Dinosaurs evolved partway through the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, around 230 Ma (million years ago). At that time, the earth had one supercontinental landmass, called Pangaea, of which Europe was a part. So it remained throughout the Triassic. By the start of the Jurassic period, some 30 million years later, the supercontinent began to split into Laurasia and Gondwana. The largest inlet from Panthalassa, the superocean that surrounded Pangaea, was called the Tethys Ocean, and as this inlet cut deeper into the supercontinent, much of Europe was flooded.
By the Cretaceous, from 145 to 66 million years ago, the continents were beginning to approach their present shapes, but not their present positions, and Europe remained tropical. At times, it was a chain of island-microcontinents including Baltica and Iberia.
Europe is relatively rich in fossils from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and much of what is known about European dinosaurs dates from this time. During the Maastrichtian the end of the Cretaceous dinosaurs were dominating western and Central Europe as the Tremp Formation in Spain dates back to that age. Examples of dinosaurs from Maastrichtian Europe are Struthiosaurus and Canardia.
| Name | Year | Formation | Location | Notes | Images | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abditosaurus | 2022 | Tremp Group (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) |  Spain | Larger and distantly related to other European sauropods, suggesting it was an immigrant from another continent[1] | ||
| Acanthopholis | 1867 | Chalk Group (Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous, Albian to Cenomanian) | Possessed keeled oval scutes as well as long spines | |||
| Adynomosaurus | 2019 | Tremp Group (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Relatively basal despite its late age[2] | ||
| Aepisaurus | 1852 | Grès vert (Early Cretaceous, Albian) |  France | Known only from a humerus which shares some features with camarasaurids and titanosaurs[3] | ||
| Ajkaceratops | 2010 | Csehbánya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) |  Hungary | Its ancestors may have migrated from Asia via island-hopping | ||
| Allosaurus | 1877 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) |  Portugal | Two species, including the type, are known from the United States. The European species may be a synonym of A. fragilis[4] | ||
| Alocodon | 1973 | Cabaços Formation (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | Portugal | Had vertical grooves on its teeth | ||
| Altispinax | 1923 | Wadhurst Clay Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | Possessed elongated neural spines that may have supported a hump-like structure as in Concavenator | |||
| Amanzia | 2020 | Reuchenette Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) |  Switzerland | One bone preserves fossilized cartilage.[5] Originally believed to be a species of Ornithopsis or Cetiosauriscus | ||
| Ampelosaurus | 1995 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation, Grès de Labarre, Gres de Saint-Chinian, Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | Had three different types of osteoderms, including spines, plates, and bulbs | ||
| Anoplosaurus | 1879 | Cambridge Greensand (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Considered an ankylosaur despite the fact no osteoderms have been found. Historically suggested to be an ornithopod | |||
| Aragosaurus | 1987 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Spain | Reportedly had a unique ischium | ||
| Arcovenator | 2014 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | Most closely related to abelisaurids from India and Madagascar[6] | ||
| Arenysaurus | 2009 | Tremp Group (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | One of the last lambeosaurines prior to their extinction | ||
| Aristosuchus | 1887 | Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | May have had long claws based on referred unguals | |||
| Asylosaurus | 2007 | Unnamed fissure fill (Late Triassic, Rhaetian) | Remains originally identified as Thecodontosaurus | |||
| Atsinganosaurus | 2010 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | Belongs to a unique clade of southwestern European titanosaurs[7] | ||
| Aviatyrannis | 2003 | Alcobaça Formation (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian to Tithonian) | Portugal | Although originally described as a tyrannosauroid, it may in fact be the oldest known ornithomimosaur[8] | ||
| Barilium | 2010 | Wadhurst Clay (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | Robust with strong vertebrae and short neural spines | |||
| Baryonyx | 1986 | Weald Clay Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | One specimen was found with the remains of fish and a juvenile iguanodont in its stomach, suggesting it was a generalist predator[9] | |||
| Betasuchus | 1932 | Maastricht Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) |  Netherlands | The first terrestrial vertebrate named from the Maastrichtian stage[10] | ||
| Blasisaurus | 2010 | Arén Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Only known from a partial skull but can be distinguished from contemporary lambeosaurines[11] | ||
| Bothriospondylus | 1875 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Several specimens have been assigned to this genus, but most of them have been reclassified into different genera | |||
| Bradycneme | 1975 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) |  Romania | Potentially an alvarezsaurid | ||
| Brighstoneus | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Possessed a long snout tipped with a low bump | |||
| Burianosaurus | 2017 | Peruc-Korycany Formation (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian) |  Czech Republic | May be closely allied to the rhabdodontids[12] | ||
| Calamosaurus | 1891 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Only known from two cervical vertebrae. Several bones have been referred to it over the years but there is no way to prove all of them belonged to the same genus | |||
| Calamospondylus | 1866 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian) | Only definitively known from only a sacrum and associated pelvic elements | |||
| Callovosaurus | 1980 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | The oldest known dryosaurid[13] | |||
| Calvarius | 2023 | Tremp Group (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | May have been a cursorial biped similar to basal ornithopods despite being more derived | ||
| Camarillasaurus | 2014 | Camarillas Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Described as a ceratosaur[14] but has since been reinterpreted as a spinosaurid[15] | ||
| Camelotia | 1985 | Westbury Formation (Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, Rhaetian to Hettangian) | One of the largest known non-sauropod sauropodomorphs | |||
| Canardia | 2013 | Marnes d'Auzas Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | May have been a close relative of Aralosaurus | ||
| Cardiodon | 1841 | Forest Marble Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | The first sauropod ever named.[16] Known only from a tooth | |||
| Ceratosuchops | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Differs from Baryonyx in subtle details of its skull | |||
| Cetiosauriscus | 1927 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | Has been assigned to a variety of positions around Eusauropoda[17] [18] [19] | |||
| Cetiosaurus | 1841 | Rutland Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian to Bathonian) | The first sauropod known from decent remains. Once believed to a large seagoing animal | |||
| Chondrosteosaurus | 1876 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | The air sacs in its vertebrae were originally believed to be filled with cartilage | |||
| Compsognathus | 1859 | Alcobaça Formation?, Portland Stone, Solnhofen Limestone (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | France Germany Portugal? | One of the smallest known non-avian dinosaurs | ||
| Concavenator | 2010 | La Huérguina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Preserves bumps on its ulna which have been interpreted as quill knobs,[20] although they might have been muscle attachments instead[21] | ||
| Craspedodon | 1883 | Unnamed formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) |  Belgium | May be the first neoceratopsian known from Europe[22] | ||
| Craterosaurus | 1874 | Woburn Sands Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian) | Potentially synonymous with Regnosaurus | |||
| Cruxicheiros | 2010 | Chipping Norton Limestone (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | Inconsistent in phylogenetic placement | |||
| Cryptosaurus | 1869 | Ampthill Clay (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | Only known from a single femur | |||
| Cumnoria | 1888 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | May be a species of Camptosaurus[23] or something a little more basal[24] | |||
| Dacentrurus | 1902 | Alcobaça Formation, Argiles d'Octeville, Kimmeridge Clay, Lourinhã Formation, Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, Kimmeridgian to Berriasian) | France Portugal Spain | Known from abundant remains. Lived in a broad range | ||
| Demandasaurus | 2011 | Castrillo de la Reina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Spain | Most closely related to African rebbachisaurids, suggesting a faunal exchange[25] | ||
| Dinodocus | 1884 | Lower Greensand Group (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | The only known humerus is almost complete, missing only small portions | |||
| Dolichosuchus | 1932 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Originally classified as a stem-crocodile | ||
| Draconyx | 2001 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Portugal | May have been a member of an ornithopod clade that did not appear in North America, unlike other groups of the Late Jurassic animals[26] | ||
| Dracopelta | 1980 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Portugal | The structure of its limbs suggest it might have had a cursorial lifestyle[27] | ||
| Dracoraptor | 2016 | Lias Group (Early Jurassic, Hettangian) | May have been a shore dweller due to its island habitat[28] | |||
| Dromaeosauroides | 2003 | Jydegaard Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) |  Denmark | A referred coprolite has been found which contains fish remains, but it could instead belong to a turtle[29] | ||
| Dubreuillosaurus | 2005 | Calcaire de Caen (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | France | Would have lived in a coastal mangrove swamp | ||
| Duriatitan | 2010 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Originally named as a species of Cetiosaurus | |||
| Duriavenator | 2008 | Inferior Oolite (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian) | The most basal known member of the Megalosaurinae, which aligns with its stratigraphic position[30] | |||
| Echinodon | 1861 | Purbeck Group (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Originally misidentified as a herbivorous lizard | |||
| Efraasia | 1973 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Some remains assigned to this genus were originally classified in separate genera | ||
| Elopteryx | 1913 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | May be closely related to Balaur and Gargantuavis[31] | ||
| Emausaurus | 1990 | Ciechocinek Formation (Early Jurassic, Toarcian) | Germany | One of the oldest and most basal thyreophorans | ||
| Eotyrannus | 2001 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Possessed grasping hands with three long fingers | |||
| Eousdryosaurus | 2014 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Described as a dryosaurid[32] but one study suggests a close relationship with elasmarians[33] | ||
| Erectopus | 1923 | La Penthiève Beds (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | France | One of the youngest known European carnosaurs | ||
| Eucamerotus | 1872 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Preserves extensive evidence of pneumatization | |||
| Eucercosaurus | 1879 | Cambridge Greensand (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Sometimes considered an ankylosaur but one study assigns it to Iguanodontia[34] | |||
| Euronychodon | 1991 | Argiles et sables de Taveiro (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | Portugal | Only known from teeth. Another species has been found in Uzbekistan | ||
| Europasaurus | 2006 | Süntel Formation (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian) | Germany | Much smaller than other sauropods due to its isolated island habitat[35] | ||
| Europatitan | 2017 | Castrillo de la Reina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Spain | Some of this genus' remains include several vertebrae. The specific name, E. eastwoodi, honors director Clint Eastwood | ||
| Europelta | 2013 | Escucha Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Spain | Almost the entire skeleton is known | ||
| Eustreptospondylus | 1964 | Oxford Clay (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | May have swum between islands similar to a Komodo dragon[36] | |||
| Fylax | 2021 | Figuerola Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Lived very late despite its comparatively basal position[37] | ||
| Galvesaurus | 2005 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Spain | Also spelled Galveosaurus. Two sets of paleontologists named the same fossil seemingly unaware of each other's work, although there is evidence that one of them had plaigiarized the others, but misspelled the name[38] | ||
| Garrigatitan | 2021 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | Known from remains of both adults and subadults | ||
| Garumbatitan | 2023 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Had a reduced claw on the third toe | ||
| Genusaurus | 1995 | Bevons Beds (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | France | Has been suggested to be either a noasaurid[39] or an abelisaurid[40] | ||
| Gideonmantellia | 2012 | Camarillas Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Originally misidentified as a specimen of Hypsilophodon | ||
| Gigantosaurus | 1869 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | May have possessed osteoderms | |||
| Haestasaurus | 2015 | Hastings Beds (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | Preserves impressions of differently-sized hexagonal scales | |||
| Halticosaurus | 1908 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Historically conflated with the bones of unrelated animals | ||
| Heptasteornis | 1975 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Once believed to be a giant prehistoric owl | ||
| Histriasaurus | 1998 | Unnamed formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) |  Croatia | Despite being discovered in Europe, it may have lived between southern Europe and Africa in life[41] | ||
| Horshamosaurus | 2015 | Weald Clay (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | A supposed tibia has been reinterpreted as an ischium[42] | |||
| Hungarosaurus | 2005 | Csehbánya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) | Hungary | Possessed an elevated shoulder which may be an adaptation to high-browsing[43] | ||
| Hylaeosaurus | 1833 | Grinstead Clay Formation?, Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | Germany? | One of the three animals originally used to define the Dinosauria, along with Iguanodon and Megalosaurus | ||
| Hypselosaurus | 1869 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | France | Several spherical eggs have been attributed to this taxon | ||
| Hypselospinus | 2010 | Wadhurst Clay (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian) | Had elongated neural spines projecting from the top of its vertebrae | |||
| Hypsilophodon | 1869 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | May have been a deer-like low browser that fed on young shoots and roots | |||
| Iberospinus | 2022 | Papo Seco Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Basal yet already displays some adaptations for a semiaquatic lifestyle | |||
| Iguanodon | 1825 | Arcillas de Morella Formation, Camarillas Formation, Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation, Wadhurst Clay, Weald Clay, Wealden Formation, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Belgium Germany? Spain | Multiple remains are known which make it one of the best known dinosaurs | ||
| Iliosuchus | 1932 | Stonesfield Slate (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | Only known from three ilia | |||
| Iuticosaurus | 1993 | Upper Greensand Formation, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | Two species have been named, each from a single caudal vertebra | |||
| Juratyrant | 2013 | Kimmeridge Clay (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Originally named as a species of Stokesosaurus | |||
| Juravenator | 2006 | Painten Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Germany | Impressions of both scales and feathers are known. The tail preserves structures that may be integumentary sense organs like those of crocodiles, which it may have used to hunt for fish at night[44] | ||
| Lexovisaurus | 1957 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | Its pelvis was greatly enlarged | |||
| Liliensternus | 1984 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) | Germany | Although commonly depicted with a head crest, there is no evidence for such a feature | ||
| Lirainosaurus | 1999 | Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation?, Sierra Perenchiza Formation, Sobrepena Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | France? Spain | For a titanosaur, it was small and had a relatively gracile build | ||
| Lohuecotitan | 2016 | Villalba de la Sierra Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | Spain | May have had "bulb-and-root"-type osteoderms, which are abundant at the type locality[45] | ||
| Lophostropheus | 2007 | Moon-Airel Formation (Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, Rhaetian to Hettangian) | France | The only substantially well-known theropod from the Triassic-Jurassic boundary[46] | ||
| Loricatosaurus | 2008 | Marnes a Belemnopsis latesulcatus Formation, Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | France | Had narrow, flat plates on its back and round, pointed spines that ran along the tail | ||
| Losillasaurus | 2001 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, Kimmeridgian to Berriasian?) | Spain | Was heterodont, having four types of teeth, one of which was heart-shaped[47] | ||
| Lourinhanosaurus | 1998 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Portugal | More than one hundred eggs have been referred to this taxon | ||
| Lourinhasaurus | 1998 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Closely related to Camarasaurus but with proportionately longer forelimbs | ||
| Lusitanosaurus | 1957 | Unknown formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | Portugal | Poorly known but evidently large for a basal thyreophoran | ||
| Lusotitan | 2003 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Portugal | Originally named as a European species of Brachiosaurus | ||
| Lusovenator | 2020 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, Kimmeridgian to Berriasian) | Portugal | The oldest carcharodontosaurian known from Eurasia | ||
| Macrurosaurus | 1869 | Cambridge Greensand, Chalk Group? (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Only known from a series of caudal vertebrae | |||
| Magnamanus | 2016 | Golmayo Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | Spain | Possessed relatively enlarged hands | ||
| Magnosaurus | 1932 | Inferior Oolite (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian) | Confusingly, a referred specimen was simultaneously named as a species of this genus and of Sarcosaurus | |||
| Magyarosaurus | 1932 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | An insular dwarf titanosaur that was one of the smallest of its group | ||
| Mantellisaurus | 2007 | Arcillas de Morella Formation, Lower Greensand Group, Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation, Vectis Formation, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian) | Belgium Germany? Spain | Several specimens are known. Distinguishable from the contemporary Iguanodon by its more gracile build | ||
| Marmarospondylus | 1875 | Forest Marble Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | Usually assigned to the genus Bothriospondylus, but this cannot be confirmed | |||
| Matheronodon | 2017 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | Had extremely specialized dentition that may have been an adaptation to feeding on tough monocot plants[48] | ||
| Megalosaurus | 1824 | Chipping Norton Limestone Formation, Taynton Limestone Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | The first non-avian dinosaur scientifically named and described | |||
| Metriacanthosaurus | 1964 | Oxford Clay (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | Possessed relatively tall neural spines for a carnosaur | |||
| Miragaia | 2009 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Portugal | Had an extremely elongated neck made up of seventeen vertebrae | ||
| Mochlodon | 1881 | Csehbánya Formation, Gosau Group (Late Cretaceous, Santonian to Campanian) |  Austria Hungary | Originally named as a species of Iguanodon | ||
| Morelladon | 2015 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Possessed a low sail on its back supported by elongated neural spines | ||
| Morinosaurus | 1874 | Unnamed formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | France | Poorly known | ||
| Neosodon | 1885 | Sables et Grès a Trigonia gibbosa (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | France | No species are assigned to this genus. Popularly associated with "Iguanodon" praecursor but is in fact a separate taxon[49] | ||
| Neovenator | 1996 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | Had a complex series of neurovascular canals lining its snout[50] | |||
| Normanniasaurus | 2013 | Poudingue Ferrugineux (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | France | Represents a European radiation of basal titanosaurs[51] | ||
| Notatesseraeraptor | 2019 | Klettgau Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Switzerland | Combines features of different groups of basal theropods | ||
| Nuthetes | 1854 | Lulworth Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Only known from jaws and teeth. Traditionally identified as a dromaeosaurid but it might be a proceratosaurid instead[52] | |||
| Oblitosaurus | 2023 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Spain | The largest ornithopod known from the Late Jurassic of Europe | ||
| Oceanotitan | 2019 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Potentially the oldest known somphospondylian[53] | ||
| Ohmdenosaurus | 1978 | Posidonia Shale (Early Jurassic, Toarcian) | Germany | Originally misidentified as a plesiosaur | ||
| Oplosaurus | 1852 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | The holotype tooth was pointed, which led to its misidentification as a carnivorous reptile[54] | |||
| Ornithodesmus | 1887 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Historically conflated with the remains of the pterosaur Istiodactylus | |||
| Ornithopsis | 1870 | Wealden Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | ) | Originally believed to be an intermediate form between birds, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs | ||
| Orthomerus | 1883 | Maastricht Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Netherlands | Potentially dubious and undiagnostic[55] | ||
| Ostromia | 2017 | Painten Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | Germany | Considered a small pterosaur until it was redescribed as a specimen of Archaeopteryx in 1970.[56] Some of its features are similar to those of Anchiornis | ||
| Owenodon | 2009 | Purbeck Limestone (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Has been assigned to Iguanodon and Camptosaurus before it received its own genus | |||
| Paludititan | 2010 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Some of its bones are identical to those of Magyarosaurus, but their synonymy cannot be confirmed | ||
| Pararhabdodon | 1993 | Tremp Group (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | The first lambeosaurine identified from Europe | ||
| Pareisactus | 2019 | Tremp Group (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | Represented by a single scapula recovered from a hadrosaur bonebed | ||
| Pelecanimimus | 1994 | La Huérguina Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Preserves extensive soft tissue impressions revealing the presence of a keratinous head crest and a pelican-like gular pouch | ||
| Pelorosaurus | 1850 | Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian) | The first sauropod identified as a terrestrial animal | |||
| Pendraig | 2021 | Pant-y-Ffynnon Quarry (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) | Would have lived on a dry limestone island[57] | |||
| Phyllodon | 1973 | Alcobaça Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | The front and back sides of its teeth were asymmetrical | ||
| Piveteausaurus | 1977 | Marnes de Dives Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | France | Has been suggested to be a species of Proceratosaurus | ||
| Plateosaurus | 1837 | Klettgau Formation, Löwenstein Formation, Lunde Formation, Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) | France? Germany Norway Switzerland | Known from over a hundred skeletons, several of them nearly complete | ||
| Pneumatoraptor | 2010 | Csehbánya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian) | Hungary | One study suggests a position as a possible early palaeognath[58] | ||
| Poekilopleuron | 1836 | Calcaire de Caen (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | France | Its holotype was found alongside fish remains[59] | ||
| Polacanthus | 1865 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Possessed a flat sacral shield dotted with small bumps | |||
| Portellsaurus | 2021 | Margas de Mirambell Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Closely related to Ouranosaurus[60] | ||
| Priodontognathus | 1875 | Lower Calcareous Grit (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | Only known from a single maxilla with teeth | |||
| Proa | 2012 | Escucha Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Spain | The tip of its jaw was shaped like the bow of a ship | ||
| Proceratosaurus | 1926 | Great Oolite Group (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) | Preserves a small horn on its snout which may have anchored a crest as in the related Guanlong | |||
| Procompsognathus | 1913 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Has been suggested to be non-dinosaurian | ||
| Protathlitis | 2023 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Large but basal for a spinosaurid | ||
| Pterospondylus | 1913 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Known from only a single, large vertebra | ||
| Pyroraptor | 2000 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | France | Its holotype specimen was exposed by a forest fire | ||
| Regnosaurus | 1848 | Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | Potentially a stegosaur similar to Huayangosaurus[61] | |||
| Rhabdodon | 1869 | Gres de Labarre Formation, Gres de Saint-Chinian, Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation, Villalba de la Sierra Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | France Spain | Although most rhabdodontids are insular dwarfs, this genus may represent an instance of island gigantism as it is much larger than other members of its family[62] | ||
| Riabininohadros | 2020 | Unnamed formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | (de facto;  Ukraine de jure) | Possessed a femur so unique it has no morphological equivalents across all of Iguanodontia | ||
| Riparovenator | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Had elongated spines projecting from its caudal vertebrae somewhat similar to those of Spinosaurus | |||
| Ruehleia | 2001 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Known from a single, nearly complete skeleton | ||
| Saltriovenator | 2018 | Saltrio Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) |  Italy | The biggest theropod from the Early Jurassic yet known | ||
| Sarcolestes | 1893 | Oxford Clay (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | Originally misidentified as a carnivorous dinosaur | |||
| Sarcosaurus | 1921 | Lias Group, Scunthorpe Mudstone (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian) | Has been variously suggested to be in different positions at the base of Neotheropoda[63] [64] [65] [66] | |||
| Scelidosaurus | 1859 | Lias Group (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian to Pliensbachian) | Carried hundreds of small osteoderms in several rows along its back | |||
| Schleitheimia | 2020 | Klettgau Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Switzerland | Possessed a relatively enlarged ilium | ||
| Scipionyx | 1998 | Pietraroja Plattenkalk (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Italy | So well preserved that several internal organs and their positions in life could be accurately reconstructed | ||
| Sciurumimus | 2012 | Unnamed formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Germany | Had a bushy tail similar to that of a squirrel | ||
| Soriatitan | 2017 | Golmayo Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian to Barremian) | Spain | The first confirmed brachiosaurid known from Early Cretaceous Europe | ||
| Stenopelix | 1857 | Obernkirchen Sandstein Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian) | Germany | Possibly closely related to basal ceratopsians from Late Jurassic China[67] | ||
| Streptospondylus | 1832 | Marnes de Dives/Marnes de Villers? (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Callovian to Oxfordian) | France | Originally believed to represent a marine crocodile | ||
| Struthiosaurus | 1871 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation, Gosau Group, Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Santonian to Maastrichtian) | Austria France Hungary? Romania | Analysis of its braincase suggests poor hearing and a sluggish, solitary lifestyle[68] | ||
| Syngonosaurus | 1879 | Cambridge Greensand (Early Cretaceous, Albian) | Usually considered a synonym of Acanthopholis but it has been reinterpreted as an iguanodont | |||
| Tamarro | 2021 | Tremp Group (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Spain | May have been closely related to Asian troodontids[69] | ||
| Tanystrosuchus | 1963 | Löwenstein Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | The only known vertebra was once misidentified as a phytosaur | ||
| Tarascosaurus | 1991 | Fuvelian Beds (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | France | If an abelisaurid it would be one of the few northern members of the group | ||
| Tastavinsaurus | 2008 | Forcall Formation, Xert Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | Could represent an obscure group of macronarians called Laurasiformes[70] | ||
| Taveirosaurus | 1991 | Argilas de Aveiro Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Portugal Spain? | Only known from teeth | ||
| Teinurosaurus | 1928 | Mont-Lambert Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian) | France | Poorly known | ||
| Telmatosaurus | 1903 | Sânpetru Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | One specimen preserves a facial deformity caused by an ameloblastoma[71] | ||
| Tethyshadros | 2009 | Liburnia Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) | Italy | Had limbs adapted for high speed but were too short for running | ||
| Thecocoelurus | 1923 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Has been assigned to a variety of theropod groups throughout history | |||
| Thecodontosaurus | 1836 | Magnesian Conglomerate (Late Triassic, Rhaetian) | Remains of this genus are often found in Carboniferous-aged fissure fills | |||
| Thecospondylus | 1882 | Hastings Beds (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian to Hauterivian) | Indeterminate within Dinosauria | |||
| Torvosaurus | 1979 | Kimmeridge Clay?, Lourinhã Formation, Ornatenton Formation (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Callovian to Tithonian) | ? Germany Portugal Spain? | The type species was found in the United States. Several species lived around the world, including in Europe, but T. gurneyi is the only non-American species a formal name. It represents Europe's largest terrestrial predator[72] | ||
| Transylvanosaurus | 2022 | Pui Beds (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Had an unusually wide skull compared to other rhabdodontids | ||
| Trimucrodon | 1973 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Similarities have been noted with Alocodon and Taveirosaurus[73] | ||
| Tuebingosaurus | 2022 | Trossingen Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) | Germany | Although originally assigned to Plateosaurus, it contains several features that point to a more derived position | ||
| Turiasaurus | 2006 | Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) | Spain | Extremely large despite not being a member of Neosauropoda | ||
| Valdosaurus | 1977 | Hastings Beds, Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation, Weald Clay, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Barremian) | Large and similar to Dryosaurus | |||
| Vallibonavenatrix | 2019 | Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Spain | One of the most complete spinosaurids known from Iberia | ||
| Variraptor | 1998 | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian) | France | May be closely related to Bambiraptor | ||
| Vectaerovenator | 2020 | Lower Greensand Group (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) | Only known from four vertebrae but are distinct enough to be classified as their own genus | |||
| Vectidromeus | 2023 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Mostly similar to Hypsilophodon but has enough differences to be classed as a new genus | |||
| Vectipelta | 2023 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian to Barremian) | May have been more closely related to Asian ankylosaurs than to European ones[74] | |||
| Vectiraptor | 2021 | Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Shares some features with North American dromaeosaurids | |||
| Velocipes | 1932 | Lissauer Breccia (Late Triassic, Norian) |  Poland | Has been considered a dubious, indeterminate vertebrate[75] | ||
| Volgatitan | 2018 | Unnamed formation (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian) | Closely related to South American titanosaurs | |||
| Vouivria | 2017 | Calcaires de Clerval (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian) | France | The oldest known titanosauriform | ||
| Wiehenvenator | 2016 | Ornatenton Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) | Germany | Before its formal description, it had been nicknamed "the Monster of Minden" | ||
| Xenoposeidon | 2007 | Hastings Beds (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian) | Only known from a single, very unique vertebra | |||
| Yaverlandia | 1971 | Vectis Formation?, Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) | Originally misidentified as a pachycephalosaur because of its thick skull roof | |||
| Zalmoxes | 2003 | Densus-Ciula Formation, Sânpetru Formation, Sebes Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | Romania | Two species of contrasting sizes have been named | ||
| Zby | 2014 | Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) | Portugal | Originally believed to be a specimen of Turiasaurus | ||
| Jurabrontes | 2023 | Apulia Carbonate Platform, Aptian | Two species of contrasting sizes have been named | [76] [77] | ||
This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.
Period = from:-250 till:-25TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalScaleMajor = unit:year increment:25 start:-250ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:5 start:-250TimeAxis = orientation:horAlignBars = justify
Colors = #legends id:CAR value:claret id:HER value:teal id:OMN value:blue id:black value:black id:white value:white id:cretaceous value:rgb(0.3,0.75,0.1) id:jurassic value:rgb(0.3,0.75,0.4) id:triassic value:rgb(0.3,0.75,0.7) id:mesozoic value:rgb(0.3,0.6,0.4) BarData= bar:eratop bar:space bar:periodtop bar:space bar:NAM1 bar:NAM2 bar:NAM3 bar:NAM4 bar:NAM5 bar:NAM6 bar:NAM7 bar:NAM8 bar:NAM9 bar:NAM10 bar:NAM11 bar:NAM12 bar:NAM13 bar:NAM14 bar:NAM15 bar:NAM16 bar:NAM17 bar:NAM18 bar:NAM19 bar:NAM20 bar:NAM21 bar:NAM22 bar:NAM23 bar:NAM24 bar:NAM25 bar:NAM26 bar:NAM27 bar:NAM28 bar:NAM29 bar:NAM30 bar:NAM31 bar:NAM32 bar:NAM33 bar:NAM34 bar:NAM35 bar:NAM36 bar:NAM37 bar:NAM38 bar:NAM39 bar:NAM40 bar:NAM41 bar:NAM42 bar:NAM43 bar:NAM44 bar:NAM45 bar:NAM46 bar:NAM47 bar:NAM48 bar:NAM49 bar:NAM50 bar:NAM51 bar:NAM52 bar:NAM53 bar:NAM54 bar:NAM55 bar:NAM56 bar:NAM57 bar:NAM58 bar:NAM59 bar:NAM60 bar:NAM61 bar:NAM62 bar:NAM63 bar:NAM64 bar:NAM65 bar:NAM66 bar:NAM67 bar:NAM68 bar:NAM69 bar:NAM70 bar:NAM71 bar:NAM72 bar:NAM73 bar:space bar:period bar:space bar:era
PlotData= align:center textcolor:black fontsize:M mark:(line,black) width:25 shift:(7,-4) bar:periodtop from: -145 till: -66 color:cretaceous text:Cretaceous from: -200 till: -145 color:jurassic text:Jurassic from: -250 till: -200 color:triassic text:Triassic
PlotData= align:left fontsize:M mark:(line,white) width:5 anchor:till align:left
color:HER bar:NAM1 from:-220 till:-210 text:Sellosaurus color:HER bar:NAM2 from:-216 till:-199 text:Plateosaurus color:HER bar:NAM3 from:-216 till:-203 text:Ruehleia color:HER bar:NAM4 from:-215 till:-200 text:Camelotia color:CAR bar:NAM5 from:-215 till:-200 text:Liliensternus color:HER bar:NAM6 from:-212 till:-207 text:Efraasia color:CAR bar:NAM7 from:-210 till:-205 text:Halticosaurus color:HER bar:NAM8 from:-208 till:-194 text:Scelidosaurus color:OMN bar:NAM9 from:-204 till:-199 text:Asylosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM10 from:-203 till:-196 text:Lopostropheus color:CAR bar:NAM11 from:-201 till:-195 text:Sarcosaurus color:HER bar:NAM12 from:-181 till:-169 text:Cetiosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM13 from:-181 till:-169 text:Megalosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM14 from:-171 till:-167 text:Duriavenator color:HER bar:NAM15 from:-170 till:-150 text:Bothriospondylus color:CAR bar:NAM16 from:-169 till:-164 text:Dubreuillosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM17 from:-168 till:-165 text:Poekilopleuron color:CAR bar:NAM18 from:-167 till:-164 text:Proceratosaurus color:HER bar:NAM19 from:-165 till:-160 text:Callovosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM20 from:-165 till:-145 text:Ceratosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM21 from:-164 till:-161 text:Eustreptospondylus color:HER bar:NAM22 from:-164 till:-161 text:Loricatosaurus color:HER bar:NAM23 from:-164 till:-159 text:Sarcolestes color:CAR bar:NAM24 from:-155 till:-145 text:Allosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM25 from:-155 till:-150 text:Aviatyrannis color:HER bar:NAM26 from:-155 till:-150 text:Cumnoria color:HER bar:NAM27 from:-155 till:-150 text:Dinheirosaurus color:HER bar:NAM28 from:-155 till:-150 text:Dracopelta color:HER bar:NAM29 from:-155 till:-150 text:Europasaurus color:CAR bar:NAM30 from:-155 till:-145 text:Juravenator color:HER bar:NAM31 from:-155 till:-145 text:Lourinhanosaurus color:HER bar:NAM32 from:-155 till:-145 text:Miragaia color:HER bar:NAM33 from:-154 till:-150 text:Dacentrurus color:CAR bar:NAM34 from:-150 till:-145 text:Archaeopteryx color:CAR bar:NAM35 from:-150 till:-145 text:Compsognathus color:CAR bar:NAM36 from:-150 till:-145 text:Juratyrant color:HER bar:NAM37 from:-150 till:-145 text:Lusotitan color:HER bar:NAM38 from:-150 till:-145 text:Neosodon color:HER bar:NAM39 from:-150 till:-145 text:Stegosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM40 from:-150 till:-145 text:Torvosaurus color:HER bar:NAM41 from:-150 till:-140 text:Turiasaurus color:HER bar:NAM42 from:-145 till:-140 text:Echinodon color:HER bar:NAM43 from:-145 till:-140 text:Xenoposeidon color:HER bar:NAM44 from:-144 till:-122 text:Valdosaurus color:HER bar:NAM45 from:-140 till:-136 text:Hylaeosaurus color:HER bar:NAM46 from:-140 till:-130 text:Hypsilophodon color:HER bar:NAM47 from:-140 till:-125 text:Mantellisaurus color:HER bar:NAM48 from:-138 till:-112 text:Pelorosaurus color:HER bar:NAM49 from:-136 till:-125 text:Histriasaurus color:HER bar:NAM50 from:-133 till:-127 text:Macrurosaurus color:HER bar:NAM51 from:-132 till:-112 text:Polacanthus color:HER bar:NAM52 from:-130 till:-120 text:Aragosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM53 from:-130 till:-120 text:Aristosuchus color:CAR bar:NAM54 from:-130 till:-125 text:Baryonyx color:HER bar:NAM55 from:-130 till:-123 text:Dollodon color:CAR bar:NAM56 from:-130 till:-125 text:Eotyrannus color:HER bar:NAM57 from:-130 till:-125 text:Eucamerotus color:HER bar:NAM58 from:-130 till:-120 text:Iguanodon color:CAR bar:NAM59 from:-130 till:-125 text:Neovenator color:CAR bar:NAM60 from:-127 till:-121 text:Valdoraptor color:CAR bar:NAM61 from:-115 till:-111 text:Scipionyx color:HER bar:NAM62 from:-112 till:-94 text:Acanthopholis color:HER bar:NAM63 from:-112 till:-100 text:Anoplosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM64 from:-112 till:-106 text:Erectopus color:HER bar:NAM65 from:-86 till:-83 text:Hungarosaurus color:HER bar:NAM66 from:-85 till:-66 text:Struthiosaurus color:HER bar:NAM67 from:-83.5 till:-66 text:Ampelosaurus color:CAR bar:NAM68 from:-83.5 till:-66 text:Pyroraptor color:CAR bar:NAM69 from:-70.6 till:-68 text:Elopteryx color:HER bar:NAM70 from:-72.1 till:-66 text:Hypselosaurus color:HER bar:NAM71 from:-70.6 till:-66 text:Magyarosaurus color:HER bar:NAM72 from:-70.6 till:-66 text:Zalmoxes color:CAR bar:NAM73 from:-70.6 till:-66 text:Betasuchus
PlotData= align:center textcolor:black fontsize:M mark:(line,black) width:25 bar:period from: -145 till: -66 color:cretaceous text:Cretaceous from: -200 till: -145 color:jurassic text:Jurassic from: -250 till: -200 color:triassic text:Triassic
bar:era from: -250 till: -66 color:mesozoic text:Mesozoic