Rapetosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Rapetosaurus Rapetosaurus (Rah-PAY-too-SAWR-us; “Mischievous Giant Lizard”) Rapetosaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, from about 70 to 66 million years ago, in what is now Madagascar. The name comes from “Rapeto,” a giant trickster figure in Malagasy folklore (the local legends […]
Raptorex: Profile of a Prehistoric ‘Robber King’ Raptorex Raptorex (RAP-tor-ex; “Robber King”) is a genus of tyrannosauroid theropod dinosaur announced in 2009 by paleontologist Paul Sereno and his colleagues. The single known specimen, a young individual, was initially described as living during the Early Cretaceous period, about 125 million years ago, in what is now
Ratchasimasaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Ratchasimasaurus Ratchasimasaurus (raht-CHAH-see-mah-SAWR-us; “Lizard from Ratchasima”) Ratchasimasaurus suranareae is a genus of iguanodontian dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 125 to 113 million years ago, in what is now Thailand. The name honors the Nakhon Ratchasima province where its fossils were found, and the species name
Rativates: Profile of a Prehistoric Ostrich-Mimic Rativates Rativates (RA-tih-VAY-teez; “ratite swimmer”) is a genus of ornithomimid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 76 million years ago, in what is now Alberta, Canada. The name refers to its ostrich-like (ratite) body shape and the inferred swimming abilities of some ornithomimids. Rativates was
Rayososaurus Rayososaurus Rayososaurus (RAY-oh-so-SAWR-us; “Rayozo lizard” or “Lizard from Rayoso Canyon”) is a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically the Cenomanian stage, approximately 99 to 95 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in the Rayoso Formation in the Neuquén Province of Argentina, South America. The dinosaur was
Rebbachisaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Rebbachisaurus Rebbachisaurus (REH-bah-kih-SAWR-us; “Rebbach lizard”) is a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived during the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 94 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in what is now North Africa, primarily in Morocco, with other possible remains found in Niger and Tunisia. The
Regaliceratops Regaliceratops (REH-gah-lih-SAIR-uh-tops; “Royal Horned Face”) is a genus of horned dinosaur, known as a ceratopsian, that lived in what is now Alberta, Canada, during the Late Cretaceous period, about 68.5 to 67.5 million years ago. Its name comes from the Latin word “regalis,” meaning royal, because of the large, crown-like bony frill at the
Regnosaurus: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Regnosaurus Regnosaurus (REG-no-SAWR-us; “Regni lizard”) is a genus of herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 140 to 136 million years ago, in what is now England. The name refers to the Regni, an ancient Celtic tribe that inhabited Sussex, the region where its fossils were
Revueltosaurus: Profile of the Triassic Archosaur Imposter Revueltosaurus Revueltosaurus (re-VWEL-toh-SAWR-us; “Revuelto lizard”) Revueltosaurus is an extinct genus of herbivorous pseudosuchian archosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 228 to 208 million years ago. Its fossils have been discovered in what is now the southwestern United States, including New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. The
Rhabdodon: Profile of a Prehistoric Giant Rhabdodon Rhabdodon (RAB-doh-don; “Fluted Tooth” or “Rod Tooth”) is a genus of rhabdodontid ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 84 to 66 million years ago. Fossils of this herbivore have been discovered in several European countries, including France, Spain, Romania, Austria, and Hungary. The name
