Archives: Species

Deinonychus Quick Facts

Scientifically accurate reconstruction of Deinonychus antirrhopus, a feathered Early Cretaceous dromaeosaur, walking across a Cloverly Formation floodplain with folded wing feathers, a raised sickle claw, and a long stiffened tail.

Quick Info Category Information Scientific Name Deinonychus antirrhopus Meaning of Name “Terrible claw” Described By John H. Ostrom Year Named 1969 Classification Dromaeosauridae Age Early Cretaceous (approximately 115–108 million years ago) Geographic Range Western North America Known From United States (Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Utah) Formation Primarily Cloverly Formation Diet Carnivore Locomotion Bipedal Estimated Length 3.0–3.5 … Read more

Carnotaurus Quick Facts

Full-body reconstruction of Carnotaurus sastrei standing in a Late Cretaceous wetland environment, showing its distinctive horns above the eyes, deep short skull, extremely reduced forelimbs, long running-adapted hindlimbs, scaly skin, and muscular tail.

Carnotaurus Quick Info Field Information Scientific Name Carnotaurus sastrei Common Name Carnotaurus Taxonomic Status Valid species Classification Theropoda → Abelisauridae Geological Age Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Age Range Approximately 72–69.9 million years ago Formation La Colonia Formation (commonly cited; stratigraphic interpretation remains discussed) Location Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina Diet Carnivorous Estimated Length 7.5–9 m Estimated Weight … Read more

Giganotosaurus: Quick Facts

Full-body scientific reconstruction of Giganotosaurus carolinii standing on a semi-arid floodplain within the Late Cretaceous Candeleros Formation of Patagonia, Argentina. The giant carcharodontosaurid theropod is shown in three-quarter lateral view with its long, low skull, serrated teeth, three-fingered forelimbs, powerful hindlimbs, horizontal posture, and elongated balancing tail clearly visible. The image serves as a definitive hub reconstruction illustrating the overall appearance and diagnostic anatomy of one of the largest known predatory dinosaurs.

Species Quick Info Attribute Detail Scientific name Giganotosaurus carolinii Pronunciation jih-GAN-oh-toh-SORE-us Name meaning “Giant southern lizard,” from Greek gigas (giant), notos (southern), and sauros (lizard); the species name carolinii honours discoverer Rubén Dario Carolini Classification Animalia → Chordata → Dinosauria → Saurischia → Theropoda → Carcharodontosauridae → Giganotosaurus Period Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian), approximately 99–97 million … Read more

Ankylosaurus: Quick Facts

Full-body reconstruction of Ankylosaurus magniventris standing on a Late Cretaceous Hell Creek floodplain beside shallow river channels, showing its broad armored body, cervical half-rings, and massive tail club in a scientifically accurate species-reference view.

Quick Info Attribute Detail Scientific name Ankylosaurus magniventris Pronunciation an-KY-loh-SORE-us mag-nih-VEN-triss Name meaning “Fused lizard”; species epithet means “large-bellied” Classification Ornithischia → Ankylosauria → Ankylosauridae → Ankylosaurus → A. magniventris Period Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), approximately 68–66 million years ago Known from Hell Creek Formation and Lance Formation, western North America Diet Herbivore; low-browsing vegetation Length … Read more

Smilodon: Quick Facts

Full-body scientific reconstruction of Smilodon fatalis, the saber-toothed cat of Late Pleistocene North America. The animal is shown in a three-quarter lateral view standing in an open grassland and woodland habitat. Diagnostic features including the elongated saber canines, deep skull, muscular neck, powerful forequarters, broad chest, and short tail are clearly visible. The image serves as a documentary-style reference illustrating the overall appearance and anatomy of the species.

Species Quick Info Attribute Detail Scientific name Smilodon Lund, 1842 Pronunciation SMY-loh-don Name meaning “Knife tooth” (Greek smilē + odōn) Classification Animalia > Chordata > Mammalia > Carnivora > Felidae > Machairodontinae > Smilodon Period Pleistocene, approximately 2.5 million–10,000 years ago Found in North America (S. fatalis, S. gracilis) and South America (S. populator); major … Read more

Woolly Mammoth

Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) standing on a frost-covered Mammoth Steppe at sunrise, showing its shaggy coat, shoulder hump, and long curved tusks.

Quick Facts Attribute Detail Scientific name Mammuthus primigenius Pronunciation mam-OO-thus prim-ih-JEE-nee-us Name meaning Mammuthus: mammoth; primigenius: primeval or first-born Classification Animalia > Chordata > Mammalia > Proboscidea > Elephantidae > Mammuthus > M. primigenius Period Middle Pleistocene–Holocene, approximately 400,000–4,000 years ago Found in Northern Eurasia, Beringia, North America; frozen specimens concentrated in Siberia Diet Herbivore … Read more

Diplodocus: Quick Facts

Diplodocus in a Late Jurassic Morrison Formation floodplain with towering conifers and shallow wetlands

Species Quick Info Attribute Detail Scientific name Diplodocus longus Pronunciation dip-LOD-oh-kus LONG-us Name meaning “Double beam,” referring to the distinctive paired chevron bones beneath the tail Classification Animalia > Chordata > Reptilia > Saurischia > Sauropoda > Diplodocidae > Diplodocus Period Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian–early Tithonian, approximately 154–149 million years ago) Found in Morrison Formation of … Read more

Brachiosaurus

Brachiosaurus standing in a Late Jurassic conifer wetland at sunset

At a Glance Attribute Detail Scientific name Brachiosaurus altithorax Pronunciation BRAK-ee-oh-SORE-us al-tih-THOR-aks Name meaning “Arm lizard” + “deep/high chest” Classification Sauropoda > Brachiosauridae > Brachiosaurus > B. altithorax Period Late Jurassic, ~154–150 Ma Found in Morrison Formation, western North America (USA) Diet Herbivore — high-browsing specialist on conifers, cycads, and tree ferns Length ~20–26 m … Read more

Allosaurus

Photorealistic Allosaurus fragilis in the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation floodplain ecosystem

Quick Facts Attribute Detail Scientific name Allosaurus fragilis Pronunciation AL-oh-SORE-us Name meaning “Different lizard” — Greek allos (different) + sauros (lizard) Classification Saurischia → Theropoda → Allosauroidea → Allosauridae → Allosaurus → A. fragilis Period Late Jurassic, 155–145 Ma Found in Morrison Formation, western North America (Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and others) Diet Carnivore — … Read more

Quetzalcoatlus

Photorealistic reconstruction of Quetzalcoatlus northropi in a Late Cretaceous floodplain habitat, showing the giant azhdarchid pterosaur in quadrupedal terrestrial stance with elongated neck and toothless beak

At a Glance Attribute Detail Scientific name Quetzalcoatlus northropi Lawson, 1975 / Q. lawsoni Jacobs et al., 2021 Pronunciation ket-sal-KOH-at-lus Name meaning From Quetzalcóatl — Mesoamerican feathered serpent deity Classification Pterosauria > Pterodactyloidea > Azhdarchidae > Quetzalcoatlus Period Late Cretaceous, 68–66 Ma Found in Javelina Formation, Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA Diet Carnivorous — … Read more