Ornithosuchus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Ornithosuchus Ornithosuchus (or-NITH-oh-SOOK-us; “bird crocodile”) is an extinct genus of archosaur, a group of reptiles that includes crocodiles, dinosaurs, and birds. It lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 228 to 221 million years ago (Carnian stage), in what is now Scotland. The primary species, Ornithosuchus longidens, was recognized […]
Ornithotarsus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Ornithotarsus Ornithotarsus (or-NITH-oh-TAR-suss; “Bird Ankle”) is a genus of hadrosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 to 75 million years ago, in what is now North America. The name refers to the bird-like structure of its ankle bones, as interpreted by paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope,
Orodromeus: Profile of a Nimble Prehistoric Runner Orodromeus Orodromeus (OR-oh-DROH-mee-us; “Mountain runner”) is a genus of small ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 76.7 to 75 million years ago, in what is now Montana, North America. The name, derived from Greek words “oros” (mountain) and “dromeus” (runner), refers to its presumed
Orthogoniosaurus Orthogoniosaurus (OR-tho-GON-ee-oh-SAWR-us; “Rectangular Lizard”) is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically the Maastrichtian stage, about 70 to 66 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Lameta Formation of India. The name Orthogoniosaurus, meaning “rectangular lizard,” likely refers to the shape of its teeth. This dinosaur
Orthomerus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Orthomerus Orthomerus (“OR-tho-MEER-us”; “Straight Thigh Bone”) is a genus of hadrosaurid, or duck-billed, dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically the Maastrichtian age, around 70 to 66 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Netherlands, making it one of the few dinosaurs known from this
Oryctodromeus: The Burrowing Dinosaur | Dinos and Designs Oryctodromeus Oryctodromeus (oh-RIK-toh-DROH-mee-us; “Digging runner”) is a genus of small ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Middle Cretaceous period, approximately 95 million years ago, in what is now North America. Its fossils, first described in 2007, were discovered in southwestern Montana and southeastern Idaho. Oryctodromeus is particularly
Osmakasaurus Osmakasaurus (oss-MAH-kuh-SAWR-us; “Canyon lizard”) Osmakasaurus is a genus of iguanodontian ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, specifically the late Barremian to early Aptian stages (approximately 129 to 120 million years ago), in what is now South Dakota, USA. The name Osmakasaurus combines the Lakota word “osmaka,” meaning “canyon” (chosen in recognition
Ostafrikasaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Ostafrikasaurus Ostafrikasaurus (OHST-af-rih-kah-SAWR-us; “East Africa lizard”) is a genus of spinosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, specifically the Tithonian stage, about 152 to 145 million years ago. Its fossils, which consist only of isolated teeth, were discovered in the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania, East Africa.
Othnielia: Profile of the Swift Jurassic Herbivore Othnielia Othnielia (OTH-nee-lee-uh; “Othniel’s”) is a genus of small ornithischian dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 155 to 150 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in the Morrison Formation of North America. The name honors Othniel Charles Marsh, a famous American paleontologist from
Otogosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Otogosaurus Otogosaurus (OH-toh-goh-SAWR-us; “Otog lizard”) Otogosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 to 100 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Ordos Basin of Inner Mongolia, China. The name refers to the Otog Banner region, where these remains
