List of African dinosaurs facts for kids

This is a list of non-avian dinosaurs whose remains have been recovered from Africa. Africa has a rich fossil record, but it is patchy and incomplete. It is rich in Triassic and Early Jurassic dinosaurs. African dinosaurs from these time periods include Megapnosaurus, Dracovenator, Melanorosaurus, Massospondylus, Euskelosaurus, Heterodontosaurus, Abrictosaurus, and Lesothosaurus. In the Middle Jurassic, the sauropods Atlasaurus, Chebsaurus, Jobaria, and Spinophorosaurus, flourished, as well as the theropod Afrovenator. The Late Jurassic is well represented in Africa, mainly thanks to the spectacular Tendaguru Formation in Lindi Region of Tanzania. Veterupristisaurus, Ostafrikasaurus, Elaphrosaurus, Giraffatitan, Dicraeosaurus, Janenschia, Tornieria, Tendaguria, Kentrosaurus, and Dysalotosaurus are among the dinosaurs whose remains have been recovered from Tendaguru. This fauna seems to show strong similarities to that of the Morrison Formation in the United States and the Lourinha Formation in Portugal. For example, similar theropods, ornithopods and sauropods have been found in both the Tendaguru and the Morrison. This has important biogeographical implications.

The Early Cretaceous in Africa is known primarily from the northern part of the continent, particularly Niger. Suchomimus, Elrhazosaurus, Rebbachisaurus, Nigersaurus, Kryptops, Nqwebasaurus, and Paranthodon are some of the Early Cretaceous dinosaurs known from Africa. The Early Cretaceous was an important time for the dinosaurs of Africa because it was when Africa finally separated from South America, forming the South Atlantic Ocean. This was an important event because now the dinosaurs of Africa started developing endemism because of isolation. The Late Cretaceous of Africa is known mainly from North Africa. During the early part of the Late Cretaceous, North Africa was home to a rich dinosaur fauna. It includes Spinosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, Rugops, Bahariasaurus, Deltadromeus, Paralititan, Aegyptosaurus, and Ouranosaurus.

Criteria for inclusion

• The genus must appear on the List of dinosaur genera.
• At least one named species of the creature must have been found in Africa.
• This list is a complement to Category:Mesozoic dinosaurs of Africa.

List of African dinosaurs

Valid genera

Name	Year	Formation	Location	Notes	Images
Aardonyx	2010	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian)	South Africa	Primarily bipedal but also capable of quadrupedal locomotion
Abrictosaurus	1975	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian)	Lesotho  South Africa	Known from two skulls, one of which possesses tusks, which may be an indication of sexual dimorphism
Adratiklit	2020	El Mers Group (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian)	Morocco	The oldest known stegosaur; related to Late Jurassic European forms despite its early age
Aegyptosaurus	1932	Bahariya Formation, Continental intercalaire?, Farak Formation? (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian)	Egypt  Niger?	Its holotype specimen was destroyed in World War II
Afromimus	2017	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian)	Niger	Originally described as an African ornithomimosaur, but later redescribed as a possible noasaurid
Afrovenator	1994	Tiourarén Formation (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Bathonian to Oxfordian)	Niger	Originally thought to hail from the Early Cretaceous
Ajnabia	2021	Ouled Abdoun Basin (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian)	Morocco	The first hadrosaur known from Africa; closely related to European lambeosaurines
Algoasaurus	1904	Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian)	South Africa	Today known from only a few bones; several more may have been made into bricks before they could be studied
Angolatitan	2011	Itombe Formation (Late Cretaceous, Coniacian)	Angola	The first non-avian dinosaur described from Angola
Antetonitrus	2003	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian)	South Africa	Had weight-bearing adaptations in all its limbs, although its forelimbs retain adaptations for grasping
Arcusaurus	2011	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Pliensbachian)	South Africa	Combines traits of basal and advanced sauropodomorphs
Atlasaurus	1999	Guettioua Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian to Callovian)	Morocco	Possessed relatively elongated legs for a sauropod
Australodocus	2007	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Tanzania	Potentially an early euhelopodid
Bahariasaurus	1934	Bahariya Formation, Farak Formation? (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian to Turonian)	Egypt  Niger?	Large but known from very few remains
Berberosaurus	2007	Azilal Formation (Early Jurassic, Toarcian)	Morocco	One of the oldest known ceratosaurs
Blikanasaurus	1985	Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian)	South Africa	A "hyper-robust" form that niche partitioned with other Late Triassic Elliot sauropodomorphs
Carcharodontosaurus	1931	Bahariya Formation, Chenini Formation?, Continental intercalaire, Echkar Formation, Elrhaz Formation?, Kem Kem Group, Wadi Milk Formation? (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian)	Algeria  Egypt  Morocco  Niger  Sudan?  Tunisia	One of the longest carnivorous dinosaurs. Two species are known
Chebsaurus	2005	Aïssa Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian)	Algeria	Known from two juvenile specimens
Chenanisaurus	2017	Ouled Abdoun Basin (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian)	Morocco	Potentially represents a lineage of abelisaurids endemic to Africa
Cristatusaurus	1998	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian)	Niger	Usually seen as a synonym of Suchomimus, although some studies consider it to be a valid genus
Deltadromeus	1996	Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian)	Morocco	Its precise phylogenetic position has been historically unstable, with multiple interpretations being suggested in the scientific literature
Dicraeosaurus	1914	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Tanzania	A short-necked, low-browsing sauropod. Two species are known
Dracovenator	2005	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian)	South Africa	Only known from fragments of a skull, but those are enough to tell that it was related to Dilophosaurus
Dysalotosaurus	1919	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian)	Tanzania	Known from multiple remains that revealed much about its life history, diet, and even disease
Elaphrosaurus	1920	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian)	Tanzania	Possessed a relatively shallow chest for a theropod its size
Elrhazosaurus	2009	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian)	Niger	Closely related to Valdosaurus
Eocarcharia	2008	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian)	Niger	Its frontal bone was swollen into a thick band, which gave it a menacing glare
Eocursor	2007	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Pliensbachian)	South Africa	One of the most completely-known early ornithischians
Eucnemesaurus	1920	Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Carnian to Norian)	South Africa	Some fossils assigned to this genus were originally interpreted as those of a giant herrerasaurid
Euskelosaurus	1866	Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian)	Lesotho  South Africa  Zimbabwe	Originally thought to have been bow-legged
Geranosaurus	1911	Clarens Formation (Early Jurassic, Pliensbachian to Toarcian)	South Africa	Poorly known but potentially a heterodontosaurid
Giraffatitan	1988	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Tanzania	Popularly associated with Brachiosaurus but several differences between the two have been noted
Gryponyx	1911	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian)	South Africa	Although usually seen as a synonym of Massospondylus, at least one study has found it to be distantly related
Heterodontosaurus	1962	Clarens Formation, Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Pliensbachian)	South Africa	Possessed three types of teeth, including analogues of incisors and tusks, as well as a keratinous beak
Igai	2023	Quseir Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian)	Egypt	More closely related to European titanosaurs than to southern African ones
Ignavusaurus	2010	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian)	Lesotho	Only known from a single, mostly articulated juvenile skeleton with a badly crushed skull
Inosaurus	1960	Bahariya Formation?, Eckhar Formation?, Tegama Group? (Early Cretaceous, Albian)?	Niger	Very poorly known
Iyuku	2022	Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Valanginian)	South Africa	Uniquely known from an assemblage of mostly hatchling and juvenile fossils
Janenschia	1991	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Oxfordian to Tithonian)	Tanzania	Potentially a close relative of Bellusaurus, Haestasaurus, and Tehuelchesaurus, all of which may form a unique clade of eusauropods with possible turiasaur affinities
Jobaria	1999	Tiourarén Formation (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Bathonian to Oxfordian)	Niger	Known from an almost complete skeleton
Kangnasaurus	1915	Kalahari Deposits Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian)	South Africa	Comparisons have been made with dryosaurids but at least two studies suggest a position within Elasmaria
Karongasaurus	2005	Dinosaur Beds (Early Cretaceous, Aptian)	Malawi	Described from only a mandible and isolated teeth
Kentrosaurus	1915	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Tanzania	Possessed two rows of plates that gradually transitioned into spikes towards the tail, as well as a long spike on each shoulder
Kholumolumo	2020	Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian)	Lesotho	Before its formal description, it had been informally referred to as "Kholumolumosaurus" and "Thotobolosaurus"; the latter name means "trash heap lizard" in Sesotho, referring to how the holotype was originally found close to a trash heap
Kryptops	2008	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian)	Niger	Postcranial remains referred to this abelisaurid may have instead come from a carcharodontosaurid
Ledumahadi	2018	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian)	South Africa	One of the largest Triassic dinosaurs, estimated as weighing 12 tonnes (26,000 lb) despite lacking columnar limbs like later sauropods
Lesothosaurus	1978	Clarens Formation, Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Pliensbachian)	Lesotho  South Africa	Possibly an opportunist omnivore, feeding on meat during seasons when plants are not available
Lurdusaurus	1999	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian)	Niger	The proportions of its body and limbs suggest it may have been a semiaquatic herbivore similar to a hippopotamus
Lycorhinus	1924	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian)	South Africa	Originally misidentified as a cynodont
Malawisaurus	1993	Dinosaur Beds (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Aptian)	Malawi	Known from abundant material, including from the skull and osteoderms, but they may not represent a single taxon
Mansourasaurus	2018	Quseir Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian)	Egypt	One of the few terrestrial vertebrates known from the Late Cretaceous of northern Africa
Massospondylus	1854	Bushveld Sandstone, Clarens Formation, Elliot Formation, Forest Sandstone (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Pliensbachian)	Lesotho  South Africa  Zimbabwe	Abundant remains have been discovered. Several specimens were once assigned to their own genera and species
Mbiresaurus	2022	Pebbly Arkose Formation (Late Triassic, Carnian)	Zimbabwe	One of the oldest dinosaurs known from Africa; its discovery proves that the earliest dinosaurs were restricted to high latitudes
Melanorosaurus	1924	Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian)	South Africa	A robust, quadrupedal herbivore. Some specimens assigned to this genus may not represent the same taxon
Meroktenos	2016	Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian)	Lesotho	Its femur was unusually robust for an animal of its size
Mnyamawamtuka	2019	Galula Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian)	Tanzania	Its specific name moyowamkia is Kiswahili for "heart tail", which references the heart-shaped cross-section of its caudal vertebrae
Ngwevu	2019	Clarens Formation (Early Jurassic, Pliensbachian to Toarcian)	South Africa	Known from a skull originally assigned to Massospondylus; it was assigned to its own genus based on its unique proportions
Nigersaurus	1999	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian)	Niger	All of its teeth were at the front of its jaws, which were wider than the rest of its skull, an adaptation to low browsing
Nqwebasaurus	2000	Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian)	South Africa	The first non-avian coelurosaur named from mainland Africa
Orosaurus	1867	Elliot Formation? (Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, Norian to Hettangian)	South Africa	Probably a synonym of Euskelosaurus
Ostafrikasaurus	2012	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian)	Tanzania	Described from a single tooth as an early spinosaurid but ceratosaurid affinities have also been proposed
Ouranosaurus	1976	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian to Albian)	Niger	Had long neural spines that projected from its vertebrae, which may have supported a sail or hump in life
Paralititan	2001	Bahariya Formation (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian to Turonian)	Egypt	Would have lived in a tidal flat environment dominated by mangroves
Paranthodon	1929	Kirkwood Formation (Early Cretaceous, Berriasian to Valanginian)	South Africa	Though only known from fragmentary specimens, they are enough to tell that it was a stegosaur
Pegomastax	2012	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian)	South Africa	The morphology of its jaws and beak suggests a diet of tough plants
Plateosauravus	1932	Elliot Formation (Late Triassic, Norian)	South Africa	Known from multiple specimens, including those of juveniles
Pulanesaura	2015	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian to Sinemurian)	South Africa	A low browser that lacked the extremely long neck of later sauropods
Rebbachisaurus	1954	Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian)	Morocco	Carried a row of elongated neural spines, which would have supported a ridge or low sail on its back
Rugops	2004	Echkar Formation (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian)	Niger	Preserves two rows of holes on the top of its skull, which may have anchored a display structure or an armor-like dermis
Rukwatitan	2014	Galula Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian)	Tanzania	One of the few titanosaurs known from central Africa, filling in a gap in their evolutionary history
Sauroniops	2012	Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian)	Morocco	Only known from a single, thickened frontal. Suggested to be a synonym of Carcharodontosaurus but this has been refuted
Sefapanosaurus	2015	Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic, Hettangian)	South Africa	Had a distinctive cross-shaped astragalus
Shingopana	2017	Galula Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian to Maastrichtian)	Tanzania	Most closely related to South American titanosaurs
Spicomellus	2021	El Mers Group (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian to Callovian)	Morocco	The oldest ankylosaur known and the first one from Africa. Uniquely, its osteoderms were fused directly to its ribs
Spinophorosaurus	2009	Irhazer Shale (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian)	Niger	Originally described as possessing a "thagomizer" similar to those of stegosaurs; these turned out to be misidentified clavicles. A high browser with tall shoulders and an elevated neck
Spinosaurus	1915	Bahariya Formation, Chenini Formation, Kem Kem Group (Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian to Turonian)	Algeria  Egypt  Morocco  Tunisia	Possess a myriad of features that have been suggested to be evidence of a semiaquatic lifestyle, including webbed feet and a paddle-like tail; it is however debated if it was a marine piscivore or a shoreline generalist
Spinostropheus	2004	Tiourarén Formation (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic, Bathonian to Oxfordian)	Niger	Although often considered a close relative of Elaphrosaurus, these inferences are based on a specimen that cannot actually be referred to this genus
Suchomimus	1998	Elrhaz Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian to Albian)	Niger	Similar to Baryonyx but with a low sail on its back
Tataouinea	2013	Aïn el Guettar Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian)	Tunisia	Its bones were extensively pneumatized, supporting the theory that sauropods had bird-like respiratory systems
Tazoudasaurus	2004	Azilal Formation (Early Jurassic, Toarcian)	Morocco	One of the few Early Jurassic sauropods known from reasonably complete remains
Tendaguria	2000	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian)	Tanzania	The first definitive turiasaur known from Africa
Tornieria	1911	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Tanzania	Has been assigned to different genera throughout its history
Veterupristisaurus	2011	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian to Tithonian)	Tanzania	Known from a few vertebrae somewhat similar to those of Acrocanthosaurus
Vulcanodon	1972	Forest Sandstone (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian to Toarcian)	Zimbabwe	Theropod teeth were found associated with the holotype
Wamweracaudia	2019	Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic, Tithonian)	Tanzania	The first definitive mamenchisaurid known from outside Asia

Invalid and potentially valid genera

• 

  Fabrosaurus

• 

  Hortalotarsus

• 

  Megapnosaurus

• 

  Nyasasaurus

• 

  Sigilmassasaurus

• Aetonyx palustris: A potential junior synonym of Massospondylus.
• Fabrosaurus australis: Sometimes considered to be part of a family of small ornithischians called fabrosaurids. It may potentially be a synonym of Lesothosaurus.
• Gigantoscelus molengraafi: Probably a synonym of Euskelosaurus, but it cannot be confirmed.
• Gyposaurus: The African species, G. capensis, be a juvenile of a contemporary sauropodomorph. A Chinese species has also been named, but it may not belong to this genus.
• Hortalotarsus skirtopodus: A possible synonym of Massospondylus.
• "Likhoelesaurus": Suggested to be a giant, early carnosaur but might actually be a pseudosuchian.
• Megapnosaurus: The African species M. rhodesiensis might belong to the genus Coelophysis. Another referred species, M. kayentakatae, probably needs its own genus name, as the current one, "Syntarsus", is preoccupied by an insect.
• Nyasasaurus parringtoni: Described in 2013 as the oldest known dinosaur, dating back to the Anisian, but both this date and its classification have been questioned.
• Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis: A spinosaurid contemporary with Spinosaurus; its status as a distinct genus and/or species is uncertain.
• Torvosaurus: Teeth originally named as Megalosaurus ingens have been reassigned to this genus, but not as a distinct species.

Timeline

This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in mya along the x-axis.

See also

• List of African birds