Source by: Engin Akyurt
Today, we’re going to introduce 17 North American dinosaurs that are exciting to get to know. And even if you’re already familiar with some of them, you’ll be excited to discover that they’re just in your own backyard.
Awesome, right? In fact, if you live in that state, you can visit their cool dinosaur fossils at the dinosaur exhibits they’re displayed in.
We’ll also give you the lowdown on these dinosaurs of America from history, to scientific names, habitats, their unique dinosaur characteristics, and loads more!
So, are you in? Let’s get started.
North American Dinosaurs Brief Historical Background
Source by: Kevin Rein Bantang
We’re not simply giving another boring list. But we’re sharing helpful facts too so you can get to know them better.
One insightful way to understand dinosaurs is to look at the context of their habitat. Did you know North America used to be two continents instead of one?
During the Mesozoic Era’s early part, North America was part of one big continent called Pangaea before being separated. It was split into two continents by the Western Interior Seaway millions of years ago during the Cretaceous period up to the early Paleocene. The continent on the west was called Laramidia and Appalachia for the east.
Source by: Darren Halstead
Another great way to understand animals is to check out the time they lived in. Can you guess when during the Mesozoic Era were dinosaurs most plenty? Here are some speedy facts:
- Dinosaur abundance and diversity were most seen during the Late Cretaceous.
- Much of the dinosaur fossils discovered are from the Late Jurassic.
- The Middle Jurassic is known for fragments of dinosaur fossils like teeth, eggshells, and footprints.
You now have a better background about these awesome creatures. So check out the next section where you’ll find our awesome list of dinos whose remains have been discovered in North America.
Cool Duck-Billed Dinosaurs in the USA
Source by: Only Dinosaurs
Hadrosaurs are famous for the peculiar shape of their snouts which give their characteristic duck-bill appearance. Take a look at these odd creatures from the Mesozoic Era.
#1. Edmontosaurus
Source by: The Canadian Encyclopedia
Scientific Name: Edmontosaurus regalis, “lizard from Edmonton”, Edmontosaurus annectens
Habitat: forests and wetlands; Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Alberta, Canada (E. regalis) and Hell Creek Formation, North Dakota, USA (E. annectens)
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 73-66 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 39 feet long, 8,818 lbs
The Edmontosaurus is one of the biggest hadrosaurid species. This hadrosaur lived with others in groups and is believed to have been widespread all over western North America.
#2. Eotrachodon orientalis
Source by: Dinosaur Pictures
Scientific Name: Eotrachodon orientalis, “dawn Trachodon from the east”
Habitat: Mooreville Chalk Formation, Alabama
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 86-83 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 25 feet long
It’s one of the most ancient hadrosaurids as of 2016 according to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The Eotrachodon’s discovery was important because it helped show how duck-billed dinos came to be in eastern North America and their migration to the west.
#3. Hadrosaurus
Source by: Twitter
Scientific Name: Hadrosaurus foulkii, “bulky lizard”
Habitat: swamps and forests; New Jersey, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 80-78 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 26 feet long, 8,818 lbs
The Hadrosaurus lived in prehistoric New Jersey and is its official state dinosaur. It was first collected in the state’s Woodbury Formation in 1858. This hadrosaur is known for its bulky built and complex teeth.
#4. Maiasaura
Source by: Roland zh
Scientific Name: Maiasaura peeblesorum, “good mother reptile” and for James and John Peebles
Habitat: semi-arid environment; Two Medicine Formation, Montana USA & Canada
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 76 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 30 feet long
Maiasaura was a loving hadrosaur mother because it raised its young themselves. Its name was inspired by the discovery of eggshells and hatchlings found in 1978 which also gave the place it was found the nickname “Egg Mountain”.
#5. Saurolophus
Source by: DeviantArt
Scientific Name: Saurolophus osborni, “lizard crest”
Habitat: swamps and forests; New Jersey, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 70-86 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 27 feet long, 6,613 lbs
Just like the Parasaurolophus, the Saurolophus’ stand-out feature is the cranial crest it sports. But it’s shaped more like a spike that points upwards compared to the Parasaurolophus’ mohawk-like crest.
Fearsome Theropod Dinosaurs of North America
Source by: Only Dinosaurs
Carnivorous and ferocious best describe this fearsome group of other dinosaurs that lived in North America. Check and see who made the list!
#1. Acrocanthosaurus
Source by: DiBgd
Scientific Name: Acrocanthosaurus atokensis
Habitat: coastal territories of the prehistoric Glen Rose Formation, Texas, USA
Time Period: Early Cretaceous period, 125-100 million years ago
Diet: ankylosaurs, sauropods, and ornithopods
Dinosaur Size & Weight: 38 feet long, 13,668.70 lbs
The Acrocanthosaurus is famous for the very tall neural spines on its back which you’ll see on its vertebrae. Scientists suggest that these unique spines helped support the dinosaur’s back, neck, and hip muscles.
It’s one of the world’s biggest carnivorous dinosaurs and was a bipedal apex predator that lived in North America. Much of its fossil remains were discovered in Texas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and farther toward the east like Maryland. This shows that Acrocanthosaurus may have lived across a wide range of habitats.
#2. Albertosaurus
Source by: Neil Conway
Scientific Name: Albertosaurus sarcophagus, “Alberta lizard”
Habitat: semi-tropical habitat around the Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Alberta, Canada
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous period, 71 million years ago
Diet: ornithomimids, hadrosaurs, and ceratopsians
Dino Size & Weight: 26-33 feet long, 5,511-8,818 lbs
Did you know there are over 30 Albertosaurus discoveries that have been made since 1884? That makes it one of paleontology’s most well-vouched tyrannosaurs that lived in North America.
It’s a cousin of the Tyrannosaurus rex, though much smaller in size. It used its long tail to help balance its weighty head and body.
#3. Allosaurus
Source by: Christian-wittmann
Scientific Name: Allosaurus fragilis, “different lizard”
Habitat: semi-arid habitat; Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Jurassic, 155-145 million years ago
Diet: stegosaurus, long-necked dinos
Dino Size & Weight: 32 feet long, 5,070 lbs
The discovery of Utah’s state fossil, the Allosaurus, is worth the mention because of the concave-shaped vertebrae it sports. This gave the Allosaurus a unique hourglass-like figure which helped keep its bones light. Evidence shows this gave its body hollow spaces which may have held airs sacs for breathing.
#4. Coelophysis
Source by: GermanOle
Scientific Name: Coelophysis bauri, “hollow form”
Habitat: floodplains of prehistoric Arizona and New Mexico
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Triassic to Late Jurassic, 225-196 million years ago
Diet: stegosaurus, sauropods
Dino Size & Weight: 9.8 feet long, 5,070 lbs
The Coelophysis was first found in 1881 at New Mexico’s Chinle Formation. The fossil of this theropod that lived in North America was unearthed by a fossil collector who worked for Edward Drinker Cope.
#5. Tyrannosaurus rex
Source by: Elly Enn
Scientific Name: Tyrannosaurus rex, “tyrant lizard king”
Habitat: coastal semitropical plains
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 68-66 million years ago
Diet: duck-billed, armored, and long-necked dinos
Dino Size & Weight: 40.7 feet long, 30,864 lbs
The T. rex was an apex predator capable of eating over 220 lbs of meat out of its prey. The most complete T. rex specimen was found in August 1990 in South Dakota.
The tyrant lizard king that lived in North America has a contemporary apex predator in South America — the Carnotaurus.
Extraordinary Sauropod Dinosaurs of America
Source by: Only Dinosaurs
If fierce theropods give off a thrilling rush, long neck dinos serve up inspiration and wonder with their necks and tails that never seem to end. See for yourself through the three extraordinary creatures below.
#1. Apatosaurus
Source by: Elekes Andor
Scientific Name: Apatosaurus ajax, “deceptive lizard”
Habitat: semiarid environment; Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Jurassic, 152-151 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 75 feet long, 44,800 lbs
Apatosaurus is considered one of the most massive land animals in the world. This huge creature that lived in North America used its long neck to eat from high-growing trees.
#2. Brachiosaurus
Source by: DinoTeam
Scientific Name: Brachiosaurus altithorax, “arm lizard with a deep chest”
Habitat: semiarid environment; Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Jurassic, 154-150 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 69 feet long, 116,000 lbs
The Brachiosaurus had a deep chest compared to others of its kind. What makes this long-necked creature that lived in North America unique are its forelimbs that were longer than its hindlimbs, its trunk that had a steep incline, and a tail that was shorter than others.
Giraffatitan was initially identified as a Brachiosaurus when it was found. But scientists eventually assigned the Giraffatitan a genus of its own in 2009.
#3. Diplodocus
Source by: Wilson44691
Scientific Name: Diplodocus carnegii, “double beam”
Habitat: semiarid environment; Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Jurassic, 154-152 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 85 feet long, 29,600 lbs
The Diplodocus lived in western North America and is one of the most well-understood creatures by science. A study in 2011 by paleontologists has shown that it was a cathemeral animal. It was active during the day through brief intervals.
Horned & Armored Dinosaurs in the United States
Source by: Only Dinosaurs
#1 Triceratops
Source by: K. Mitch Hodge
Scientific Name: Triceratops horridus, “three-horned face”
Habitat: floodplains with forested areas; Hell Creek Formation, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 68 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 29 feet long, 49,383 lbs
One of the most easily-recognized prehistoric animals worldwide is the Triceratops with its distinguishing horns and frills. Scientists propose that the dinosaur used these for courtship to impress other Triceratops rather than for battle.
#2 Pachyrhinosaurus
Source by: James havens
Scientific Name: Pachyrhinosaurus canadensis, “thick-nosed lizard”
Habitat: mountainous region with floodplains and ponds; St. Mary River Formation, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 73-68 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 26 feet long, 7,936 lbs
What makes the Pachyrhinosaurus different from the more famous Triceratops are the flat bosses on its nose and eyes. This dinosaur that lived in North America had horns that grew upwards from the top of its frill rather than on top of its eyes.
#3. Ankylosaurus
Source by: James havens
Scientific Name: Ankylosaurus magniventris, “fused lizard with a great belly”
Habitat: mountainous region with floodplains and ponds; St. Mary River Formation, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Cretaceous, 68-66 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 26 feet long, 17,637 lbs
The Ankylosaurus is known for its bony oval plates and knobs which gave it its characteristic armored appearance. Science says its body’s bones were fused, making the Ankylosaurus strong not just in appearance but in its endurance too.
#4. Stegosaurus
Source by: Macmillan Dictionary
Scientific Name: Stegosaurus stenops, “roof lizard”
Habitat: semiarid environment with floodplains and forests; Morrison Formation, USA
Prehistoric Timeline: Late Jurassic, 155-145 million years ago
Diet: plants
Dino Size & Weight: 29 feet long, 15,432 lbs
Can you guess what Stegosaurus used its spiky tail and the plates on its back for? Paleontologists suggest that the Stegosaurus used the spikes on its tail to defend itself against foes while its plates were used for species identification and temperature regulation.
FAQs About the Dinosaurs That Lived in North America
Source by: David Guerrero
Did you enjoy what you just learned? We’re giving you more to add to your vault of dino knowledge by answering frequently asked questions (FAQs) about dinosaurs that lived in North America.
You can add these to your treasure trove of fun dinosaur costume ideas too! Take a look below.
What dinosaurs would have lived in North America?
A dinosaur fossil found at a dig site would be a good identifying element of what kindslived in North America. Fossils of the T. rex, Allosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Utahraptor, and the ones mentioned above are good examples.
Did dinosaurs only live in North America?
No, they didn’t only live in North America. They also lived in South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia too.
Where are dinosaurs found in America?
States that have been a dig site or where a dinosaur fossil has been surprisingly discovered are Montana, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming among many others.
What dinosaurs lived in New York?
Only the Grallator is attributed by paleontology to have most likely lived in New York. Supporting evidence of this was the discovery of dinosaur footprints near Blauvelt, New York.
Source by: Science
We hope you learned a lot from this article and that the knowledge you gained will make great sources of inspiration! Whether you’re looking for cool dinosaur puppets or realistic animatronic dinosaurs, the dinos that lived in North America are great go-to choices.
So, see you at our next blog post!
