Pachyspondylus Pachyspondylus (PAK-ee-SPON-dih-lus; “thick vertebra”) is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period, approximately 201 to 190 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in what is now South Africa. The name Pachyspondylus refers to the robust nature of its vertebrae. It was first described by the British paleontologist Sir […]
Padillasaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Padillasaurus Padillasaurus (pah-DEE-yah-SAWR-us; “Padilla’s lizard”) is a genus of titanosauriform sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 130 to 125 million years ago, in what is now Colombia, South America. The name honors Carlos Bernardo Padilla, who founded an important paleontology research center in Villa de
Pakisaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Pakisaurus Pakisaurus (PAH-kee-SAWR-us; “Pakistan lizard”) Pakisaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically the Maastrichtian stage, approximately 70 to 66 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, in rocks of the Pab Formation. The name
Palaeoctonus | Dinos and Designs Palaeoctonus Palaeoctonus (PAL-ee-ok-TOH-nus; “ancient murderer”) is a genus of reptile, possibly an archosaur, that lived during the Late Triassic period, about 228 to 208 million years ago, in what is now North America. The name was given by paleontologist Joseph Leidy in 1856 based on isolated teeth found in Pennsylvania.
Palaeopteryx: Profile of an Enigmatic Jurassic Dinosaur Palaeopteryx Palaeopteryx (Pay-lee-OP-ter-iks; “ancient wing”) is a genus of dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago. Its fossils were found in the Morrison Formation of Wyoming, USA. The name Palaeopteryx was given because its discoverers initially thought it might be a very early bird,
Palaeoscincus Palaeoscincus (PAY-lee-oh-SKINK-us; “Ancient skink”) is a genus of ornithischian dinosaur known from the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 75 million years ago, in what is now North America. The name, given by paleontologist Joseph Leidy in 1856, refers to the presumed scaly, skink-like appearance of its armor, although it was based on very limited fossil
Paludititan: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Paludititan Paludititan (pah-lew-dih-TIE-tan; “Marsh Titan”) Paludititan is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 66 million years ago, in what is now Romania. The name combines the Latin “palus” (marsh), referring to the wetland environment of its discovery site in
Paluxysaurus Paluxysaurus (PAH-luck-see-SAWR-us; “Paluxy River lizard”) is a genus of very large sauropod dinosaur that roamed what is now Texas in the United States during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 112 million years ago. Its name honors the Paluxy River, near where its fossils were discovered. Paluxysaurus was first named and described by paleontologist Peter
Pampadromaeus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Pampadromaeus Pampadromaeus (PAM-pah-DROH-mee-us; “Pampa runner”) is a genus of small, early sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, about 233 to 225 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Pampa region of southern Brazil. The name Pampadromaeus combines “Pampa” with the Greek word “dromeus,” meaning
Pamparaptor Pamparaptor (PAM-pah-RAP-tor; “Pampa plunderer”) is a genus of unenlagiine dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 89.8 to 86.3 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Anacleto Formation of Neuquén Province, Argentina. The name “Pamparaptor” comes from the Pampa region of Argentina where it was found and “raptor,”
