Prehistoric Animals Encyclopedia

Diplodocus — Diplodocus is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur whose fossils were first discovered in 1877 by S. W. Williston. The generic name, coined by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878, is a Neo-Latin term derived from Greek in reference to its double-beamed chevron bones located in the underside of the tail. These bones were initially believed to be unique …

Corythosaurus — Corythosaurus meaning ’helmet lizard’ because of the shape of its crest (Greek korythos meaning ’helmet’ and sauros meaning ’lizard’) was a genus of duck-billed dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Period, about 80 million years ago. It lived in what is now North America. The first specimen was discovered in 1912 by Barnum Brown in Red Deer River, Alberta, …

Brachiosaurus — Brachiosaurus meaning “arm lizard”, from the Greek brachion was a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period. It was named thus because its forelimbs were longer than its hind limbs. One of the largest animals ever to walk the earth, it has become one of the most famous of all dinosaurs and is widely …

Baluchitherium — The correct Latin names for fossils in this group (the indricotheres) are a matter of uncertainty. It is also widely known as “Baluchitherium” (“beast of Baluchistan”), as it was first discovered in Baluchistan, western Province of Pakistan. This genus name, Baluchitherium Forster Cooper 1913, is now widely regarded as a synonym of his earlier genus Paraceratherium Forster Cooper …

Apatosaurus — Apatosaurus popularly (though incorrectly) known as Brontosaurus, is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived about 140 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period. It was one of the largest land animals that ever existed, with an average length of 23 meters (75 ft) and a mass of at least 23 metric tons (25 short tons). The name …

Allosaurus — Allosaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 145 million years ago, in the late Jurassic period. The first remains that can definitely be ascribed to this genus were described in 1877 by Othniel Charles Marsh. As one of the first well-known theropod dinosaurs, it has long attracted attention outside of paleontological circles, and …