List of European dinosaurs

Dinosaurs evolved partway through the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, around 230 Ma (million years ago). At that time, the earth had one supercontinental landmass, called Pangaea, of which Europe was a part.[1] So it remained throughout the Triassic. By the start of the Jurassic period, some 30 million years later, the supercontinent began to split into Laurasia and Gondwana. The largest inlet from Panthalassa, the superocean that surrounded Pangaea, was called the Tethys Ocean, and as this inlet cut deeper into the supercontinent, much of Europe was flooded.

The Tethys Ocean splitting Laurasia from Gondwana.

By the Cretaceous, from 145 to 66 million years ago, the continents were beginning to approach their present shapes, but not their present positions, and Europe remained tropical. At times, it was a chain of island-microcontinents including Baltica and Iberia.

Europe is relatively rich in fossils from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and much of what is known about European dinosaurs dates from this time. During the Maastrichtian the end of the Cretaceous dinosaurs were dominating western and Central Europe as the Tremp Formation in Spain dates back to that age. Examples of dinosaurs from Maastrichtian Europe are Struthiosaurus and Canardia.

Criteria for inclusion

  • The creature must appear on the [List of dinosaur genera].
  • Fossils of the creature must have been found in [Europe].
  • This list is a complement to [:Category:Dinosaurs of Europe].

List of European dinosaurs

Nomen dubium
Invalid
Nomen nudum
NamePeriodDiet[2]CountryNotes
AcanthopholisCretaceousherbivoreEnglandAn ankylosaur.
AdynomosaurusCretaceousherbivoreSpainThe first non-avian dinosaur described in 2019.
AepisaurusCretaceousherbivoreFranceA dubious sauropod.
AgrosaurusTriassicherbivoreEnglandMistakenly thought to be from Australia; now considered possibly the same as Thecodontosaurus.
AjkaceratopsCretaceousherbivoreHungaryThe first definitive ceratopsian from Europe.
AllosaurusJurassiccarnivorePortugal, USA, & TanzaniaEuropean species is Allosaurus europaeus.
AlocodonJurassic(herbivore)PortugalPossibly a neornithischian.
AltispinaxCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandIncludes "Becklespinax".
AmanziaJurassicherbivoreSwitzerlandA non-neosauropod eusauropod.
AmpelosaurusCretaceousherbivoreFranceA titanosaur known to possess spike-like osteoderms.
AnoplosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandAn ankylosaur formerly considered to be an ornithopod.
AragosaurusCretaceousherbivoreSpainA Camarasaurus-like sauropod from Spain.
ArcovenatorCretaceouscarnivoreFranceOne of the few abelisaurs from the Northern Hemisphere.
ArchaeopteryxJurassiccarnivoreGermanyPossibly a bird.
ArenysaurusCretaceousherbivoreSpainOne of the last lambeosaurine hadrosaurs.
AristosuchusCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandA compsognathid.
AsylosaurusTriassicherbivore/omnivoreEnglandSimilar to Thecodontosaurus; its remains survived bombing during World War II.
AtsinganosaurusCretaceousherbivoreFranceA member of the clade Lirainosaurinae.
AviatyrannisJurassiccarnivorePortugaltyrannosauroid.
BalaurCretaceousherbivore/omnivoreRomaniaEither a bird or a non-avialan theropod.
BariliumCretaceousherbivoreEnglandAlmost called "Torillion".
BaryonyxCretaceouscarnivoreSpain, Portugal, EnglandA spinosaurid adapted to catch fish.
BetasuchusCretaceouscarnivoreNetherlandsOne of the few known non-avian dinosaurs from the Netherlands.
BihariosaurusCretaceousherbivoreRomaniaActually a nomen nudum and invalid.
BlasisaurusCretaceousherbivoreSpainOne of the last lambeosaurines, together with Arenysaurus.
BothriospondylusJurassicherbivoreEnglandType species was found in England. Attributed remains from France and Madagascar have been assigned to other genera.
BradycnemeCretaceous(carnivore)RomaniaEither a troodontid or alvarezsaur.
BurianosaurusCretaceousherbivoreCzech RepublicAn ornithopod named after paleoartist Zdenek Burian.
CalamosaurusCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandA compsognathid.
CalamospondylusCretaceous(carnivore)EnglandPossibly a primitive oviraptorosaur.
CallovosaurusJurassicherbivoreEnglandOne of the oldest dryosaurids.
CamarillasaurusCretaceouscarnivoreSpainA primitive spinosaur.
CamelotiaTriassicherbivoreEnglandOne of the largest dinosaurs of the Triassic period.
CanardiaCretaceousherbivoreFranceIt represents a lineage of hadrosaurs previously unknown in Europe.
CardiodonJurassicherbivoreEnglandIts remains are the first sauropod remains ever found.
CeratosaurusJurassiccarnivorePortugal & USAEuropean species is Ceratosaurus dentisulcatus.
CetiosauriscusJurassicherbivoreEnglandPossibly a primitive diplodocoid.
CetiosaurusJurassicherbivoreEngland, France, Switzerland, MoroccoThe first sauropod correctly identified as such.
ChondrosteosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandA dubious sauropod with a convoluted taxonomic history.
CompsognathusJurassiccarnivoreGermany & FranceOne of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs.
ConcavenatorCretaceouscarnivoreSpainA strange carcharodontosaurid with a hump-back and possibly feathers.
CraspedodonCretaceousherbivoreBelgiumMaybe a ceratopsian.
CraterosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandPossibly an Early Cretaceous stegosaur.
CruxicheirosJurassiccarnivoreEnglandA basal tetanuran.
CryptosaurusJurassicherbivoreEnglandAn ankylosaur.
CumnoriaJurassicherbivoreEnglandA relative of Camptosaurus.
DacentrurusJurassicherbivoreEngland, France, Spain, PortugalA large stegosaur and the first of its kind to be discovered.
DarwinsaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandOne of the many iguanodonts from Early Cretaceous England.
DelapparentiaCretaceousherbivoreSpainMay be the same as Iguanodon.
DemandasaurusCretaceousherbivoreSpainA rebbachisaurid.
DinheirosaurusJurassicherbivorePortugalMay be the same as Supersaurus.
DinodocusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandDespite its similar-sounding name, it probably wasn't closely related to Diplodocus.
DolichosuchusTriassiccarnivoreGermanyA primitive theropod.
DraconyxJurassicherbivorePortugalA close relative of Camptosaurus.
DracopeltaJurassicherbivorePortugalAn ankylosaur.
DracoraptorJurassiccarnivoreWalesThe first non-avian dinosaur found in Wales.
DromaeosauroidesCretaceouscarnivoreDenmarkThe first non-avian dinosaur genus named from Scandinavian remains.
DubreuillosaurusJurassiccarnivoreFranceFound in France.
DuriatitanJurassicherbivoreEnglandFormerly a species of Cetiosaurus.
DuriavenatorJurassiccarnivoreEnglandFormerly a species of Megalosaurus. Also informally known as "Walkersaurus".
DryosaurusJurassicherbivorePortugal & USAMay be intermediate.
EchinodonCretaceousomnivoreEnglandThe latest surviving heterodontosaurid.
EfraasiaTriassicherbivoreGermanyMixed up with a lot of other reptiles throughout its history.
ElopteryxCretaceouscarnivoreRomaniaEither a troodontid or alvarezsaur.
EmausaurusJurassicherbivoreGermanyA basal thyreophoran that may be either bipedal or quadrupedal.
EotyrannusCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandA tyrannosauroid.
EousdryosaurusJurassicherbivorePortugalA dryosaurid ornithopod.
ErectopusCretaceouscarnivoreFranceA basal carnosaur.
EucamerotusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandA sauropod with a convoluted history.
EucercosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandPossibly an ornithopod.
EuronychodonCretaceouscarnivorePortugal & UzbekistanA tooth taxon that may be a troodontid.
EuropasaurusJurassicherbivoreGermanyAn island-living sauropod that grew to small sizes.
EuropatitanCretaceousherbivoreSpainA large sauropod.
EuropeltaCretaceousherbivoreSpainRepresents Europe's most completely known ankylosaur.
EustreptospondylusJurassiccarnivoreEnglandSome have suggested it could swim.
GalvesaurusJurassic/CretaceousherbivoreSpainAlso spelled "Galveosaurus". See article for more information.
GenusaurusCretaceouscarnivoreFranceAn abelisaur.
GideonmantelliaCretaceousherbivoreSpainA basal ornithopod similar to Hypsilophodon.
GigantosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandNot to be confused with Giganotosaurus. This is a sauropod.
HalticosaurusTriassiccarnivoreGermanyA dubious theropod.
HeptasteornisCretaceouscarnivoreRomaniaPossibly an alvarezsaur.
HistriasaurusCretaceousherbivoreCroatiaOne of the oldest rebbachisaurids.
HorshamosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandFormerly a species of Polacanthus.
HungarosaurusCretaceousherbivoreHungaryA nodosaur.
HuxleysaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandNamed after scientists Thomas Henry Huxley.
HylaeosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandThe third animal recognized as a non-avian dinosaur.
HypselosaurusCretaceousherbivoreFranceThe first titanosaur known to science.
HypselospinusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandAn iguanodont.
HypsilophodonCretaceousherbivoreEnglandOne of the more well-known basal ornithischians.
IguanodonCretaceousherbivoreEngland, Belgium, USA, France, Mongolia & SpainThe second non-avian dinosaur known to science, and the first known herbivorous non-avian dinosaur.
IliosuchusCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandPossibly a tyrannosauroid.
"Ischyrosaurus"JurassicherbivoreEnglandThis name is preoccupied, but by what is unknown.
IuticosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandA sauropod.
JuratyrantJurassiccarnivoreEngland4 r A tyrannosauroid.
JuravenatorJurassiccarnivoreGermanyIt shows evidence of having both scales and feathers.
KukufeldiaCretaceousherbivoreEnglandNamed after Cuckfield in England.
LexovisaurusJurassicherbivoreEngland, FranceA stegosaur from the Middle Jurassic.
LiassaurusJurassic(unknown)EnglandMay be the same as Sarcosaurus.
LiliensternusTriassiccarnivoreGermanyAn early predator with a short, double cfgcrest on its snout.
LirainosaurusCretaceousherbivoreSpainA lithostrotian titanosaur.
LophostropheusTriassic/JurassiccarnivoreFranceOne of the few dinosaurs that lived in two separate geologic periods.
LoricatosaurusJurassicherbivoreEngland and FranceMost Lexovisaurus remains have been transferred to this animal.
LosillasaurusJurassic/CretaceousherbivoreSpainA large sauropod.
LourinhanosaurusJurassiccarnivorePortugalA bizarre theropod that may have swallowed gastroliths.
LourinhasaurusJurassicherbivorePortugalA camarasaurid sauropod.
LusitanosaurusJurassicherbivorePortugalPossibly dubious.
LusotitanJurassicherbivorePortugalFormerly thought to represent European remains of Brachiosaurus.
LusovenatorJurassiccarnivorePortugalA carcharodontosaurian theropod.
MacrurosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandPossibly a sauropod.
MagnamanusCretaceousherbivoreSpainAn iguanodont with unusually large hands.
MagnosaurusJurassiccarnivoreEnglandA megalosaurid theropod.
MagyarosaurusCretaceousherbivoreRomaniaOne of the smallest adult sauropods, reaching up to a maximum 6 meters (20 feet) in length.
MantellisaurusCretaceousherbivoreBelgium, England, GermanyA common ornithopod.
MantellodonCretaceousherbivoreEnglandMay be the same as another English ornithopod.
MatheronodonCretaceousherbivoreFranceAn ornithopod with two unusually large teeth.
MegalosaurusJurassiccarnivoreEngland, France, Austria, Romania, BelgiumThe first non-avian dinosaur known to science.
MerosaurusJurassiccarnivoreEnglandOnce thought to belong to Scelidosaurus.
MetriacanthosaurusJurassiccarnivoreEnglandA close relative of Allosaurus.
MiragaiaJurassicherbivorePortugalA stegosaur with an unusually long neck.
MochlodonCretaceousherbivoreAustriaA rhabdodontid.
MorelladonCretaceousherbivoreSpainAn ornithopod with a sail which is not as high as that in Ouranosaurus.
MorinosaurusCretaceousherbivoreFranceA sauropod.
NeosodonJurassicherbivoreFranceUnlike practically all taxonomic genera, this has no referred species to it.
NeovenatorCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandA large predator.
NewtonsaurusTriassiccarnivoreEnglandFormerly "Zanclodon cambrensis".
NormanniasaurusCretaceousherbivoreFranceA sauropod.
NuthetesCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandA dromaeosaur.
OhmdenosaurusJurassicherbivoreGermanyA small basal sauropod.
OplosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandA sauropod.
OrnithodesmusCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandA dromaeosaur formerly considered to represent a pterosaur.
OrnithopsisCretaceousherbivoreEnglandA sauropod.
OrthomerusCretaceousherbivoreNetherlands, BelgiumA possibly dubious ornithopod from the Netherlands.
OwenodonCretaceousherbivoreEnglandAn ornithopod.
PaludititanCretaceousherbivoreRomaniaA contemporary of Magyarosaurus.
PantydracoTriassicherbivoreWalesA small basal sauropodomorph.
PararhabdodonCretaceousherbivoreSpainThe first known lambeosaurine from Europe.
PelecanimimusCretaceouscarnivoreSpainA primitive ornithomimosaur with 200 teeth.
PelorosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEngland & PortugalA sauropod with a confusing taxonomy.
PhyllodonJurassicherbivorePortugalTooth taxon; probably an ornithopod.
PiveteausaurusJurassiccarnivoreFranceA theropod.
PlateosaurusTriassicherbivoreGermany, France, Switzerland, Norway, & GreenlandFossils of this prosauropod genus have been found widespread across Europe.
PneumatoraptorCretaceouscarnivoreHungaryAn indeterminate paravian.
PoekilopleuronJurassiccarnivoreEnglandA close relative of Megalosaurus.
PolacanthusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandA relatively well known nodosaur.
PriodontognathusJurassicherbivoreEnglandA dubious ankylosaur.
ProaCretaceousherbivoreSpainNamed for its prow-shaped jaw.
ProceratosaurusJurassiccarnivoreEnglandA tyrannosauroid.
ProcompsognathusTriassiccarnivoreGermanyA coelophysoid.
ProplanicoxaCretaceousherbivoreEnglandProbably the same as Mantellisaurus.
PterospondylusTriassiccarnivoreGermanyA possibly dubious coelophysoid.
PyroraptorCretaceouscarnivoreFranceNamed because it was found after a forest fire took place.
RegnosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandOne of the first stegosaurs discovered.
RhabdodonCretaceousherbivoreFrance, Czech Republic, Romania, SpainA common ornithopod.
RhadinosaurusCretaceousherbivoreAustria, Romania, France, HungaryEither a synonym of Struthiosaurus or a crocodilian.
RiabininohadrosCretaceousherbivoreRussiaFormerly assigned to Orthomerus.
RuehleiaTriassicherbivoreGermanyA plateosaurian sauropodomorph ("prosauropod").
SaltriovenatorJurassiccarnivoreItalyA ceratosaur, appeared for eighteen years as a nomen nudum called "Saltriosaurus". It was possibly the biggest predator of its time.
SarcolestesJurassicherbivoreEnglandA Jurassic` ankylosaur.
SarcosaurusJurassiccarnivoreEnglandEither a ceratosaur or a coelophysoid.
ScelidosaurusJurassicherbivoreEnglandA primitive thyreophoran.
SchleitheimiatriassicherbivoreSwitzerlandAn early member of Sauropodiformes.
ScipionyxCretaceouscarnivoreItalyThe first dinosaur described from Italy. Preserved internal organs of this genus have been found.
SciurumimusJurassiccarnivoreGermanyOnce considered a megalosaurid; it is known for its feathered tail.
SellacoxaCretaceousherbivoreEnglandAn ornithopod.
SoriatitanCretaceousherbivoreSpainA large, recently discovered sauropod.
StegosaurusJurassicherbivorePortugal & USARemains have been found in Portugal.
StenopelixCretaceousherbivoreGermanyA basal ceratopsian.
StreptospondylusJurassiccarnivoreFranceThe second non-avian theropod known to science.
StruthiosaurusCretaceousherbivoreAustria, France, Romania, HungaryOne of the smallest ankylosaurs.
SuchosaurusCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandPossibly the same as Baryonyx.
TanystrosuchusTriassiccarnivoreGermanyA dubious theropod.
TarascosaurusCretaceouscarnivoreFrancePossibly an abelisaur.
TastavinsaurusCretaceousherbivoreSpainSometimes considered to be part of a unique clade called "Laurasiformes".
TaveirosaurusCretaceousherbivorePortugal, SpainAn indeterminate ornithischian.
TeinurosaurusJurassiccarnivorePortugalA theropod.
TelmatosaurusCretaceousherbivoreRomaniaA small basal hadrosauromorph.
TethyshadrosCretaceousherbivoreItalyOne of the smallest known hadrosauromorphs.
ThecocoelurusCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandPossibly an early ornithomimosaur.
ThecodontosaurusTriassicherbivoreEnglandSometimes found in Carboniferous deposits.
ThecospondylusCretaceous(carnivore)EnglandScientists are not sure if it is a saurischian or an ornithischian.
TherosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandThe original Iguanodon teeth have been referred to this genus.
TorvosaurusJurassiccarnivorePortugal & USAA species of Torvosaurus has been found in Portugal (T. gurneyi).
TrimucrodonJurassicherbivorePortugalPossibly an ornithischian.
TuriasaurusJurassic/CretaceousherbivoreSpain, PortugalOne of the largest known dinosaurs.
ValdoraptorCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandPossibly an early ornithomimosaur.
ValdosaurusCretaceousherbivoreEnglandA dryosaurid.
VallibonavenatrixCretaceouscarnivoreSpainThe first spinosaurid named since Ichthyovenator in 2012.
VariraptorCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandA dromaeosaur.
VelocipesTriassiccarnivorePolandIts dinosaurian status has been questioned.
VouivriaJurassicherbivoreFranceFormerly thought to represent Bothriospondylus.
WellnhoferiaJurassiccarnivoreGermanyMay be the same as Archaeopteryx.
XenoposeidonCretaceousherbivoreEnglandPossibly an early rebbachisaur.
YaverlandiaCretaceouscarnivoreEnglandOnce thought to represent a pachycephalosaur, now thought to be a maniraptor.
ZalmoxesCretaceousherbivoreRomaniaA rhabdodontid.
ZbyJurassicherbivorePortugalA large sauropod.

Timeline

This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.

MesozoicTriassicJurassicCretaceousBetasuchusZalmoxesMagyarosaurusHypselosaurusElopteryxPyroraptorAmpelosaurusStruthiosaurusHungarosaurusErectopusAnoplosaurusAcanthopholisScipionyxValdoraptorNeovenatorIguanodonEucamerotusEotyrannusDollodonBaryonyxAristosuchusAragosaurusPolacanthusMacrurosaurusHistriasaurusPelorosaurusMantellisaurusHypsilophodonHylaeosaurusValdosaurusXenoposeidonEchinodonTuriasaurusTorvosaurusStegosaurusNeosodonLusotitanJuratyrantCompsognathusArchaeopteryxDacentrurusMiragaia (dinosaur)LourinhanosaurusJuravenatorEuropasaurusDracopeltaDinheirosaurusCumnoriaAviatyrannisAllosaurusSarcolestesLoricatosaurusEustreptospondylusCeratosaurusCallovosaurusProceratosaurusPoekilopleuronDubreuillosaurusBothriospondylusDuriavenatorMegalosaurusCetiosaurusSarcosaurusAsylosaurusScelidosaurusHalticosaurusEfraasiaLiliensternusCamelotiaRuehleiaPlateosaurusSellosaurusMesozoicTriassicJurassicCretaceous

See also

Notes

  1. Manchester Metropolitan University Archived 2009-05-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Diet is sometimes hard to determine for dinosaurs and should be considered a "best guess"
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