA)
|
"A relatively small, primitive nodosaur that still had teeth in the very front of its beak. It's basically the economy-class model of an armored dinosaur. Still way more secure than our house security system."
|
Family Ankylosauridae (The Club-Tailed Heavies)
| Taxon
|
Meaning
|
Age
|
Time
|
Height / Length
|
Weight
|
Author
|
Formation
|
Zoë DaVincibles's Comments
|
| Ankylosaurus magniventris
|
"Fused lizard, great belly"
|
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
|
~68–66 Ma
|
3.6 m (11.8 ft) tall / 6.2–11 m (20–36 ft) long
|
4,800–8,000 kg (10,500–17,600 lbs)
|
Barnum Brown, 1908
|
Hell Creek Formation (Montana, USA)
|
"The ultimate tank! Eyelids made of bone, armor fused into its skull, and a massive sledgehammer tail. It's built like a multi-ton bank vault on legs. Absolutely unstoppable."
|
| Euoplocephalus tutus
|
"Well-armed head, safe"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76–75 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 5.5 m (18 ft) long
|
2,000–2,500 kg (4,400–5,500 lbs)
|
Lawrence Lambe, 1902 / 1910
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Canada)
|
"Its name literally means 'safe.' It had armored bands wrapping all the way around its torso like a heavy metal corset. High-fashion safety at its absolute finest."
|
| Minmi paravertebral
|
"From Minmi Crossing, near vertebrae"
|
Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
|
~120–112 Ma
|
1 m (3.3 ft) tall / 3 m (10 ft) long
|
300 kg (660 lbs)
|
Ralph Molnar, 1980
|
Bungalbin Formation (Queensland, Australia)
|
"This tiny Australian relative had horizontal armor plates protecting its spine. It's cute, stubby, and has a name that sounds like a cartoon character. I kind of want one as a guard pet."
|
| Saichania chulsanensis
|
"Beautiful one"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~75 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 5–5.5 m (16–18 ft) long
|
2,000–2,400 kg (4,400–5,300 lbs)
|
Teresa Maryańska, 1977
|
Barun Goyot Formation (Mongolia)
|
"They named this incredibly spiky, rocky, heavily armored desert monster 'Beautiful.' Whoever picked that name definitely had a very twisted concept of runway aesthetics."
|
| Scolosaurus thronus
|
"Thorn lizard, throne"
|
Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
|
~76.5 Ma
|
1.5 m (5 ft) tall / 5–6 m (16–20 ft) long
|
2,000 kg (4,400 lbs)
|
Franz Nopcsa, 1928
|
Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta, Canada)
|
"The species name means 'throne' because the armor pattern makes it look like it's wearing a royal garment. A giant, spiky, walking throne. Talk about making a grand entrance!"
|
