Pitekunsaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Pitekunsaurus Pitekunsaurus (PEE-teh-koon-SAWR-us; “Discovered lizard”) is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 85 to 78 million years ago, in what is now Argentina, South America. The name Pitekunsaurus comes from the Mapudungun language word “pitekun,” meaning “to find” or “discovery,” and […]
Planicoxa: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Planicoxa Planicoxa (PLANN-ih-COX-ah; “Flat Hip”) is a genus of iguanodontian ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 127 to 120 million years ago. Fossils of Planicoxa have been discovered in what is now Utah, in the United States. The name refers to the unusually flat surface
Plateosauravus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Plateosauravus Plateosauravus (PLAT-ee-oh-SAWR-av-us; “Plate lizard ancestor”) is a genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 215 to 205 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in what is now South Africa. The name reflects its early perceived relationship to the well-known European
Plateosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Plateosaurus Plateosaurus (PLAT-ee-oh-SAWR-us; “broad lizard”) is a genus of plateosaurid sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 214 to 204 million years ago. Its fossils have been found primarily in Europe, with notable discoveries in Germany, France, and Switzerland. The name Plateosaurus comes from Greek words
Platypelta: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Platypelta Platypelta (PLA-tih-PEL-tah; “flat shield”) is a genus of nodosaurid ankylosaur dinosaur that roamed North America during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically about 77 to 75 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada. The name Platypelta, derived from Greek words “platys”
Platytholus Platytholus (PLAT-ee-THOH-lus; “Flat dome”) is a genus of pachycephalosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 million years ago, in what is now Mongolia. The name comes from the Greek words “platys” meaning flat or broad, and “tholos” meaning dome, referring to the shape of its skull. Platytholus was first described
Pleurocoelus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Pleurocoelus Pleurocoelus (PLOOR-oh-SEEL-us; “Hollow-sided” or “Side Cavity”) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 113 to 100 million years ago. Fossils that have been assigned to Pleurocoelus were discovered in North America, with notable finds in Maryland and Texas. The name Pleurocoelus
Pleuropeltus Pleuropeltus (PLOOR-oh-PEL-tus; “Rib Shield”) is a genus of nodosaurid ankylosaurian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 76 to 75 million years ago. Fossils of this armored dinosaur were discovered in the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta, Canada. The name Pleuropeltus comes from Greek words meaning “rib shield” or “side shield,” referring
Pneumatoraptor: The Agile ‘Air Thief’ of Late Cretaceous Europe Pneumatoraptor Pneumatoraptor (NEWM-ah-toh-RAP-tor; “Air Thief”) is a genus of small paravian theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically the Santonian stage, about 85 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Csehbánya Formation in the Bakony Mountains of western Hungary. The genus
Podokesaurus Podokesaurus (poe-DOKE-ee-SAWR-us; “swift-footed lizard of Holyoke”) Podokesaurus is a genus of small carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period, approximately 200 to 190 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in Massachusetts, USA. The name refers to its agile build and the location near Mount Holyoke College where it was found.
