Encyclopedia

Microceratus Microceratus (MY-kroh-seh-RAH-tus; “Small-horned”) is a genus of small ceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 80 million years ago, in what is now Asia. The name comes from the Greek words “mikros” (small) and “keras” (horn), referring to its tiny size within the horned dinosaur group, even though it […]

Microhadrosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Microhadrosaurus Microhadrosaurus (MY-kroh-HAD-roh-SAWR-us; “Small robust lizard”) Microhadrosaurus is a genus of hadrosauroid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically the Turonian stage, about 92 million years ago. Its fossils, belonging to the type species Microhadrosaurus nanjingensis, were discovered in rocks often referred to as part of the

Micropachycephalosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Micropachycephalosaurus Micropachycephalosaurus (MY-kro-PACK-ee-SEFF-ah-lo-SAWR-us; “Small thick-headed lizard”) is a genus of very small ornithischian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70.6 to 68.5 million years ago, in what is now Shandong Province, China. Its name, one of the longest for any dinosaur, comes from Greek words meaning

Microraptor: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Microraptor Microraptor (MY-kroh-RAP-ter; “small thief”) is a genus of small, four-winged dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 120 million years ago. Fossils of Microraptor have been discovered in Liaoning Province, China, as part of the famous Jehol Biota. This dinosaur is particularly important for its

Microvenator: Profile of the ‘Small Hunter’ Dinosaur Microvenator Microvenator (MY-kroh-veh-NAY-tor; “small hunter”) is a genus of small, likely feathered, theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 110 to 108 million years ago. Fossils of Microvenator were discovered in the Cloverly Formation of Montana, USA, by the paleontologist Barnum Brown in 1933. However,

Migmanychion: Profile of a Small Feathered Dinosaur Migmanychion Migmanychion (MIG-mah-NYE-kee-on; “mixed small claw”) is a genus of small maniraptoran theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, specifically the Aptian stage, around 125 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The name Migmanychion is derived from

Minmi: Profile of an Armored Australian Dinosaur Minmi Minmi (MIN-mee; “Named after Minmi Crossing”) was a small, armored dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 119 to 113 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in Queensland, Australia. The name Minmi comes from Minmi Crossing, the place where the first bones of this

Minotaurasaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Minotaurasaurus Minotaurasaurus (MY-no-TOR-uh-SAWR-us; “Minotaur lizard”) is a genus of heavily armored ankylosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 75 to 70 million years ago. Its fossils, notably a single, well-preserved skull, were found in the Gobi Desert region of Asia. The name Minotaurasaurus was chosen due

Miragaia: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Miragaia Miragaia (MEE-ruh-GUY-ah; “from Miragaia”) is a genus of stegosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago, in what is now Portugal. The name Miragaia refers to the parish of Miragaia in Portugal and the geological unit where its fossils were discovered. This

Mirischia Mirischia (mee-RISH-kee-ah; “Wonderful ischium”) is a genus of small compsognathid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 110 million years ago, in what is now Brazil. The name refers to its “wonderful” ischium (a pelvic bone), which has a unique asymmetrical structure in the only known fossil. Mirischia was first described