Buzz
When we imagine dinosaurs, we usually picture famous ones like the T. rex or Triceratops. Yet, there’s so much more to these ancient creatures. Each year, new discoveries challenge and expand our understanding of the dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth.
10. Sauroniops Pachytholus
What’s better than The Lord of the Rings and dinosaurs? The combination of both! In 2012, paleontologists unearthed a carnivorous dinosaur, roughly the size of a T. rex, and named it after one of the greatest literary villains, the dark lord Sauron. The reason for this unusual naming lies in the remarkable fossil they discovered: a gigantic eye socket. Thanks to this feature and a distinct dome above it, scientists concluded that this was a previously unidentified species. The dome, experts believe, may have been used either for mating rituals or as a weapon in battles, according to Smithsonian magazine.
9. Eodromaeus
The public often focuses on the larger, more iconic dinosaurs. We all know about Triceratops, T. rex, and Stegosaurus. (For those of us who grew up watching The Land Before Time, they might have been known as threehorns, sharpteeth, and spiketails.) However, it's often the smaller, less famous dinosaurs that play a more crucial role in the evolutionary story.
Eodromaeus, or “dawn runner,” existed 230 million years ago and is thought to be the ancestor of the Tyrannosaurus rex. It shared many features with the T. rex, such as air pockets in its skull and a balancing tail. The discovery of earlier dinosaur species is vital for scientific understanding, as the evolution of dinosaurs remains a mystery. Researchers hope that findings like Eodromaeus will shed light on how giant creatures like the T. rex, Allosaurus, and even modern birds came to be.
8. Anzu Wyliei
After this discovery, we’ll never look at farmyard chickens the same way again. This 3-meter-long (11 ft), 225-kilogram (500 lb) oviraptor was dubbed the “chicken from hell” by the paleontologists who uncovered it. The genus name actually comes from a feathered demon in Mesopotamian mythology. Described as a devilish counterpart to the modern cassowary (a large ground bird related to ostriches), the fossilized skeleton found was in incredible condition.
Despite its imposing size, researchers believe this dinosaur mostly ate plants and small animals—so we probably wouldn't have been on its menu. Paleontologists have called it the “Swiss Army Knife” of the Cretaceous period, with claws adapted for grasping small prey and a jaw designed to strip leaves from plants. What makes this discovery so remarkable is that it's one of the very few complete oviraptor skeletons ever found in North America, as most are usually discovered in Asia.
7. Qianzhousaurus Sinensis
Despite its complex scientific name, this recently discovered dinosaur has a rather amusing nickname: “Pinocchio rex.” If you remember Pinocchio—the singing wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy while belting out “When You Wish Upon A Star”—you'll recall that his nose grows every time he tells a lie. This is where the Pinocchio rex gets its name—due to its extraordinarily long nose. The snout of this tyrannosaur was long and slender, with several horns sticking out of its muzzle. In fact, its nose was about 35 percent longer than that of other dinosaurs of similar size.
Despite its somewhat comical look, scientists believe this tyrannosaur may have been quicker and more agile than its more well-known relatives. Qianzhousaurus isn't the only tyrannosaur with a nose that would make most people consider cosmetic surgery. Other tyrannosaur fossils with elongated snouts were once thought to be juveniles in an awkward phase. However, the Pinocchio rex was an adult, proving that these large noses were a natural trait.
6. Torvosaurus Gurneyi
Noses aren't the only large features scientists are uncovering. This dinosaur, found in Portugal, was not just one of the largest predators, but also one of the biggest land-dwelling creatures ever to roam Europe. This species grew up to 10 meters (33 ft) long and weighed between four to five tons. Initially, scientists thought it was part of the North American Torvosaurus tanneri species, but upon examining the bones, particularly the teeth, they were able to distinguish this dinosaur as a separate species.
The species T. gurneyi had fewer than 11 teeth in its upper jaw, whereas T. tanneri had more. However, T. gurneyi compensated for the lower tooth count with its larger and higher-quality teeth, some reaching up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. Additionally, scientists have uncovered fossilized embryos of this formidable European dinosaur. While other carnivorous dinosaurs in history may have been larger, Torvosaurus gurneyi stands out as one of the largest predators of the Jurassic period.
5. Yongjinglong Datangi
This list largely features meat-eating dinosaurs, as they're truly awe-inspiring. But recent discoveries have unveiled some remarkable plant-eating dinosaurs as well. One such discovery is a sauropod from northwestern China, believed to belong to Titanosauria—an incredibly massive group of dinosaurs and one of the largest land animals to have ever roamed Earth. Though the bones found appear to be from a juvenile, the dinosaur was still around 15–18 meters (50–60 feet) in length.
Scientists believe this species might be the most evolutionarily advanced Titanosaur ever found in Asia, which has helped clarify the relationships among sauropod species across China and beyond. While the U.S. was traditionally considered the prime location for dinosaur fossils, China surpassed that record in 2007, establishing a greater diversity of fossils than ever before.
4. Europelta Carbonensis
Inside a Spanish mine, not just one, but two skeletons of a previously unknown species were found. Initially, scientists believed these creatures were a subspecies of the Ankylosauria group. However, closer examination revealed key differences that set them apart. Their skulls were teardrop-shaped, unlike the triangular heads of ankylosaurs. Moreover, their hips had a much more pronounced arch than those of typical ankylosaurs.
Europelta carbonensis translates to 'Europe's shield from coal.' This newly discovered species belongs to the Nodosauridae family, which inhabited nearly every continent from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous. The European Nodosauridae, including Europelta, found in Spain, differ from their North American counterparts. The similarities between Europelta and other European Nodosauridae provide evidence that Europe and North America began to separate around 110 million years ago, contrary to the previously held belief of an 80-million-year separation.
3. Kryptodrakon Progenitor
It’s important to note that pterosaurs, contrary to popular belief, are not classified as dinosaurs. While they share a close relationship with dinosaurs, they are not part of the dinosaur family. A remarkable discovery in northwestern China recently unearthed the oldest and most primitive pterosaur relative. This flying reptile, which lived during the Middle to Upper Jurassic period, actually evolved on land, unlike its relatives that developed in the sea. While later pterosaurs reached enormous sizes, comparable to small planes, this earliest pterodactyloid pterosaur had a modest wingspan of about 1.4 meters (4.5 ft).
Scientists believe that these early reptiles developed wider wings to adapt to land flight, in contrast to the narrow wings suited for oceanic life. This discovery is considered a significant step in the evolutionary history of pterosaurs, enabling them to move both on the ground and in the air in ways previously impossible for their ancestors.
2. Siats Meekerorum
This is the apex predator that once dominated the territory of Tyrannosaurus rex—at least for a certain period. Its name derives from a monstrous cannibal from Native American folklore in the region where it was discovered, near Cedar City, Utah. Siats meekerorum roamed North America around 98 million years ago, when Tyrannosaurus rex was not yet the terrifying giant we know today. Early versions of T. rex were considerably smaller, and scientists believe that no other creature could compete with Siats meekerorum at that time.
However, it’s not just the size of this beast that has captured the interest of scientists. Prior to this discovery, there was a 30-million-year gap in our understanding of North American dinosaurs. This newfound species shares similarities with other formidable predators, like Giganotosaurus, a much larger predator from Argentina. This suggests that North America might have been more connected to other continents than scientists had previously believed.
1. Leinkupal Laticauda
This sauropod might be considered the clumsy relative of its larger cousins, as it is the smallest of them all. While 'tiny' is relative—it measured around 9 meters (30 feet) in length—it was believed to weigh no more than an elephant. Though not a brand-new discovery, it is the first of its kind found in South America.
At the time, the two American continents were beginning to drift apart, with an ocean forming between them. Larger sauropods, such as Argentinosaurus, continued to thrive in South America until the end of the dinosaur era. However, Leinkupal laticauda was part of the Diplodocidae family, characterized by its long neck and tail—traits used like whips to ward off predators. Not only had no diplodocid fossils been discovered in South America before, but the fossils of this species date back to the Early Cretaceous period, unlike other diplodocids which had become extinct by the Late Jurassic.
