Palรคontologie-Glossar
essential terms and definitions for paleontology and dinosaur science.
Dinosaur Groups
20 termsTerms describing the major taxonomic groups, clades, and families within Dinosauria.
Sauropoda
The clade of long-necked, quadrupedal herbivorous saurischians. Sauropods include the largest terrestrial animals that ever โฆ
Hadrosauridae
The duck-billed dinosaurs, a diverse family of ornithopod herbivores. Hadrosaurs like Edmontosaurus and Parasaurolophus are โฆ
Tyrannosauridae
The family of large coelurosaur theropods, including T. rex, Tarbosaurus, and Albertosaurus. Tyrannosaurids are characterized โฆ
Spinosauridae
Large semi-aquatic theropods with elongated snouts adapted for catching fish. Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, the largest carnivorous โฆ
Titanosauria
The most diverse sauropod clade, dominating the Cretaceous worldwide. Titanosaurs range from modest-sized Saltasaurus, which โฆ
Iguanodontia
A broad clade of ornithopod dinosaurs ancestral to hadrosaurs. Iguanodon, one of the first dinosaurs โฆ
Ankylosauria
Heavily armored ornithischian dinosaurs with extensive osteoderms covering the body. Many ankylosaurs, such as Ankylosaurus, โฆ
Ceratopsia
The clade of horned dinosaurs, including Triceratops, Protoceratops, and Styracosaurus. Ceratopsians are characterized by the โฆ
Dromaeosauridae
The family of small to medium raptors, including Velociraptor and Deinonychus. Dromaeosaurids possessed a hyperextendable โฆ
Ornithischia
One of the two major dinosaur orders, characterized by a bird-like (opisthopubic) hip structure. Ornithischians โฆ
Ornithomimidae
Ostrich-like coelurosaur theropods with toothless beaks, long necks, and slender cursorial limbs. Ornithomimus and Gallimimus โฆ
Pachycephalosauria
Bipedal ornithischians with dramatically thickened, domed skulls. The dome of Pachycephalosaurus could be up to โฆ
Stegosauria
Ornithischian dinosaurs with distinctive rows of plates or spines running along the back and tail. โฆ
Theropoda
The clade of bipedal, predominantly carnivorous saurischian dinosaurs. Theropods include T. rex, Velociraptor, and Spinosaurus, โฆ
Brachiosauridae
Sauropods with forelimbs longer than hindlimbs, giving them a giraffe-like stance. Brachiosaurus could raise its โฆ
Diplodocidae
Long-necked sauropods with whip-like tails and peg-shaped teeth. Diplodocus and Apatosaurus are classic diplodocids; their โฆ
Heterodontosauridae
Small, early ornithischians characterized by differentiated teeth โ incisors, canine-like tusks, and cheek teeth. Heterodontosaurids โฆ
Oviraptoridae
Crested theropods with parrot-like toothless beaks. Long misidentified as egg-thieves, oviraptorids are now known to โฆ
Troodontidae
Small, highly encephalized theropods with large eyes and sickle claws. Troodontids had among the highest โฆ
Alvarezsauridae
Bizarre coelurosaur theropods with a single massive thumb claw and vestigial other fingers. Alvarezsaurids are โฆ