Marasuchus: Profile of an Early Dinosaur Relative Marasuchus Marasuchus (MAH-rah-SOO-kus; “Mara crocodile”) is a genus of small, reptile-like animal known as a dinosauriform that lived during the Middle Triassic period, around 236 to 234 million years ago. Its fossils, originally assigned to another genus called Lagosuchus, have been found in what is now Argentina, South […]
Marisaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Marisaurus Marisaurus (MAH-ree-SAWR-us; “Mari lizard”) is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically the Maastrichtian age, about 70 to 66 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Vitakri Formation of Balochistan, Pakistan. The name Marisaurus refers to the Mari, a
Marmarospondylus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Marmarospondylus Marmarospondylus (MAR-mar-oh-SPON-dih-lus; “Marble Vertebra”) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 168 to 166 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in England. The name Marmarospondylus was given by the famous paleontologist Richard Owen in 1875 and refers to the Forest
Marshosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Marshosaurus Marshosaurus (MARSH-oh-SAWR-us; “Marsh’s lizard”) is a genus of medium-sized theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 155 to 150 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in the Morrison Formation of Utah and possibly Colorado, in the United States. The name Marshosaurus honors the
Martharaptor: Profile of a Prehistoric Plunderer Martharaptor Martharaptor (MAR-thah-RAP-tor; “Martha’s Plunderer”) is a genus of therizinosaurian theropod dinosaur that roamed what is now Utah, USA, during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 124 million years ago. The name honors Martha Hayden, a volunteer who discovered the fossil site. Martharaptor was first described in 2012 by paleontologists
Masiakasaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Masiakasaurus Masiakasaurus (MAH-shee-uh-kuh-SAWR-us; “vicious lizard”) is a genus of noasaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 66 million years ago, in what is now Madagascar. The name comes from the Malagasy word “masiaka,” meaning vicious, and the Greek word “sauros,” meaning lizard, referring
Massospondylus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Massospondylus Massospondylus (MAS-oh-SPON-dih-lus; “more massive vertebra”) is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period, approximately 200 to 183 million years ago. Fossils of Massospondylus have been discovered primarily in southern Africa, including countries like South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, making it one of the
Maxakalisaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Maxakalisaurus Maxakalisaurus (Mah-shah-kah-lee-SAWR-us; “Maxakali lizard”) is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 million years ago, in what is now Brazil. The name honors the Maxakali indigenous people of the region where its fossils were discovered. Maxakalisaurus was first scientifically described
Medusaceratops Medusaceratops (Meh-DOO-sah-SAIR-uh-tops; “Medusa horned-face”) is a genus of chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 77.5 million years ago, in what is now Montana, USA. Its name refers to Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology with snakes for hair, alluding to the unique, snake-like, curled projections on its large neck
Megalosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Megalosaurus Megalosaurus (MEG-ah-loh-SAWR-us; “Great Lizard”) Megalosaurus is a genus of large carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, specifically the Bathonian stage, approximately 168 to 166 million years ago. Its fossils have been primarily discovered in Southern England, with potential remains also reported from France and
