Encyclopedia

Prodeinodon Prodeinodon (pro-DEE-no-don; “Before Terrible Tooth”) is a genus of theropod dinosaur known from the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 to 100 million years ago. Fossils attributed to Prodeinodon, which consist mainly of isolated teeth, have been discovered in Mongolia and China. The genus was named by American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1924. Due […]

Propanoplosaurus – Dinosaur Encyclopedia Propanoplosaurus Propanoplosaurus (pro-PAN-op-loh-SAWR-us; “Before Panoplosaurus”) is a genus of nodosaurid ankylosaurian dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 115 to 112 million years ago (Aptian stage), in what is now Maryland, United States. The name “Propanoplosaurus” suggests it was an earlier relative of the dinosaur Panoplosaurus. Propanoplosaurus was first

Prosaurolophus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Prosaurolophus Prosaurolophus (PRO-sawr-OH-loaf-us; “Before Saurolophus” or “Before the Ridged Crest”) is a genus of hadrosaurid, or “duck-billed,” dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 76 to 74 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in North America, primarily in Alberta, Canada, and Montana, USA. The first

Protarchaeopteryx Protarchaeopteryx (PROH-toh-ar-kee-OP-ter-iks; “First Ancient Wing”) is a genus of small, feathered theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 124.6 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province, China. The name Protarchaeopteryx suggests it was an early or primitive form related to ancient birds, although it

Protiguanodon: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Protiguanodon Protiguanodon (PRO-tih-GWON-oh-don; “Before Iguanodon“) is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 to 100 million years ago. Fossil remains of Protiguanodon have been discovered in what is now Mongolia and possibly parts of China. The name Protiguanodon indicates its evolutionary position

Protoavis: Profile of a Controversial ‘First Bird’ Protoavis Protoavis (PROH-toh-AY-viss; “first bird”) is a genus name given to fossil remains discovered in Texas, USA, dating to the Late Triassic period, approximately 225 to 210 million years ago. The discoverer, Sankar Chatterjee, proposed that Protoavis was the earliest known bird, predating the more widely accepted earliest

Protoceratops: Profile of the First Horned Face Dinosaur Protoceratops Protoceratops (PRO-toh-SER-uh-tops; “First Horned Face”) Protoceratops is a genus of sheep-sized herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 75 to 71 million years ago. Its fossils are primarily found in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and China. The name Protoceratops, meaning “first

Protognathosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Protognathosaurus Protognathosaurus (PRO-toh-NATH-oh-SAWR-us; “first jaw lizard”) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, around 168 to 165 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in what is now China. The name Protognathosaurus refers to its presumed early position among sauropods and the fact

Protognathus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Protognathus Protognathus (PROH-toh-NAY-thus; “first jaw”) is a genus name given to very limited fossil remains believed to belong to an early sauropodomorph dinosaur. These fossils date back to the Late Triassic period, approximately 227 to 208 million years ago, and were found in what is now Germany. Paleontologist Oskar

Protohadros Protohadros (PRO-toh-HAD-ross; “First Hadrosaur”) is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 96 to 95 million years ago (Cenomanian stage), in what is now Texas, USA. The name Protohadros reflects its status as one of the earliest known hadrosauroids, the group that includes the famous “duck-billed” dinosaurs. This