Encyclopedia

Prestwichia: Footprints of a Middle Jurassic Theropod Prestwichia Prestwichia (PRESS-twich-EE-ah; “Prestwich’s ichnite [fossil footprint]”) is an ichnogenus, a scientific name assigned to trace fossils, specifically fossilized footprints. These footprints are believed to have been made by a theropod dinosaur. Tracks originally attributed to Prestwichia were described from the Stonesfield Slate of Oxfordshire, England, dating to […]

Prestwichianna: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Prestwichianna Prestwichianna (prest-WITCH-ee-AN-uh; “Prestwich’s tracks”) is an ichnogenus, which is a scientific name given to trace fossils, specifically fossil footprints. These tracks date back to the Triassic period, around 252 to 201 million years ago. Prestwichianna footprints have been discovered in various locations, notably in Europe. They were not

Preventiceratops Preventiceratops (pre-VEN-ti-SER-a-tops; “Early Horned Face”) is a genus of chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur. It lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically in the late Campanian stage, around 72.5 million years ago. Fossils of Preventiceratops have been discovered in Coahuila, Mexico. The name Preventiceratops means “early horned face,” which reflects its position as one of the

Priconodon Priconodon (PRY-koh-noh-don; “Saw Cone Tooth”) is a genus of nodosaurid ankylosaurian dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 113 to 110 million years ago, in what is now Maryland, North America. The name refers to the distinctive saw-like edges of its cone-shaped teeth. Priconodon was first named and described by the American

Priodontognathus (PRY-oh-don-toh-NAY-thus; “Saw-tooth jaw”) is a genus of ornithischian dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 155 to 150 million years ago. Its fossils, primarily a piece of an upper jaw with teeth, were discovered in England. The name Priodontognathus refers to the saw-like edges of its teeth. This dinosaur was first named

Proa: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Proa Proa (PRO-ah; “Prow”) is a genus of herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 112 million years ago, in what is now the Teruel province of Spain. The name Proa, meaning “prow,” refers to the distinctive, sharp, boat-front shape of the predentary bone at

Probrachylophosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Probrachylophosaurus Probrachylophosaurus (Pro-BRAH-key-LOAF-oh-SAWR-us; “Before Brachylophosaurus“) is a genus of hadrosaurid, or “duck-billed,” dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 79.8 to 79.5 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in Montana, USA, within the Judith River Formation. This dinosaur is particularly important because it shows an intermediate

Proceratosaurus Proceratosaurus (PRO-ser-AT-oh-SAWR-us; “Before Ceratosaurus”) is a genus of small, carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, about 168 to 166 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in Gloucestershire, England. The name Proceratosaurus was given because scientists initially thought its nasal crest meant it was an ancestor of the later dinosaur

Procerosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Procerosaurus Procerosaurus (pro-SER-o-SAWR-us; “Before Ceratosaurus”) is a genus of dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, around 227 to 201 million years ago, in what is now Germany. The name Procerosaurus was given because its discoverer, Friedrich von Huene, initially thought it might be an ancestor or early

Procompsognathus: Profile of a Small Triassic Theropod Procompsognathus Procompsognathus (pro-komp-sog-NAY-thus; “Before Compsognathus”) is a genus of small, bipedal carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, around 210 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in what is now Germany. The name Procompsognathus was given because paleontologists initially thought it might be an