Megapnosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus (MEG-ap-no-SAWR-us; “big dead lizard”) is a genus of coelophysoid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period, approximately 200 to 183 million years ago. Fossils of this dinosaur have been discovered in southern Africa (Zimbabwe and South Africa) and North America (Arizona). The dinosaur was originally […]
Megaraptor: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Megaraptor Megaraptor (MEH-gah-RAP-tor; “Giant thief”) is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 88 million years ago (from the Turonian to early Coniacian stages), in what is now South America. The name refers to its impressive size and the large,
Mei Mei (MAY; “to sleep soundly”) is a genus of small, bird-like troodontid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 million years ago. Fossils of Mei have been discovered in the Liaoning Province of northeastern China. The name Mei comes from the Chinese word for “to sleep soundly,” referring to the
Melanorosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Melanorosaurus Melanorosaurus (MEH-lan-or-oh-SAWR-us; “Black Mountain Lizard”) is a genus of early sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 227 to 201 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in South Africa and Lesotho. The name Melanorosaurus refers to Black Mountain (Thaba ‘Nyama) in South Africa,
Mendozasaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Mendozasaurus Mendozasaurus (men-DOH-zah-SAWR-us; “Mendoza lizard”) is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 89 to 86 million years ago, in what is now Argentina, South America. The name refers to the Mendoza Province where its fossils were found. Mendozasaurus was first scientifically
Meraxes: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Meraxes Meraxes (Meh-RAK-seez; “Named after a fictional dragon”) is a genus of giant carcharodontosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 95 to 93 million years ago, in what is now Patagonia, Argentina. Its full species name, Meraxes gigas, emphasizes its immense size as “gigas” is
Mercuriceratops Mercuriceratops (MER-kyoor-ee-SERRA-tops; “Mercury horned-face”) is a genus of chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 77 million years ago, in what is now North America. The name refers to the Roman god Mercury, who is often depicted with a winged helmet, as the dinosaur’s frill had wing-like projections. The species
Meroktenos Introduction Meroktenos (MEH-rok-TEH-nohs; “Thigh beast”) is a genus of large, early sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 215 to 205 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in what is now Lesotho, in Southern Africa. The name Meroktenos means “thigh beast,” referring to its notably strong and robust thigh bone
Metriacanthosaurus Metriacanthosaurus (MET-ree-uh-KAN-tho-SAWR-us; “Moderately-spined lizard”) is a genus of metriacanthosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the late Middle Jurassic period, specifically the late Oxfordian age, approximately 160 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in what is now England, Europe. The name Metriacanthosaurus refers to the height of the neural spines on its vertebrae,
Metriacanthosaurus Read Post »
Microceratops: Profile of a Small Horned Dinosaur Microceratops Microceratops (MY-kroh-SEH-rah-tops; “Small-horned Face”) is a genus of small ceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 70 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in Asia, primarily in regions that are now Mongolia and China. The name Microceratops was given by
