List of dinosaur genera

Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago, although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is the subject of active research. They became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates after the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event 201.3 million years ago; their dominance continued throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record demonstrates that birds are modern feathered dinosaurs, having evolved from earlier theropods during the Late Jurassic epoch. As such, birds were the only dinosaur lineage to survive the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event approximately 66 million years ago. Dinosaurs can therefore be divided into avian dinosaurs, or birds; and non-avian dinosaurs, which are all dinosaurs other than birds.

Mounted skeletons of Tyrannosaurus (left) and Apatosaurus (right) at the AMNH.

This list of dinosaurs is a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been considered to be non-avian dinosaurs, but this list also includes some dinosaurs which are disputed to be either avian or non-avian, as well as purely vernacular terms.

The list includes all commonly accepted genera, but also genera that are now considered invalid, doubtful (nomen dubium), or were not formally published (nomen nudum), as well as junior synonyms of more established names, and genera that are no longer considered dinosaurs. Many listed names have been reclassified as everything from true birds to crocodilians to petrified wood. The list contains 1671 names, of which approximately 1243 are considered either valid dinosaur genera or nomina dubia.

Scope and terminology

There is no official, canonical list of all non-avian dinosaur genera. The closest is the Dinosaur Genera List, compiled by biological nomenclature expert George Olshevsky, which was first published online in 1995 and is regularly updated. The most authoritative general source in the field is the second (2004) edition of The Dinosauria. The vast majority of citations are based on Olshevsky's list, and all subjective determinations (such as junior synonymy or non-dinosaurian status) are based on The Dinosauria, except where they conflict with primary literature. These exceptions are noted.

Naming conventions and terminology follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Technical terms used include:

  • Junior synonym: A name which describes the same taxon as a previously published name. If two or more genera are formally designated and the type specimens are later assigned to the same genus, the first to be published (in chronological order) is the senior synonym, and all other instances are junior synonyms. Senior synonyms are generally used, except by special decision of the ICZN (see Tyrannosaurus), but junior synonyms cannot be used again, even if deprecated. Junior synonymy is often subjective, unless the genera described were both based on the same type specimen.
  • Nomen nudum (Latin for "naked name"): A name that has appeared in print but has not yet been formally published by the standards of the ICZN. Nomina nuda (the plural form) are invalid, and are therefore not italicized as a proper generic name would be. If the name is later formally published, that name is no longer a nomen nudum and will be italicized on this list. Often, the formally published name will differ from any nomina nuda that describe the same specimen.
  • Nomen oblitum (Latin for "forgotten name"): A name that has not been used in the scientific community for more than fifty years after its original proposal.
  • Nomen manuscriptum (Latin for "manuscript name"): A name that appears in manuscript of a formal publication that has no scientific backing.
  • Preoccupied name: A name that is formally published, but which has already been used for another taxon. This second use is invalid (as are all subsequent uses) and the name must be replaced. Preoccupied names are not valid generic names.
  • Nomen dubium (Latin for "dubious name"): A name describing a fossil with no unique diagnostic features. As this can be an extremely subjective and controversial designation (see Hadrosaurus), no genera are marked as such on this list.

A
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Replica of an Allosaurus skeleton.
Artist's reconstruction of Amargasaurus.
Artist's reconstruction of Anzu.
Artist's restoration of Archaeoceratops.

B
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A view from below of the rearing Barosaurus mounted in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Artist's restoration of Borealopelta.

C
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Centrosaurus skull.
Artist's restoration of Ceratosaurus.
Coelophysis mounted skeleton at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

D
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Artist's restoration of Deinocheirus.
Artist's restoration of Deinonychus.

E
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Replica of an Eoraptor skeleton.
Life restoration of Euoplocephalus.

F
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Life restoration of Fruitadens.

G
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Skeleton of Giraffatitan.

H
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Artist's restoration of Herrerasaurus.
Skeleton of Hypsilophodon.

I
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Skeleton of an Iguanodon mounted in a modern quadrupedal posture in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels.

J
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Life restoration of Jinfengopteryx.

K
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Kentrosaurus skeleton.

L
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Artist's restoration of Lambeosaurus.
Life reconstruction of two individuals of Linhenykus in their arid Campanian-aged living environment.

M
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Artist's reconstruction of Massospondylus.
Cast of a Muttaburrasaurus skeleton.

N
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Life restoration of Neimongosaurus.

O
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Artist's reconstruction of Omeisaurus.

P
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Life restoration of Pachycephalosaurus.
Artist's restoration of Plateosaurus.
Prosaurolophus skull.

Q
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Artist's reconstruction of Qianzhousaurus.

R
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Artist's restoration of Rapetosaurus.

S
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Skorpiovenator skull.
Artist's restoration of Stegosaurus.
Cast of a skeleton of Struthiomimus.
Skeleton of Suchomimus.

T
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Artist's restoration of Thecodontosaurus.
Skeleton of Triceratops at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

U
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Illustration of the skull of Udanoceratops.

V
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Artist's restoration of Velociraptor.

W
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Artist's restoration of Wiehenvenator.

X
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Artist's restoration of Xuwulong.

Y
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Artist's restoration of Yi.

Z
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Life restoration of Zuniceratops.

See also

Notes
  • Uncited genera names can be attributed to Olshevsky's "Dinosaur Genera List". Dalianraptor is listed by Olshevsky, but omitted from this list, since it has not been described as a non-avian dinosaur in a published source.
  1. Tereschenko, VS & Alifanov, VR (2003). "Bainoceratops efremovi, a new protoceratopid dinosaur (Protoceratopidae, Neoceratopsia) from the Bain-Dzak Locality (South Mongolia)". Paleontological Journal. 37 (3): 293–302.
  2. Bell, P.R., Brougham, T., Herne, M.C., Frauenfelder, T., & Smith, E.T. (2019). Fostoria dhimbangunmal, gen. et sp. nov., a new iguanodontian (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) from the mid-Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: e1564757. doi:10.1080/02724634.2019.1564757

References
  • Lambert, D. (1993). "A to Z of Dinosaurs" In: The Ultimate Dinosaur Book. Dorling Kindersley, 192 pp. ISBN 0-7513-0047-0
  • Olshevsky, G. (1995 onwards). Dinosaur Genera List. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  • Walters, M. & J. Paker (1995). Dictionary of Prehistoric Life. Claremont Books. ISBN 1-85471-648-4.
  • Weishampel, D.B., P. Dodson & H. Osmólska (eds.) (2004). The Dinosauria, Second Edition. University of California Press, 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.

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