Though they became extinct, dinosaurs were once the ruler of Earth. Very much loved by kids and nerds, dinosaurs helped us understand evolution better. Currently, there are 700 species and 300 valid genera of dinosaurs that have been named. But the fossil records show that there are more species of dinosaurs that are yet to be discovered. Each name of a dinosaur has a meaning. If you are into dinosaurs and want to know more about all types of dinosaur names and pictures, this article is for you. Also, you will find all dinosaurs name meanings along with all dinosaurs names and pictures here.
Introduction to Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of prehistoric reptiles that lived on our Earth 245 million years ago. (See Interesting History of Dino Bones)
- They are the ancestors of today’s birds.
- The non-avian dinosaurs (extinct now) vary in shape and size.
- They range from as small as our hands to as big as mountains.
- Almost all types of dinosaurs lived on land.
- Some stayed in lakes and swamps for less to get food but eventually came back to land to live.
- Herbivorous dinosaurs walked using four or two legs, while carnivorous dinosaurs walked using two legs.
Some Dinosaurs Facts
Before discussing all types of dinosaur names and pictures, let’s read some of their facts. (See Are Dinosaurs Alive?)
- The word dinosaurs translate to terrible lizards.
- Birds are considered the modern featured dinosaurs and are believed to be an evolved species of avian dinosaurs that somehow escaped from extinction.
- Paleontologists have found out that dinosaurs lived on specific land and across all continents. Yes! Dinosaurs could have lived in India too.
- Titanosaur is the giant dinosaur ever found to date.
- Dinosaurs have different tastes. You know how T. rex loves meat, but the extremely large Giraffatitan used to eat plants alone.
- The weirdest known dinosaur is Pegomastax because it is described as a cross between a parrot and a porcupine. (See Can Parrots really Talk?)
All Types of Dinosaur Names and Pictures
Paleontologists love naming dinosaurs, and they consider it a fun activity. Do you know a tiny raptor was named Bambiraptor after Walt Disney’s deer? Below are all types of dinosaur names and pictures.
As mentioned before, roughly 700 species of dinosaurs have been named so far. Go through the list of all dinosaurs name meanings along with all dinosaurs names and pictures. (See How many animals are there in the world?)
1. Velociraptor mongoliensis
Unlike the movie Jurassic Park portrayed, Velociraptor is slow and much smaller in real life. Except for the detail of their claw, they possessed a giant sharp hook-like claw in their second finger, which helped them hold onto their prey. No one could escape the clutch of a Velociraptor! (See 5 Mammals that lay eggs)
2. Tyrannosaurus rex
The word Tyrannosaurus comes from Greek and Latin, meaning Tyrant Lizard King. According to a study from scientific reports, T. rex was an invasive species from Asia. One of the largest carnivorous, T. rex remains the scariest dinosaur species in the list of all types of dinosaur names and pictures, as its force bite is equal to three times that of the white shark. (See What Was Before Dinosaurs?)
3. Mapusaurus roseae
Mapusaurus means Earth Lizard in Greek. This is one of the largest dinosaurs that ever walked on Earth. This flesh-eating dinosaur is bigger than T. rex and might be the biggest dinosaur of all. The scariest part is these 30 feet tall species hunt in packs. Think of the sound these dinosaurs produce during a stampede! (See Do Insects Sleep?)
4. Ankylosaurus magniventris
Just because this was an herbivore, you can’t categorize them as harmless. In times of defense, its knobby bone-armored tail will hit you so strongly that the blow will have a bone-crushing effect. (See 14 Interesting Facts about Mammals)
5. Coelophysis bauri
This agile 44-pound dinosaur has blade-like cutting teeth to destroy the prey’s flesh in a few seconds. On top of this, these dinosaurs hunt in packs. These dinosaurs are also suspected of cannibalism, but scientists have no proof for it. (See Who Discovered the First Dinosaur Bone?)
6. Majungasaurus crenatissimus
Like modern-day big cats, this species had a short and stout nose to hold their prey by the neck until they died. This species is popular for its cannibalistic nature and a skull different from most theropods. (See What’s Bigger Crocodile Or Alligator?)
7. Allosaurus
This is one of the large carnivorous theropods that lived during the Late Jurassic Epoch. This species is faster, leaner, and has longer arms than T.Rex. Considering them to be one of the most ambitious and gruesome predators, scientists have found fossils of other species of dinosaurs like Stegosaurus with the bite marks of Allosaurus. (See 25 Types of Dinosaurs)
8. Triceratops
Instantly recognizable dinosaurs, Triceratops are gentle plant-eating dinosaur species with fearsome-looking horns(three) used by them to court and keep the T. rex at bay. (See What is a Herd of Moose Called?)
9. Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus translates to roof lizard. This popular lizard is 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Among the list of all types of dinosaur names and pictures, no one knows the exact structure of this lizard’s spikey tails. Thanks to movies like Jurassic Park, this plant-eater has won the hearts of many. (See 10 Types Of Dart Frogs)
10. Spinosaurus
Spinosaurus or the spine lizard’s body structure is still a mystery to many scientists. It has a peculiar 5.5-foot sail and a fin-like fan whose purpose is highly debated among paleontologists. It is assumed that Spinosaurus is a river-dwelling, fish-eating dinosaur and considered the only dinosaur known to swim. Its strong back legs are believed to help them run 15 mph.
11. Brachiosaurus
This lizard’s name comes from Greek, meaning arm lizard. This dinosaur gained popularity after the release of Jurassic Park. The fossil evidence assumes that this species could have been 82 feet long (body) with a neck alone extending to 30 feet. (See How Big Is the Biggest Whale)
12. Dilophosaurus
The word Dilophosaurus means a double-chested lizard. This species is completely different from what filmmakers portrayed in Jurassic Park. This species wasn’t small, spit poison, or had a frill around the neck. Contrarily, this species was assumed to be 20 feet tall and weigh 1000 pounds. These dinosaurs were scavengers, and they supplement their diet by hunting small fishes and animals. (See How do porcupines attack?)
13. Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx, meaning ancient wing, is one of the hotly debated species. Is this species a dinosaur or a bird or something in between both? No one knows for sure. But the fossil of this species at the Wyoming Dinosaur Centre in Thermopolis, Germany, is one of the world’s most famous artifacts. (See Why Did the Archaeopteryx Become Extinct?)
14. Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus means deceptive lizard. It is known as Brontosaurus. This species is known for its foot-wide eggs and their unique body structure as adults. They are likely to grow 70 to 90 feet long with a 50-foot-long tail and a neck towering over the wide body. This species gained popularity in the sitcom Flintstones. (See Do Insects Sleep?)
15. Iguanodon
Iguanodon was named because of its similarity and the modern-day iguana’s teeth. Iguanodon is one of the prehistoric animals to be named formally as a type of dinosaur after Megalosaurus. (See How to Describe Crocodile?)
Dinosaurs are diverse species, and scientists still discover new fossils every day. It is not easy to list all types of dinosaur names and pictures and all dinosaur name meanings. There is something unique about Dinosauria that makes us go back to it. Not to mention the hand of Hollywood in making the dinosaurs a more fascinating species than all others. (See Are Humans the only Animals that Sweat?)
