History UsefulNotes / PrehistoricLife

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dsungaripterus Dsungaripterus]]'':

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodaustro Pterodaustro]]'':

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istiodactylus Istiodactylus]]'':

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithocheirus Ornithocheirus]]'': The last one was the main flying reptile portrayed in the WalkingWithDinosaurs series ([[UpToEleven although exaggeratedly oversized]]).

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cearadactylus Cearadactylus]]'' (mentioned in the first Jurassic Park novel)

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudimorphodon Eudimorphodon]]'' (one of the first pterosaurs appeared on Earth)

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anurognathus Anurognathus]]''

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapejara Tapejara]]''.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sordes Sordes]]'' with its relevance in ptero-science; it was the first pterosaur ever discovered with fur-like cover (20 years before the description of the first feathered dinosaur), and thus led the start to the "pterosaur renaissance".

* Other sea reptiles: Many [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metriorhynchus fish-like]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosaurus sea crocodiles]], and two primitive groups from Triassic: the turtle-like, shellfish-eating [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placodont Placodonts]] and the slender, fish-eating ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothosaur Nothosaurs]]

Pre-dino reptiles mainly include those that were once named [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecodont "Thecodonts"]], actually an artificial assemblage including basal Triassic archosaurs, some of them were the ancestors of crocs and dinos; actually some of them (''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratosaurus Teratosaurus]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithosuchus Ornithosuchus]]'' and others) were once believed ''true dinosaurs'', precisely the very first large carnivorous dinosaurs. Today, basal archosaurs, often being somewhere between Crocodilians and Dinosaurs, rarely are named and tend to get token appearances more in art and documentaries than anywhere else. Some notable subgroups of them include: the land-living, long legged croc-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rauisuchia "Rauisuchians"]] (the most commonly represented as they are the competition for the early dinosaurs and the top predators, usually under the name ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postosuchus Postosuchus]]''); the armored, plant-eating [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aetosaur Aetosaurs]] which looked like Ankylosaurs crossed with Crocodiles; and the water-loving and very crocodile-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytosaur Phytosaurs]]. Despite some of these creatures may superficially look dinosaurs, the only true basal archosaur related to dinos was the tiny ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagosuchus Lagosuchus]]'' and its relatives; however, the small croc-relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltoposuchus Saltoposuchus]]'' was once believed the real ancestor of dinosaurs because of its appearance.

There were several archosaur offshoots as well in the Triassic: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euparkeria Euparkeria]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythrosuchus Erythrosuchus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proterosuchus Proterosuchus]]'' which were similar to the archosaurs above; the plant-eating [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhynchosauria Rhynchosaurs]] with their parrot-like beak; the enormously long-necked ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanystropheus Tanystropheus]]''; and finally the small croc-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choristodera Champsosaurs]]. Originated in the Triassic period, Champsosaurs are of particular interest as they managed to survive beyond the age of the dinosaurs and into the age of mammals where most of its brethren went extinct as Dinosaurs rose to power: they are the ''only'' now-extinct group of reptiles that lasted after the end of the Mesozoic era. Still other Triassic reptiles included [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuehneosauridae many]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longisquama "gliding]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharovipteryx lizards"]] vaguely similar to modern ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_volans Draco volans]]'' (though not forming a natural group), and the aforementioned aquatic Nothosaurs and Placodonts. Most [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapsida Anapsids]], like the large armored ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutosaurus Scutosaurus]]'' and the small aquatic ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesosaurus Mesosaurus]]'', were even more ancient, living in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian Permian period]], these will not get much detail other than being described as "Lizard Like" and which one is noted to be [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylonomus the oldest]], which one gave rise to Synapsids and which one gave rise to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diapsida Diapsids]].

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camptosaurus Camptosaurus]]'': The most abundant Late Jurassic large ornithopod, similar to ''Iguanodon'' but smaller and without thumbspikes, it lived in North America along with many dino-stars like ''Apatosaurus'' and ''Stegosaurus'', and was probably the favorite prey of ''Allosaurus'' (it has been discovered in Europe as well).

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouranosaurus Ouranosaurus]]'': This dinosaur from Cretaceous Sahara looks rather like a MixAndMatchCritter, with hadrosaur-like bill, ''Iguanodon''-like thumbspikes and a large sail on its back similar to that of ''Spinosaurus'', which lived in the same place but 15 million years later (some argue that both dinosaurs had a fleshy hump instead of a "sail", and the vertebrae of Ouranosaurus are similar to those of modern bison). ''Ouranosaurus'' was a close relative to hadrosaurs.

* Other North American hadrosaurs: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypacrosaurus Hypacrosaurus]]'' was the twin of ''Corythosaurus''. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryposaurus Gryposaurus]]'' may be considered the "heir" of the classic ''Kritosaurus''. Among the others, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachylophosaurus Brachylophosaurus]]'' and
''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosaurolophus Prosaurolophus]]'' (not to be confused with '''Para'''saurolophus) are two relatively small, primitive forms with small crests.

* Other North American hadrosaurs: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypacrosaurus Hypacrosaurus]]'' was the twin of ''Corythosaurus''; and then, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosaurolophus Prosaurolophus]]'' (not to be confused with '''Para'''saurolophus), ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachylophosaurus Brachylophosaurus]]'', and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryposaurus Gryposaurus]]'' (this one may be considered the "heir" of the classic ''Kritosaurus'').

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegoceras Stegoceras]]'': Lived in Late Cretaceous North America. As mentioned in the ''Pachycephalosaurus'' entry of StockDinosaurs, it's the first "bonehead" discovered and the most complete member of the group in fossil record; thus, it receives the same amount of attention in books as ''Pachycephalosaurus'' (some of them cite it as the prototypical thick-headed dinosaur indeed). However, ''Stegoceras'' was much smaller than its more spectacular, pop-culture cousin (2.5 m at the most), and lacked spikes on the nose.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stygimoloch Stygimoloch]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracorex Dracorex]]'': As mentioned in the StockDinosaur entry about bone-heads, these two dinosaurs have recently made some appearances in pop-culture thanks to their impressive look, breaking the "monopoly" of their larger cousin ''Pachycephalosaurus''. ''Stygimoloch'' shows up in Disney's ''Dinosaur'', ''Dracorex'' is portrayed in ''Primeval''. The controversy about their validity (both may be just juvenile ''Pachycephalosaurus'', and, if not, ''Dracorex'' is very likely a juvenile of whatever ''Stygimoloch'' is) is still unresolved for now.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegoceras Stegoceras]]'': Lived in Late Cretaceous North America. As mentioned in the "Pachycephalosaurus" entry, it's the first "bonehead" discovered and the most complete member of the group in fossil record; thus, it receives the same amount of attention in books as ''Pachycephalosaurus'' (some of them cite it as the prototypical thick-headed dinosaur indeed). However, ''Stegoceras'' was much smaller than its more spectacular, pop-culture cousin (2.5 m at the most), and lacked spikes on the nose.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stygimoloch Stygimoloch]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracorex Dracorex]]'': As mentioned in the main entry these two dinosaurs have recently made some appearances in pop-culture thanks to their impressive look, breaking the "monopoly" of their larger cousin ''Pachycephalosaurus''. ''Stygimoloch'' shows up in Disney's ''Dinosaur'', ''Dracorex'' is portrayed in ''Primeval''. The controversy about their validity (both may be just juvenile ''Pachycephalosaurus'', and, if not, ''Dracorex'' is very likely a juvenile of whatever ''Stygimoloch'' is) is still unresolved for now.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torosaurus Torosaurus]]'': All the ceratopsians in this list up to ''Leptoceratops'' lived in Late Cretaceous North America, but only ''Torosaurus''lived alongside Triceratops. Its name is commonly believed to mean "bull lizard", but this is not true. The size of ''Triceratops'' or even larger, it has a very similar appearence, but is easily separated thanks to its enormously long, smooth-edged shield which covers even its shoulders when put horizontally. In fact, it's so similar, that it has recently been proposed it was just a grown-stage of ''Triceratops''. ''Torosaurus'' was the main horned dinosaur portrayed in the last episode of WalkingWithDinosaurs (while ''Triceratops'' has only a ''very'' minor role), probably because of [[RuleOfCool its more striking look]].

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrosaurus Centrosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoclonius Monoclonius]]'': ''Centrosaurus'' is the most rhino-like of all ceratopsians, it has a much longer nasal horn compared to ''Triceratops'', but nothing on the front; its short, ondulating-edged frill has two "handles" curving downwards from the top, but these are sometimes taken out in models or drawings. Since the eighties ''Centrosaurus'' has replaced the almost-identical ''Monoclonius'' in documentaries and books after the spectacular find in Alberta of a herd of centrosaurs which probably died in mass during a river-crossing. ''Centrosaurus'' was the same size of ''Styracosaurus'', thus smaller than ''Triceratops'', and lived slighty earlier than the latter. Now some scientists think ''Monoclonius'' was only the juvenile stage of ''Centrosaurus''.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasmosaurus Chasmosaurus]]'': ''Chasmosaurus'' was the same size of ''Centrosaurus'' and ''Styracosaurus'', and like these, lived earlier than ''Triceratops''. It has horns similar to ''Triceratops'' (the frontal ones were much shorter), yet ''Chasmosaurus'' has one of the most striking look among all Ceratopsids, thanks to its huge, strikingly angular frill with a very elaborate edge: some portions of the frill were smooth while others were ondulating. It was portrayed one old movie, and some modern-cartoon "Triceratopses" have a suspiciously ''Chasmosaurus''-like look.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentaceratops Pentaceratops]]'': Lived alongside the other giant ceratopsians in North America. Similar to ''Chasmosaurus'' but bigger and with a less-complex frill, it now detains the record of having the "largest skull" of any land animal ever (the former record holder was ''Torosaurus''). Most ceratopsians have the suffix -ceratops: ''Triceratops'' means "three-horned face", ''Protoceratops'' "first horned face" and ''Pentaceratops'' "''five-horned'' face" (an incorrect name, since its horns were ''three'' just like ''Triceratops''; the other two "horns" actually are spiky cheeks). Science may march on for this dinosaur, however, as the largest specimen has been deemed a separate animal in January 2011, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanoceratops Titanoceratops]].

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psittacosaurus Psittacosaurus]]'': Once believed to be the most ancient ceratopsian ever (lived 100 million years ago in Asia), it resembles anything but a ''Triceratops'': small, slender, partially bipedal, with porcupine-like quills (but those could also be in Triceratops itself) with only hints of horns and frill, the only things revealing its relationship are the parrot-bill and spiky cheeks (two features present among ''all'' ceratopsians) that give it the name ("psittacos" is Greek for parrot). It is the dinosaur with most species described (more than 10) and one of the most well-known Asian dinosaurs as well. The recently discovered ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinlong Yinlong]]'' (year 2006) from Late Jurassic China is now the oldest ceratopsian known and has already attained some notoriety: it shows up in the same documentary featuring the small tyrannosaur ancestor ''Guanlong''.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microceratus Microceratops]]'': Its name aptly means "tiny horned face": it's one of the smallest ceratopsians known so far, the size of a cat, and was also one of the most unusual members of this group since it was ''totally bipedal'' and with a very slender body-shape more similar to ''Hypsilophodon'' than to a typical ceratopsian (while its head was unmistakably ceratopsian-like). Lived in Late Cretaceous Asia alongside ''Protoceratops'' and, like the latter, it had no horns. Very poorly known in fossil record, ''Microceratops'' was nonetheless chosen by Disney's {{Dinosaur}} to represent the smallest member of Kron's migrating herd instead of [[RuleOfCool better-known but less peculiar-looking]] dinosaurs of similar size such as ''Compsognathus''. This dinosaur [[ScienceMarchesOn has even changed its name recently]], and now is called ''Microceratus''.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus]]'': Once called ''Syntarsus'', but renamed controversially (its name means "big dead lizard", of all things; and the scientist who discovered and named the animal was still alive) by an entomologist, it was an African close relative of ''Coelophysis''. It has the distinction to be the first dinosaur (excluding ''Archaeopteryx'' of course) ever depicted with feathers (in 1985), in a time when this theory was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered, and the closer to birds [[StockDinosaurs Ceratosaurus and Carnotaurus]] show osteoderms and extense areas of scales in the back, so it is not likely to be that way.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptor Microraptor]]'': Discovered in year 2000, this dromeosaurid (its name means tiny "raptor") was a find that strongly surprised not only paleo-fans but also the whole paleontologist community. And not because it was a feathered dino (such animals were already known from the same site); nor because it was the smallest non-avian dinosaur known at that point (merely 1.5ft long, but this record is contested now). It was its unique body-plan that make us astonished. A ''four-winged'' dino! At least, ''Microraptor'' is usually described in this way; actually it didn't have more wings than ourselves do. Technically a wing is a structure apt for active flight, while ''Microraptor'' limbs weren't; scientists think it was simply a glider just like modern "flying" squirrels, "flying" fish and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_volans flying lizards]]"''. Following the sensationalism that surrounded its discover, ''Microraptor'' became rapidly popular in illustrated books and become even more widely-known after being portrayed as the main animal character in the aforementioned third episode of [[WalkingWithDinosaurs PrehistoricPark]]. Soon after it started to gain attention by the broader pop-cultural world as well, to the point it might become the next entry in the Stock Dinosaur World in the near future (some'll ''already'' [[YourMileageMayVary qualify it as a YMMV stock]]).

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltopus Saltopus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procompsognathus Procompsognathus]]'': Both from Triassic Europe. ''Saltopus'' from Scotland was often referred as "the smallest dinosaur" in books (when ''Compsognathus'' wasn't already), but now it is not even thought to be a true dinosaur, and its remains are very fragmentary. ''Procompsognathus'' from Germany was slightly larger, and has been portrayed in the novel JurassicPark (nicknamed "compy" and depicted with a [[RuleOfCool totally speculative venomous bite]]).

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaphrosaurus Elaphrosaurus]]'': A poorly-known theropod with a slender frame, whose skull is missing in its only well-known skeleton. It often shows up along with "Brachiosaurus" (''Giraffatitan'') and other Late Jurassic dinosaur from the same continent, ancient Africa. A distant relative of Ceratosaurus, its skull morphology and diet, or lack of knowledge thereoff, have created some controversy with the discovery of ''Limusaurus'', a close, yet quite derived, relative whose skull is quite reminescent of an Ornithomimid's.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirostenotes Chirostenotes]]'': Once called ''Caenagnathus'', it is one of the several ''Oviraptor'' relatives, and the most well-known among the few North-American ones. Most oviraptorosaurs have been discovered in Asia indeed, all small-sized except one: the recently-discovered ''Gigantoraptor''. [[hottip: *:Despite the way it sounds it's ''not'' an overgrown dromeosaur, its name is "gigantic (ovi-)raptor"]] This one grew up to 25ft in length, and was probably more similar in its way of life to ''Deinocheirus'' and ''Therizinosaurus'' than to ''Oviraptor''. That's cool, all the three main small-sized coelurosaur-subgroups have at least one oversized member within. ''Deinocheirus'' the giant ornithomimosaur; ''Utahraptor'' the giant dromeosaur; and ''Gigantoraptor'' [[RuleOfThree the giant oviraptorosaur]], ''Tyrannosaurus'' and ''Therizinosaurus'' nonwhitstanding

'''Note: this page is still Work In Progress.'''

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratosaurus Teratosaurus]]'': Lived in Europe during the Triassic period. Discovered in 1861, this "monster lizard" (the meaning of its name) was long believed the first [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnosaur carnosaur]] ("carnosaur" is an old term indicating all large-sized theropods: today this word indicates ''Allosaurus'' and its closest relatives). It made some apparitions in books where was portrayed with a "megalosaur" look. Then in the mid 80s it was discovered that ''Teratosaurus'' was instead a four-legged, non-dinosaurian Archosaur related to ''Postosuchus'' (see in the "pre-dino reptiles" section), and now is out of fashion. Since that discover ''Dilophosaurus'' began to be hailed as the "first large carnivore" in substitution.

* Other examples: The smallish Jurassic ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piatnitzkysaurus Piatnitzkysaurus]]'' was a South American animal despite its Russian-sounding name, and was related with contemporary theropods living far away, such as the european ''Eustreptospondylus''. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryolophosaurus Cryolophosaurus]]'' (also Jurassic) has been the first Antarctic dinosaur which received an official name; because of the "curly" shape of its crest it was initially nicknamed "[[ElvisPresley Elvisaurus]]". The small "horned" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceratosaurus Proceratosaurus]]'' was not a ''Ceratosaurus'' relative despite its name means "before ''Ceratosaurus''. The North American megalosaur ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torvosaurus Torvosaurus]]'' has already been mentioned in the ''Allosaurus'' entry. Still other large/medium theropods may appear in books and documentaries, and it's difficult to list them just because there are too many. No doubt big carnivores receive more attention than every other dinosaur ensemble, [[RuleOfCool for obvious reasons]].

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus]]'': Once called ''Syntarsus'', but renamed controversially (its name means "big dead lizard", of all things; and the scientist who discovered and named the animal was still alive) by an entomologist, it was an African close relative of ''Coelophysis''. It has the distinction to be the first dinosaur (excluding ''Archaeopteryx'' of course) ever depicted with feathers (in 1985), in a time when this theory was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus Deinocheirus]]'': One of the largest and most mysterious dinosaurs, from Late Cretaceous Mongolia. Only its forelimbs are known, similar to those of an Ornithomimid but ''two times taller than a fully grown human'' (''Deinocheirus'' means "terrible hands"). We don't know how big the whole animal really was: some have ipothized in the past that ''Deinocheirus'' was even larger than ''Tyrannosaurus'' and weighing like ''two elephants''. [[RuleOfCool Of course, some popular books have followed this]]. Today our best guesses decrease its size decisely, and being an ornithomimid relative, it would be rather slender and thus less-heavy than ''T. rex''. Moreover,, it was more probably a giant omnivore rather than the powerful predator sometimes described in old textbooks. Dino fans still hope that one day its entire skeleton will be dug out.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosaurus Carcharodontosaurus]]'': Named "great white shark lizard", it was the first theropod that challenged ''T. rex'' about the title of "the largest carnivore" that popular media knew about (year 1995), only to be surpassed by the now stock cousin ''Giganotosaurus'' merely a year later. Discovered in Sahara, it shared that part of the world with its even larger rival ''Spinosaurus''. It's the namesake of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosauridae Carcharodontosaurid]] family, a recently-identified group of gigantic theropods related to ''Allosaurus'' which includes not only the famous ''Giganotosaurus'' but also other animals. Among these, the recently discovered ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapusaurus Mapusaurus]]'' from South America: just as large as ''Giganotosaurus'', its fossils seem to show proof of pack-hunting behavior.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus]]'': Once called ''Syntarsus'', but renamed controversially by an entomologist, it was an African close relative of ''Coelophysis''. It has the distinction to be the first dinosaur (excluding ''Archaeopteryx'' of course) ever depicted with feathers (in 1985), in a time when this theory was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaphrosaurus Elaphrosaurus]]'': A poorly-known theropod with a slender frame, whose skull is missing in its only well-known skeleton. It often shows up along with "Brachiosaurus" (''Giraffatitan'') and other Late Jurassic dinosaur from the same continent, ancient Africa.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirostenotes Chirostenotes]]'': Once called ''Caenagnathus'', it is one of the several ''Oviraptor'' relatives, and the most well-known among the few North-American ones. Most oviraptorosaurs have been discovered in Asia indeed, all small-sized except one: the recently-discovered ''Gigantoraptor''. [[hottip: *:Despite the way it sounds it's ''not'' an overgrown dromeosaur, its name is "gigantic (ovi-)raptor"]] This one grew up to 25ft in length, and was probably more similar in its way of life to ''Deinocheirus'' and ''Therizinosaurus'' than to ''Oviraptor''. That's cool, all the three main small-sized coelurosaur-subgroups have at least one oversized member within. ''Deinocheirus'' the giant ornithomimosaur; ''Utahraptor'' the giant dromeosaur; and ''Gigantoraptor'' [[RuleOfThree the giant oviraptorosaur]].

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torosaurus Torosaurus]]'': All the ceratopsians in this list up to ''Leptoceratops'' lived in Late Cretaceous North America, but only some of them were strictly contemporary to ''Triceratops'': ''Torosaurus'' was one of these. Its name is commonly believed to mean "bull lizard", but this is not true. Nearly as large as ''Triceratops'', it has a very similar appearence, but is easily separated thanks to its longer frontal horns, but above all its enormously long, smooth-edged shield which covers even its shoulders when put horizontally. In fact, it's so similar, one paleontologist has recently proposed it was just a grown-stage of ''Triceratops''. ''Torosaurus'' was the main horned dinosaur portrayed in the last episode of WalkingWithDinosaurs (while ''Triceratops'' has only a ''very'' minor role), probably because of [[RuleOfCool its more striking look]].

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentaceratops Pentaceratops]]'': Lived alongside the other giant ceratopsians in North America. Similar to ''Chasmosaurus'' but bigger and with a less-complex frill, it now detains the record of having the "largest skull" of any land animal ever (the former record holder was ''Torosaurus''). Most ceratopsians have the suffix -ceratops: ''Triceratops'' means "three-horned face", ''Protoceratops'' "first horned face" and ''Pentaceratops'' "''five-horned'' face" (an incorrect name, since its horns were ''three'' just like ''Triceratops''; the other two "horns" actually are spiky cheeks).

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stygimoloch Stygimoloch]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracorex Dracorex]]'': As mentioned in the main entry these two dinosaurs have recently made some appearances in pop-culture thanks to their impressive look, breaking the "monopoly" of their larger cousin ''Pachycephalosaurus''. ''Stygimoloch'' shows up in Disney's ''Dinosaur'', ''Dracorex'' is portrayed in ''Primeval''. The controversy about their validity (both may be just juvenile ''Pachycephalosaurus'') is still unresolved for now.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambeosaurus Lambeosaurus]]'': Similar to ''Corythosaurus'' but with a more complex, ''two branched'' crest; it was the largest North American hadrosaur known so far (and the largest animal in its fauna, with 15m/50ft of length), but the majority of individuals were smaller than this. It's worth noting the largest non-sauropod dinosaurs belonged to the duckbill family (they were longer than Ceratopsians and heavier than ''Tyrannosaurus'' or even ''Spinosaurus'').

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouranosaurus Ouranosaurus]]'': This dinosaur from Cretaceous Sahara looks rather like a MixAndMatchCritter, with hadrosaur-like bill, ''Iguanodon''-like thumbspikes and a large sail on its back similar to that of its neighbor and possible predator ''Spinosaurus'' (some argue that both dinosaurs had a fleshy hump instead of a "sail"). ''Ouranosaurus'' was a close relative to hadrosaurs.

'''Important:''' This page only talks about non-stock animals: that is, creatures that may appear in popular-science works but have never been portrayed in film/comics/novels, or at least portrayed only occasionally. The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dinosaurs the vast majority of dinosaurs]] are in this category; and yet, they are as cool as their famous relatives. If you want to see thing about the most popular dinos and non-dinos, there is already [[{{Understatement}} some information]] [[StockDinosaurs here]].

This page talks about [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin prehistoric life]] by making several examples of extinct creatures, from plants to hominids. [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs Of course]] dinosaurs receive more details than the other group, but it would be a really, ''really'' incomplete list without non-dinos.

This section includes the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur traditional dinosaurs]]: that is, a natural group including "reptiles" either small or big, either two or four-legged, either plant or meat eating, but ''always land-based''. They are more precisely called ''non-avian dinosaurs'' - since birds are excluded from dinos in traditional taxonomy and common sense, they will appear in another section of this page. All dinosaurs (most birds excluded) lived in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesozoic Mesozoic Era]], nicknamed "The Age of Dinosaurs", 230-65 million years ago; but note that no dinosaur lived through the entire timespan, and also didn't live all together as [[SomewhereAPalaeontologistIsCrying portrayed in many popular depictions]]. In such depictions, one can often count on AnachronismStew and MisplacedWildlife occurring on a massive scale.

We have put the epoch in which each of these creatures lived to ease your understanding about the AnachronismStew problem in popular media. The Age of Dinosaurs is divided by geologists in three periods: from the most ancient to the most recent one, they are [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triassic Triassic]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic Jurassic]], and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous Cretaceous]].

'''Important:''' This page only talks about non-stock dinosaurs: that is, creatures that may appear in popular-science works (documentaries, dinosaur books and so on) but were never portrayed in film/comics/novels, or portrayed only once and/or with brief cameos that were not enough to filter in pop-culture. These are [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dinosaurs the vast majority of dinosaurs]] and are as cool as their famous relatives. if you want to see thing about the most popular dinos, there is already some information [[StockDinosaurs here]].

! Non-Dinosaurs

In dinosaur books we can see some other pterosaurs as well, especially those with unusual heads: the shellfish-eating ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dsungaripterus Dsungaripterus]]'', the filter-feeding ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodaustro Pterodaustro]]'', the duck-billed "Ornithodesmus" (now called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istiodactylus Istiodactylus]]'') and the keel-billed "Tropeognathus" (now ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithocheirus Ornithocheirus]]''). The last one was the main flying reptile portrayed in the WalkingWithDinosaurs series ([[UpToEleven although exaggeratedly oversized]]). Among the others, we can also see ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cearadactylus Cearadactylus]]'' (mentioned in the first Jurassic Park novel), ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudimorphodon Eudimorphodon]]'' (one of the first pterosaurs appeared on Earth), the tiny, blunt-faced ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anurognathus Anurognathus]]'', and in recent years the huge-crested ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapejara Tapejara]]''. But we cannot forget ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sordes Sordes]]'' with its relevance in ptero-science; it was the first pterosaur ever discovered with fur-like cover (20 years before the description of the first feathered dinosaur), and thus led the start to the "pterosaur renaissance".

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus Deinocheirus]]'': One of the largest and most mysterious dinosaurs, from Late Cretaceous Mongolia. Only its forelimbs and shoulders are known, similar to those of an Ornithomimid but ''two times taller than a fully grown human'' (''Deinocheirus'' means "terrible hands"). However, it was more probably a giant omnivore rather than the powerful predator sometimes described in old textbooks. Dino fans still hope that one day its entire skeleton will be dug out.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baryonyx Baryonyx]]'': Lived in Europe in the Early Cretaceous together with ''Iguanodon''. Its discover in 1983 was heavily reported in British media because this large theropod was totally different to any other known at the time, and was also the largest and most complete English big meat-eater. Its name means "heavy claw" and has popularly been nicknamed "Claws" because of [[HookHand its enormous hook-like thumb-claws]] that were probably used to catch large fish along rivers and streams, like a huge grizzly bear. Moreover, it had elongated, croc-like jaws with the double of teeth than the other carnivores. Even though ''Baryonyx'' is not a proper stock dinosaur, it appears in popular books with the same frequency of ''Spinosaurus'', ''Dilophosaurus'' and other theropods like these. It has recently appeared in the BigBad role in the "IceAge 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" film (although exaggeratedly oversized, since it was slightly smaller than ''T.rex'' in RealLife); some think it it may become the next new entry in the stock dinosaur ensemble, following ''Giganotosaurus''.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrosaurus Centrosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoclonius Monoclonius]]'': ''Centrosaurus'' is the most rhino-like of all ceratopsians, it has a much longer nasal horn compared to ''Triceratops'', but nothing on the front; its short, ondulating-edged frill has two "handles" curving downwards from the top, but these are sometimes taken out in models or drawings. Since the eighties ''Centrosaurus'' has replaced the almost-identical ''Monoclonius'' in documentaries and books after the spectacular find in Alberta of a herd of centrosaurs which probably died in mass during a river-crossing. Both horned dinosaurs were the same size of ''Styracosaurus'', thus smaller than ''Triceratops'', and lived slighty earlier than the latter. Now some scientists think ''Monoclonius'' was only the juvenile stage of ''Centrosaurus''.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentaceratops Pentaceratops]]'': Lived alongside the other giant ceratopsians in North America. Similar to ''Chasmosaurus'' but bigger, it now detains the record of having the "largest skull" of any land animal ever (the former record holder was ''Torosaurus''). Most ceratopsians have the suffix -ceratops: ''Triceratops'' means "three-horned face", ''Protoceratops'' "first horned face" and ''Pentaceratops'' "''five-horned'' face" (an incorrect name, since its horns were ''three'' just like ''Triceratops''; the other two "horns" actually are spiky cheeks).

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchiceratops Anchiceratops]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrhinoceratops Arrhinoceratops]]'': Like the former example; both are large ''Triceratops''-like ceratopsians from Late Cretaceous North America, but were smaller than ''Pentaceratops''.

* Other examples: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avaceratops Avaceratops]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagaceratops Bagaceratops]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachyceratops Brachyceratops]]'', and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montanoceratops Montanoceratops]]'' were small-sized ceratopsians with a rarer fossil record than other relatives. Among more recently-discovered ceratopsians ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einiosaurus Einiosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuniceratops Zuniceratops]]'' have been portrayed in two popular documentaries of the 2000s. But don't forget the obscure namesake of the family: just ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratops Ceratops]]''.

[[/folder]]

''''Note: this page is still Work In Progress.''''

->In dinosaur books we can see some other pterosaurs as well, especially those with unusual heads: the shellfish-eating ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dsungaripterus Dsungaripterus]]'', the filter-feeding ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodaustro Pterodaustro]]'', the duck-billed "Ornithodesmus" (now called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istiodactylus Istiodactylus]]'') and the keel-billed "Tropeognathus" (now ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithocheirus Ornithocheirus]]''). The last one was the main flying reptile portrayed in the WalkingWithDinosaurs series ([[UpToEleven although exaggeratedly oversized]]). Among the others, we can also see ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cearadactylus Cearadactylus]]'' (mentioned in the first Jurassic Park novel), ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudimorphodon Eudimorphodon]]'' (one of the first pterosaurs appeared on Earth), the tiny, blunt-faced ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anurognathus Anurognathus]]'', and in recent years the huge-crested ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapejara Tapejara]]''. But we cannot forget ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sordes Sordes]]'' with its relevance in ptero-science; it was the first pterosaur ever discovered with fur-like cover (20 years before the description of the first feathered dinosaur), and thus led the start to the "pterosaur renaissance".

'''''Note: this page is still Work In Progress.'''''

'''Note: this page is still Work In Progress.'''

* Other tyrannosaurs: More species of small tyrannosauroids are known to science: for example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alectrosaurus Alectrosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alioramus Alioramus]]'' (both from Asia); North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotyrannus Nanotyrannus]]'' (the "dwarf tyrannosaur"); and the primitive English ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotyrannus Eotyrannus]]'' (the "dawn tyrannosaur", still with long, ''three fingered'' forelimbs). All these were Late Cretaceous, except the Early Cretaceous ''Eotyrannus''.

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus Deinocheirus]]'': One of the largest and most mysterious dinosaurs, from Late Cretaceous Mongolia. Only its forelimbs and shoulders are known, similar to those of an Ornithomimid but ''two times taller than a fully grown human'' (''Deinocheirus'' means "terrible hands"). Some argue that it was the largest theropod ever discovered, possibly as long as ''Spinosaurus'' but even taller than it. However, it was more probably a giant omnivore rather than the powerful predator sometimes described in old textbooks. Dino fans still hope that one day its entire skeleton will be dug out.

This section includes the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur traditional dinosaurs]]: that is, a natural group including "reptiles" either small or big, either two or four-legged, either plant or meat eating, but ''always land-based''. They are more precisely called ''non-avian dinosaurs'' - since birds are excluded from dinos in traditional taxonomy and common sense, they will appear in another section of this trope. All dinosaurs (most birds excluded) lived in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesozoic Mesozoic Era]], nicknamed "The Age of Dinosaurs", 230-65 million years ago; but note that no dinosaur lived through the entire timespan, and also didn't live all together as [[SomewhereAPalaeontologistIsCrying portrayed in many popular depictions]]. In such depictions, one can often count on AnachronismStew and MisplacedWildlife occurring on a massive scale.

''[[AC:Large / medium-size theropods]]''

''[[AC:Small theropods]]''

''[[AC:Sauropods]]''

''[[AC:Prosauropods]]'' [[hottip:* :Note that it was recently discovered that some of these ''aren't prosauropods'' in a phylogenetic sense.]]

''[[AC:Stegosaurs]]''

''[[AC:Ankylosaurs]]''

''[[AC:Ceratopsians]]''

''[[AC:Pachycephalosaurs]]''

''[[AC:Hadrosaurs]]'' [[hottip:* :Most of them, useless to say it, are North-American (if not, they are Asian), and all lived between 80 and 65 million years ago - at the end of the Mesozoic.]]

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrosaurus Hadrosaurus]]'': The namesake of its family and the first dinosaur ever identified as such in America (and outside Europe), but known through incomplete remains. It was also the first large dinosaur depicted as ''bipedal'' (a revolutionary idea at the time).

''[[AC:Other ornithopods]]''

''[[AC:Primitive ornithischians]]''

This section includes the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur traditional dinosaurs]]: that is, a natural group including "reptiles" either small or big, either two or four-legged, either plant or meat eating, but ''always land-based''. They are more precisely called ''non-avian dinosaurs'' - since birds are excluded from dinos in traditional taxonomy and common sense, they will appear in another section of this trope. All dinosaurs (most birds excluded) lived in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesozoic Mesozoic Era]], nicknamed "The Age of Dinosaurs", 230-65 million years ago; but note that no dinosaur lived through the entire timespan, and also didn't live all together as [[SomewhereAPalaeontologistIsCrying portrayed in many popular depictions]].
In such depictions, one can often count on AnachronismStew and MisplacedWildlife occurring on a massive scale.

->Actually the distinction between stock and non-stock dinosaurs is kinda subjective and may be strongly related to the epoch in which the work was created. We can divide dinosaurs and other extinct critters in four categories:
## '''Great stock''': creatures portrayed in ''every'' film/comic/novel about prehistory, to the point that their absence is considered an aversion. These animals are mentioned in the Laconic entry and are marked with *** in the list.
## '''Secondary stock''': creatures which are rather common in films/comics/novels but not as obligatory as the former, and their missing may be not considered an aversion of the trope. These ones are marked with ** in the list.
## '''YourMileageMayVary stock''': creatures portrayed in films/comics/novels only sporadically, or that are just starting to enter in pop-consciousness. While some paleo-fans consider these animals stock, others may not agree about that. They are marked with * in the list.
## '''Non-stock''': creatures that may appear in popular-science works (documentaries, dinosaur books and so on) but were never portrayed in film/comics/novels (or portrayed only once and/or with brief cameos that were not enough to filter in pop-culture). These are the vast majority of dinosaurs and are listed here in their own section.

A list of the main groups of dinosaurs is following. We have put the epoch in which each of these creatures lived to ease your understanding about the AnachronismStew problem in popular media. The Age of Dinosaurs is divided by geologists in three periods: from the most ancient to the most recent one, they are [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triassic Triassic]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic Jurassic]], and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous Cretaceous]]. You'll note that most stock dinosaurs come from two combinations of continent-period: Late Jurassic North America and Late Cretaceous North America.

[[folder:Meat-eaters (usually)]]
The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theropoda Theropod]] group contains all the carnivorous dinosaurs. By far the most popular of all is....well....[[TyrannosaurusRex guess what?]] They are very diversified in size and shape but always bipedal, and also include the ancestors of birds.

!!Main Stock Theropods

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosaurus Tyrannosaurus rex]]]]'' ***

->Lived in western North America 68 to 65 million years ago at the very end of the Age of Dinosaurs. Other [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosauridae Tyrannosaurs]] lived in Asia in the same period, and still other members of this family lived slightly earlier in North America, but always in the Late Cretaceous Period. ''T. rex'' was first described in 1905, and was considered the largest carnivorous beast that ever walked the Earth for almost a century. '''Every''' visit to a dinosaur-populated time or place will have at least one ''T. rex'' , because (ahem) "Dude, he [[RuleOfCool could totally eat you.]]" And every ''T. rex'' will be at least implicitly male, probably due to the implications of its name, which means "Tyrant lizard king". In print media, the name of this dinosaur is often incorrectly rendered as "T-rex" rather than "''T. rex.''" This is most likely due to the writer being [[TaxonomicTermConfusion ignorant of Linnaean classifications]] and the conventions associated therewith. Also note that ''Tyrannosaurus'' is the ''only'' dinosaur commonly known for its entire scientific name: genus ''Tyrannosaurus'', species ''rex''. Since talking about ''T. rex'' would probably take half of the entire trope, for much more information and examples in media see the personal trope TyrannosaurusRex.

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychus Deinonychus]] ***, commonly thought to be [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velociraptor Velociraptor]]]]'' ***

->These two dinosaurs belong to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromaeosauridae Dromeosauridae]]: that is, the dinosaur family more closely related to birds. Both from the Cretaceous, ''Deinonychus'' (meaning "terrible claw") lived 115-108 million years ago in North America, while its smaller relative ''Velociraptor'' ("swift robber") was rather younger, 75-71 million years ago from Asia. Although very similar-looking, they were not twins. ''Deinonychus'' was more robust and its head had a convex profile and wedge-shaped snout; ''Velociraptor'' had a weedier body-frame and a much narrower, elongated head with a concave profile. Since the novel JurassicPark was written by Crichton and brought up by Spielberg's film, Dromeosaurs have become ever-present in ''any'' sort of media, from movies to advertising. They will most likely be identified as ''Velociraptor'' and will look like ''JurassicPark'' Raptors, despite the fact that these are actually ''Deinonychus''. This fact is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the novel itself: here a scientist reveals to Alan Grant that the main raptor-characters belong to the species ''Velociraptor antirrhopus'', an obsolete synonym of ''Deinonychus antirrhopus''. Indeed, ''Deinonychus'' were roughly the same size of the fictional dinos (9ft/3m long, but only hip-tall compared to an adult human), while actual ''Velociraptor'' were about the size of a turkey, but as long as a human. Thanks to Spielberg, if you see a ''Deinonychus''/''Velociraptor'', expect to see:
## Scary cat-eyes instead of more realistic bird-eyes with rounded pupils;
## Giant kangaroo hands with claws pointing backwards, instead of slender hands with palms facing each other;
## A freely-moving, snake-like tail, only because it looks [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent creepier that way]]. Even though the fossils show that their tails were covered in ossified tendons (that is, muscles that were hardened into bone) to keep the thing stiff, making it a literal balancing pole.
## Chimp-like intelligence (in RealLife they were probably not "smarter" than modern mammals), complete with improbable skills like learning how opening doors via handle, or even creating complex plans with the purpose to [[KillEmAll slay all the humans they meet]];
## A [[CarnivoreConfusion very, very bad attitude]];
## Last but not least, a traditionally scaly skin. ''Do not expect to see feathers''. Dromeosaurs, as well as a [[http://www.dinosaur-world.com/feathered_dinosaurs/0-feathered_dinosaurs.htm a surprisingly wide variety of other theropods]], had been suspected to have feathers since around 1986, thanks to their striking anatomical similarities with the very feathered ''Archaeopteryx'' (see below). This was confirmed a mere ten years later, and evidence of feathers on ''Velociraptor'' itself was revealed in 2007. Thus, dromeosaurids from before 1996 will [[ScienceMarchesOn never have feathers]], and even those from later years are unlikely due to the fact that feathered dinosaurs have taken a long-rearend time to filter into public consciousness. (It's also much more difficult for the CGI team to animate feathers, much like hair.) ''JurassicPark 3'' at least showed one raptor with feathers on its head. The assumption may have been any more and it would have looked "too cute". Just goes to show you, [[SomewhereAnOrnithologistIsCrying Hollywood doesn't know jack about birds]].

->Dromaeosaurs had a convoluted history in [[RealLife real life]] too. The first ever discovered, the namesake ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromaeosaurus Dromaeosaurus]]'', has long been a scarcely-known dinosaur and its typical 'raptor' features were not recognized at the time (1920s): this happened only after the important discovery of ''Deinonychus'' at the end of the sixties, which started the scientific revolution known as the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur-renaissance 'Dinosaur Renaissance']] : that is to say, scientists began to think dinosaurs were active, clever and warm-blooded creatures instead of sluggish and dull-witted. This explain why dromeosaurs started to filter in popular media only some decades ago, and older films ''never'' represent any of them simply because they were de facto [[ScienceMarchesOn not even known]] at the time. Interestingly enough, before the JurassicPark-Mania, the most represented "raptor" (perhaps the only one) in pop culture was indeed ''Deinonychus'' . The definitive replacement ''Deinonychus'' --> ''Velociraptor'' in media was a Crichton's and Spielberg's creation. The term ''Velociraptor'' was virtually unknown to laymen until ''Jurassic Park'' made it a household name. And the equally-popular nickname "raptor" didn't exist before the nineties, it was a Crichton's invention as well. Ironically, just the same years in which ''Velociraptor'' became so popular, a new species of dromeosaurid was discovered in Utah, a dinosaur much, much larger than ''Velociraptor'' and even ''Deinonychus'': being 23ft/7m long and taller that a human, this one was named ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahraptor Utahraptor]]''.(for more info about this guy see the section "Non Stock Dinosaurs" below). Significantly, since then almost ''all'' the new species of dromeosaurids discovered have had the suffix 'raptor' in their scientific name, in an awesome case of non-pop culture SureWhyNot.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx Archaeopteryx]]]]'' **

->Lived 155 to 150 million years ago in Late Jurassic Europe. ''Archaeopteryx'' remains have been discovered with impression of feathers since the very first discoveries, started in 1861 (its name means "ancient wing"): thus, it is the ''only'' theropod which will ''always'' have feathers in fiction. Expect it to be identified as the "first bird". Naturally, the truth is much more complicated; see this [[http://www.dinosaur-world.com/feathered_dinosaurs/0-feathered_dinosaurs.htm feathered theropods]] link for a few reasons why. Basically, we're going to have to rewrite the definition of "bird" someday. ''Archaeopteryx'' itself lacks some of the diagnostic features of modern birds, and is basically a transitional species (evolution being a process of gradual change), somewhere between a dinosaur and a bird (and that's ''if'' it's a direct ancestor to modern birds at all). Because ScienceMarchesOn but Pop Culture Stumbles Along Much More Slowly, fictional ''Archaeopteryx'' are nearly always -and incorrectly- shown to be able of powered flapping flight and of perching like modern birds do. They also never have those really cool sickle claws real ''Archaeopteryx'' did possess. A few other especially birdlike dinosaurs (or, depending on your point of view, dinosaur-like birds) are ''just'' starting to filter into pop culture's consciousness. Early Cretaceous ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptor Microraptor]]'' and Late Cretaceous ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oviraptor Oviraptor]]'' (both from Asia) seem to be especially popular, probably because they are just so darned odd looking (For more detailed infos about ''Oviraptor'' see further).

!!Giant Theropods that have become stock after ''T. rex''

Since the nineties several giant theropods have started to filter in pop-consciousness, but nobody of them has managed to replace ''T. rex'' as the "King Dinosaur" (at least for now).

'' [[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinosaurus Spinosaurus]]]]'' **

->Lived in Cretaceous Africa and Europe from 106 to 93 million years ago. ''Spinosaurus'' is the largest meat-eating dinosaur ever discovered so far, well recognizable for its huge, 2m/6ft tall crest ('sail') on its back (hence its name meaning "spiny lizard") somewhat analogue to that of ''Dimetrodon'' (see further) and his croc-like jaws similar to its fishing-specialist relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baryonyx Baryonyx]]''. It was first described in 1915, but was poorly known among paleontologist for a long time because of its scanty remains (most of its head was missing, thus in older drawings it hadn't the correct croc-like jaws but instead a more classic tyrannosaur-like head). Once, scientists didn't have even a precise idea about how big ''Spinosaurus'' actually was, but many of them already suspected ''Spinosaurus'' was "bigger!"... than a ''Tyrannosaurus rex''. JurassicPark 3 (which fans [[DisContinuity don't really like to talk about]] but was nonetheless popular) introduced it to the audience as "[[RunningGag bigger!]]..." than a ''Tyrannosaurus rex''. The thing is, at the time the film was produced, the largest theropod was believed to be ''Giganotosaurus'' (see below), and many dino-fans complained that the JP spinosaur was altered to make it a sorta oversized [[TyrannosaurusRex pseudo-rex thing]]. Then, [[ScienceMarchesOn new discoveries]] told us Spielberg wasn't wrong: Spino was ''really'' "[[OverlyLongGag bigger!]]"... than a ''Tyrannosaurus rex''. Not only that, it was indeed [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome the largest meatasaur known so far]], and still remains such for now. Its way-of-life is still controversial just as its look has long been: a mere fish-eater like ''Baryonyx'', or an active predator of giant herbivores like ''Tyrannosaurus''? Experts used to prefer the first option, and this fostered even more criticism about JurassicPark portrait as the the [[UpToEleven Ultimate Superpredator]]. Today ''Spinosaurus'' is usually believed to be a sort of middle-way between these two extremes: a sort of opportunist more similar to a prehistoric grizzly than a gharial, attacking other smaller dinosaurs when given the opportunity as well as eating fish, and using its size to steal kills to other carnivores (though its fragile crest could get broken in a fight against the latter, so we're unsure about this). With its size, the average fish it would feed upon would range from 4 to 15ft in length. In other words--it'd have no problem feeding on most ''[[BadAss sharks]]''. And since large, [[EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks freshwater sharks]] already existed in Cretaceous Africa...

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giganotosaurus Giganotosaurus]]]]'' *

->Here is (for now) the last new entry in Pop Culture Carnivore World: ''Giganotosaurus'' from Cretaceous South America 97 million years ago, sometimes misnamed ''Gigantosaurus''). Known to science only since 1995, it was celebrated as "the largest predatory dinosaur ever", surpassing its close relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosaurus Carcharodontosaurus]]'' (which in its turn had made the same thing with ''T. rex'' merely the year before). It remained the record-holder until new ''Spinosaurus'' fossils discovered in the 2000s showed us the latter was even larger. ''Giganotosaurus'' remains nonetheless one of the hugest meat-eaters that ever lived, and yet, despite its coolness, its ''just'' starting to gain popularity. However, the fact that it could hunt some of the largest sauropods means that it may become ''very'' popular in the future. ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' did a special on just how BadAss such a hunt would be. This WW special was made in the [[DuelingMovies same year of JurassicPark3]]; both shows portrayed a "Whoa he's [[RuleOfCool larger than T.rex!!!]]" predatory dino to broader audiences for the first time. Walking With may be counted as the TropeMaker about ''Giganotosaurus''.

'' [[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnotaurus Carnotaurus]]]]'' *

->Lived in South America 70 to 65 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous. Discovered only in 1985, the specimen is rather special as ''Carnotaurus'' is the only large theropod so far found with skin impressions, which show us a striking 'warty' texture. It has also one of the more unusual body-shapes among all large flesh-eaters: short, bulldog-like snout, a couple of bull-like horn on his eyebrows (its name means "meat-eating bull"), and forelimbs even tinier than those of ''T.rex'', resembling useless stubs. Thanks to its striking look, though it doesn't come close to rivaling ''Tyrannosaurus'' in size, ''Carnotaurus'' has become somewhat popular since a dozen years, expecially after being portrayed as an oversized, [[TyrannosaurusRex pseudo-rexing]] villain in the almost-forgotten-today (but very-successful-at-the-time) ''{{Dinosaur}}''. It may even be the responsible of the recent decline of the classic stock carnivore ''Ceratosaurus'' (see below) in media, as ''Ceratosaurus'' has a similarly horned/tubercled look and perhaps the two dinos may be rather confused each other by non-specialists. As of now, it's unknown exactly what kind of ecology ''Carnotaurus'' had (to look at the front-view illustration in TheOtherWiki is to be confused). Also note the resemblance both in shape and in name between the Carnotaur and a mythical critter, the [[ALoadOfBull Minotaur]]. This association may have at least unconsciously leaded Disney to make it the villain of the aforementioned ''Dinosaur''.

!!Giant Theropods that have become stock before ''T. rex''

It's interesting to note that some large meat-eaters entered in pop-culture ''before T. rex'', but have become less-portrayed just since ''T. rex'' was discovered.

'' [[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allosaurus Allosaurus]]]]'' **

->''Allosaurus'' lived 155 to 145 million years ago in North America, Europe and maybe Africa. It is the large carnivorous dinosaur which scientists know the most about, since dozen and dozen of individual have been found so far in North America. It's the only giant theropod which has left to us a true 'dinosaur graveyard', in Utah. It was one of the top-predators of the Late Jurassic, and the top predator of its environment ([[CrowningMomentOfAwesome after effectivelly displacing and outgrowing giant Megalosaur]] ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torvosaurus Torvosaurus]]''). First discovered in 1877 during the so-called American [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_Wars Bone Wars]] (see the link for further information), it became rapidly the 'king of the predators' in pop culture.... at least until ''Tyrannosaurus'' was discovered; since then, this dinosaur has typically been used when a writer wants to use a different BigBad instead of the iconic ''T. rex''. They're often confused in the public mind due to their vaguely similar appearance, though RealLife ''Allosaurus'' is rather easy to separate from the ''rex'': it was slightly smaller, its head was narrower with two small bosses protruding in front of its eyes, and had ''longer, stronger front arms with three clawed fingers rather than two''. But these differences tend to be deleted in fiction, in part because ''T. rex'' has often been depicted with ''three functional digits'' in its "hands" (see Disney's Fantasia). Finally, the two top-predators of their time were separated by 70-80 millions of years of evolution, and ''not particularly closely related''. Just making a snarky profecy about its future misfortune, ''Allosaurus'' literally means "other lizard".

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratosaurus Ceratosaurus]]]]'' *

->A medium-large sized carnivorous dinosaur, ''Ceratosaurus'' lived in the same time and place of ''Allosaurus''. Discovered during the Bone Wars just like the latter, ''Ceratosaurus'' holds the record of being the first dinosaur ever shown in non-animated cinema (the film ''Brute Force'', 1914), and it has also cropped up when a writer doesn't want to use ''T. rex''. Unlike ''Allosaurus'', ''Ceratosaurus'' (its name meaning "horned lizard") is rarely confused with the tyrannosaur due to [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the prominent horn atop its snout]] (actually a small nasal crest than a true horn) and a row of small bony tubercles down its back. It was often strongly oversized in old films, to make it resemble more a "horned tyrannosaur", a common destiny among all large non-rex theropods in old and modern fiction, see TyrannosaurusRex. Although apparently similar to a down-scaled ''Allosaurus'', it was actually more primitive than his larger rival: it retained a remnant fourth finger on its hand which was lost by ''Allosaurus''. ''Ceratosaurus'' is quite rare in films these days: the only relevant example is JurassicPark 3, and makes only a brief cameo (this is worth to be remembered though, because it was portrayed with its correct size and shape at last). Even modern documentaries rarely represent it (to say, it didn't make any apparition in the whole [[WalkingWithDinosaurs Walking With]] series). But in the past it was featured either in minor bits or prominently in many films.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalosaurus Megalosaurus]]]]'' *

->Lived in Europe 166 million years ago in the Middle Jurassic, even though popular books used to depict it in Early Cretaceous Europe as well (we'll explain later why). ''Megalosaurus'' simply means "large lizard", though it wasn't really so big as its name makes to think (it was smaller than ''Allosaurus'', for example). But this is absolutely justified. ''Megalosaurus'' indeed is the doyen of all large meatasaurs. It has the distinction of being the first dinosaur ever described scientifically (1824) and remained for decades the only large flesh-eating dinosaur known. Thus, it is easy to imagine that ''Megalosaurus'' was a very popular dinosaur in the 19th century (at least in Britain, where the first fossils were found). It was the first true dinosaur to appear in any popular media, precisely in Charles Dickens' novel "Bleak House", although it's only briefly mentioned. Because of the scanty remains, ''Megalosaurus'' was imagined as a sort of huge four-legged lizardy thing, just like ''all'' the few dinosaurs known at the time: the image of theropods as bipedal creatures appeared only in the second half of that century. Unfortunately for it, one day ''Allosaurus'' was described and then ''Tyrannosaurus'', and both gained much popularity (especially ''[[TyrannosaurusRex T. rex]]'' ...). This has caused the relevance of ''Megalosaurus'' progressively to fall. The fact that it, until recently, was what scientists call a "Waste-bin Taxon" (IE: If they had unidentifiable predator bones, it ended up being labeled "Megalosaurus" regardless of what it really was) made the case against it even worse. Today, like ''Ceratosaurus'', it's hard to find it in modern pop culture: Sinclair of the TV show "{{Dinosaurs}}" is one example. Popular-science works have also followed the trend, and ''Megalosaurus'' is now a rare sight in books and documentaries, mainly mentioned for its historical importance: for example, ''Walking With'' chose to show its less-famous relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustreptospondylus Eustreptospondylus]]'' in substitution. If you find an old text, however, you'll ''certainly'' find a megalosaur in it: the odds are you'll see it fighting against the herbivorous ''Iguanodon'' (the doyen of all veggiesaurs), and this battle was as classic as the universally-known ''T.rex'' vs ''Triceratops''. But wait, why [[AnachronismStew an Early Cretaceous Iguanodont]]? Well, because of [[ScienceMarchesOn the "waste-bin" thing]] of course: scientists long used to attribute fragmentary theropod remains discovered in Cretaceous Europe to our megalo-dino.

!!Small stock Theropods

Here is a list of several small- or medium-sized theropods that make some appearance in media, although less commonly than the iconic "Raptors".

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilophosaurus Dilophosaurus]]]]'' **

->''Dilophosaurus'' lived 197 to 183 million years ago in Early Jurassic North America and Asia. It was one of the first early theropods to obtain large size, but it was still small compared to many later carnivores, and more related to the small ''Coelophysis'' (see further): thus, it fits better in this section. Easily recognizable thanks to the two flat, fragile crests on its head, ''Dilophosaurus'' was one of the theropods that falled into the "Megalosaurus wastebin" confusion, and was recognized as a distinct genus only in the 1970s. It was often depicted as a scavenger because of its weak jaws, but it was also hailed as the [[RuleOfCool first giant meat-eater]] ever appeared, substituting the alleged dinosaur ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratosaurus Teratosaurus]]'' in this role (see the non-stock section). For a long time ''Dilophosaurus'' remained an obscure animal among large public... until the novel JurassicPark was published, of course. Here it was wrongly depicted as capable of [[RuleOfCool spitting venom like some species of cobra]]. Two years later, the movie made it even more popular, and ever more incorrect: its size was greatly decreased, but above all, Spielberg added a totally improbable [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frilled_lizard Frilled Lizard]] -like crest on its neck. The thing is, since then, ''[[FollowTheLeader all]]'' the depictions have represented ''Dilophosaurus'' [[DidNotDoTheResearch with this large fan-like frill]]. Ironically, it did not appear in anyone of the sequels of the original film, and now seems to be rather "out of fashion".

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithomimus Ornithomimus]] ** , [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struthiomimus Struthiomimus]] ** and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallimimus Gallimimus]]]]'' *

->These dinosaurs belong to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithomimidae Ornithomimid]] family, found the first time in North America in 1890, and later in Asia, Europe, Africa and maybe Australia; the stock members lived in the Late Cretaceous, between 80 and 65 million years ago. These slender, toothless dinosaurs were noted for resembling birds since the onset of their discovery. They are nicknamed 'ostrich-mimic dinosaurs' indeed, and their name contains the Latin word 'mimus' (meaning imitator) preceded by a bird-related prefix: ''Ornithomimus'' simply means "imitator of the bird", ''Gallimimus'' "imitator of the cock" and ''Struthiomimus'' "imitator of the ostrich" (the best name of all). Currently believed to have been covered in feathers like many of their relatives, this has yet to appear in fiction. Though the subject of their diet is still in debate (Carnivores? Herbivores? Omnivores?), most of the time in fiction they will be portrayed as egg-eaters and nest robbers, thus giving them the alleged behavior of ''Oviraptor'' (see below). If not that, then they will be herbivorous or insectivorous. ''Ornithomimus'' and ''Struthiomimus'' (both North American and confused each other in the past) are the 'classic' ornithomimids in films. Since the nineties their larger Asian relative ''Gallimimus'' has been added, thanks to [[JurassicPark Spielberg]], [[FollowTheLeader again]].

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oviraptor Oviraptor]]]]'' *

->Lived in Late Cretaceous Asia 75 million years ago. First discovered in 1924, it was named ''Oviraptor'' (meaning “egg robber”) because its first remains were found next to a clutch of eggs which were thought to belong to the plant-eating ''Protoceratops''; for much time scientist have hypothesized that ''Oviraptor'' was a an egg-stealing specialist (indeed its features, powerful beak and agile hands, seem just well-suited for this way of life...). ScienceMarchesOn however, and in the nineties a skeleton of an oviraptorid was discovered, lying just over a nest full of eggs the same shape of those believed to belong to ''Protoceratops''. Today there are currently no proof about the egg-robbing thing - not that a quick, long-armed, large-beaked dinosaur wouldn't go for eggs if it had the chance, mind you. Four years after the discover, the Disney movie ''Dinosaur'' portrayed two ''Oviraptor''s in the classic robbing way-of-life. Also note that the toothless ''Oviraptor'' may be confused with ornithomimids by non-specialists, although they are not so closely related: maybe this is the reason of the aforementioned 'nest-robbing' behavior often attributed to the ostrich-mimic dinos. Also, the emu-sized animal with a tall crest that most people associate with ''Oviraptor'' has recently been reclassified as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citipati Citipati]]'', the original ''Oviraptor'' being poorly known (and with a crushed skull), and quite smaller; however, this is not just like the ''Velociraptor'' confusion, it's more an example of ScienceMarchesOn. Furthermore, both ''Citipati'' and ''Oviraptor'' lived together unlike ''Velociraptor'' and ''Deinonychus'', and ''Oviraptor'' itself is so poorly known that the usage of this name is somewhat justified.

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troodon Troodon]]]]'' *

->A close relative of dromeosaurs, ''Troodon'' (also known as ''Stenonychosaurus'') lived in North America 75-65 million years ago and shared its habitat with ''Tyrannosaurus''. It is often referred as the 'smartest dinosaur' in popular books because has the largest brain-to-body-size ratio among dinosaurs (though its ratio is about equal to that of a wild turkey). ''Troodon'' is not usually seen in fiction because of its strong similarity to the much more famous and better-weaponed raptors (very brain-endowed as well); both share the same sickle-claws on their feet, but those of ''Troodon'' are much smaller and look rather inoffensive. However, this bird-like dinosaur was in 1982 the object of a entirely speculative theory proposed by a paleontologist, that if it did not go extinct at the end of the Cretaceous it had the possibility of evolving in something very human-like in body shape and intelligence (this creature was named “dinosauroid”); since there, ''Troodon'' has made a few apparitions in fiction novels and TV series in which the "dinosauroid" argument was portrayed. The dinosauroid looks like a cross between [[TheGrays big-headed aliens]] and LizardFolk. It is worth noting the Sleestacks of LandOfTheLost fame closely resemble the dinosauroid model despite having been created several years before this theory was even conceived.

'' [[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compsognathus Compsognathus]]]]'' *

->''Compsognathus'' was a chicken to small turkey-sized carnivorous dinosaur native to Europe 150 million years ago. Traditionally regarded 'the smallest dinosaur' (being 3ft/1m long at most), it shared its Late Jurassic insular habitat with ''Archaeopteryx'' that was even smaller; ironically ''Compsognathus'' was actually the apex predator of the islands it lived in, and one of the largest land animals there. It was often depicted with two-fingered, ''T. rex''-like hands; now we know it had three digits instead. 'Compys' have become quite popular since they appeared in the second ''JurassicPark'' film and the standard public image seems to be of a [[KillerRabbit deceptively cute critter]] that attacks in [[ZergRush huge packs]]. There's no evidence for such a behavior, and the only evidence of feeding habits comes from ''Bavarisaurus'' and sphenodonts (small lizard-like reptiles) found swallowed whole in its stomach, and it was ''highly'' improbable that it was actually capable of such a thing, since its built was too fragile and its jaws just too weak (when was the first time you have been devoured alive by a pack of hungry ''[[KillerRabbit cats]]''?). Since it was probably one of the cutest dinos in RealLife, ''Compsognathus'' has been perhaps the worst example of a dinosaur with its public image [[SomewhereAPalaeontologistIsCrying ruined by that series]]. Also note that the original compys from the novel were actually ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procompsognathus Procompsognathus]]'', similar in size and name but much more ancient than ''Compsognathus'' (it lived in Triassic Europe, and its name just means "before Compsognathus"); the latter was chosen by the film-makers because it was already well-known among many dinosaur fans, and since its fossil record is far more complete than ''Procompsognathus'', this is justified.

'' [[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelophysis Coelophysis]]]]'' *

->One of the very first dinosaurs ever appeared on Earth, ''Coelophysis'' lived in Triassic North America 216 to 203 million years ago (although fragmentary material suggests a near worldwide distribution lasting up to 188 million years ago, if African ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus]]'' is the same animal). One of the least commonly-portrayed among the stock dinosaurs, ''Coelophysis'' is a small and thin animal the size of a large turkey or small child; growing a little over 6ft/2m long, it looks as a perfect underdog to root for. Some TruthInTelevision as during the Triassic, ''Coelophysis'' acted more like jackals or foxes, with the big predator spots filled in by croc-relatives Rauisuchians/"[[FanNickname Crimson Crocs]]". ''Coelophysis'' usually shows up in Documentaries rather than fiction. If the Triassic is mentioned at all, a ''Coelophysis'' or one of its relatives will show up. All these relatives kept the small/slender body form...except one. That one likely grew to twenty-one feet (bigger than the Crimson Crocs) and likely weighed 300 to 400 pounds. Called ''[[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous Gojirasaurus]]'' after a particularly [[{{Godzilla}} dinosaurian monster from Japan]], since its discovery [[WildMassGuessing some artists have been giving it speculative features]] such as prominent/raised scutes along its back [[RuleOfCool to make it look like its namesake]]. Extra-note: scientists once thought that ''Coelophysis'' was cannibalistic and devoured the young of its own species, since tiny bones have been discovered within the rib cage of some adult individuals; thus, it has been portrayed as such in popular books and documentaries for a long time (see WalkingWithDinosaurs). However, there isn't any proof that those bones really belong to young ''Coelophysis'', and this theory is usually discredited today.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Long-necked plant-eaters]]

The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauropodomorpha Sauropodomorphs]] ("sauropod-shaped") include dinosaurs with long necks. Most of them pertain to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauropoda Sauropods]] subgroup, while all the other members are traditionally called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosauropoda Prosauropods]].

!!Sauropods

"Sauropods" is the correct name for the giant quadrupedal plant-eating dinosaurs with long necks and tails. The largest of all dinosaurs are found in this group; some of them were the longest, heaviest and tallest land animals ever lived. Since sauropods are rather similar to each other in size and appearance, only a very low number of them will usually be identified/identifiable in Fictionland. All the stock members were from Late Jurassic epoch, but sauropods from Early Jurassic to the end of The Mesozoic are known as well in RealLife; although their distribution was worldwide, the most popular species were all North American.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apatosaurus Apatosaurus]], often called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontosaurus Brontosaurus]]]]'' ***

->Lived in the Late Jurassic (155 to 145 million years ago) in what is now the USA; it has always been the main contender of ''Tyrannosaurus'' for "The Dinosaur" title, thanks to its huge size and distinctive appearance. If the writer [[ScienceMarchesOn did the research]] in the sixties (or [[DidNotDoTheResearch has not freshened up since that]]), it would be up to its armpits in water and living in swamps while lazily munching some [[strike:seaweed]] swampweed: there was a widely-spread but totally wrong theory that they needed to spend most of their time in water to support their massive bulk. Sometimes, if the writers [[TheyJustDidntCare just didn't care]], may be portrayed as a meat eater. These are often identified as ''Brontosaurus'', a relic of some very old confusion. A partial skeleton discovered in 1877 during the 'Bone Wars' was given the name ''Apatosaurus'', "apato" from Greek for "deceptive", because its discoverer thought some of its bones deceptively resembled those of ''another'' Mesozoic creature, the Mosasaur. [[HilariousInHindsight As it turned out]], a name based on potential taxonomic confusion was stunningly apt. Two years later, another huge sauropod skeleton was named ''Brontosaurus'', meaning "thunder lizard" after the sound it must have made as it walked around. Later still, it was realized that these two skeletons actually belonged to the same genus. The rules of scientific naming (which need to be strict to make sure that everyone knows exactly what the name refers to) require that the earlier name be used, so ''Apatosaurus'' it is. (A pity, since ''Brontosaurus'' is a better name, but there you have it). But by the time this was cleared up (1903), museums had put the name ''Brontosaurus'' on the labels of their skeletons, and didn't change it for decades afterward; popular writings also spread the incorrect name. A lot of people now know about the correction, but pop culture is very tenacious, even while ScienceMarchesOn -- since writers copy from other writers instead of going to scientific sources, the ghost of ''Brontosaurus'' is still seen occasionally. Peter Jackson's ''KingKong'' [[GeniusBonus referenced]] this situation by having a newly-discovered dinosaur on Kong Island be named ''Brontosaurus''. Also note that the classic depictions of ''Apatosaurus'' have some inaccuracies, most notably a round, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camarasaurus Camarasaurus]]'' -like head instead of the RealLife ''Diplodocus''-like skull, as well as a relatively short, blunt tail. This because the first mounted skeleton of "Brontosaurus" (the very first of any sauropod) was rather incomplete, and since the proper skull was not known by science at the time, it was replaced by the wrong one (ironically, that skull resulted to come from the original specimen of ''Brachiosaurus''). Since the tip of the tail was also missing in the original skeleton, "Brontosaurus" was wrongly mounted with a blunt tail instead of the slender, whip-like end we know today. It is sometimes heard that "Brontosaurus" was the largest dinosaur: one can imagine that the writer knew only one kind of sauropod, or synonymized Brontosaurus = Any long-necked Dino.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplodocus Diplodocus]]]]'' **

->The second 'long-neck' entered in popular culture in order of time (after 'Brontosaurus'), ''Diplodocus'' lived in the same places and time of his close relative and has been utilized as the classic brontosaur-substitute in popular works, thanks to its body shape rather similar to that of ''Apatosaurus'' (the two being in the same sauropod family); both share the same elongated skull and a very long whip-like tail. Classically known as the longest dinosaur (more than 90ft/30 m vs the 70ft/20 m of ''Apatosaurus''), ''Diplodocus'' was more slender and less heavy than ''Apatosaurus'', but the differences between the two tend often to get blurred in fiction, just like happens to ''Allosaurus'' in respect to ''Tyrannosaurus''. Like other sauropods, will be portrayed as a swamp creature in older depictions, despite recent evidence to the contrary. However, in its first depiction in cinema (the Mackay's famous 1914 ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertie_the_Dinosaur Gertie the Dinosaur]]'': the very first time a dinosaur was featured in such media) ''Diplodocus'' appeared as a fully terrestrial animal... At that time dinosaurs were considered by many people as rather lively and active creatures; the classic image of the 'lumbering, clumsy giants stuck in swamps' was more widespread from about the 1920s to the 1960s; then the 'Dinosaur Renaissance' began.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachiosaurus Brachiosaurus]]]]'' **

->This is the third member of the iconic sauropod trio, along with ''Apatosaurus'' and ''Diplodocus''. Found at the beginning of the XX century in Late Jurassic North America, ''Brachiosaurus'' was considered 'the largest dinosaur' until the 1970s, when even more gigantic (but fragmentary) long-necks came to light (see below). As a sauropod, also sometimes associated with water in fiction. If the writers really [[TheyJustDidntCare didn't care]], they'll be snorkeling with their blowholes to go along with the aforementioned swamp-lifestyle Sauropods were thought to have until the 1970s. As North American ''Brachiosaurus altithorax'' is known from rather incomplete remains, reconstructions are often based on its African relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffatitan Giraffatitan]]'', whose better remains were discovered in eastern Africa in 1914 and long thought to be a species of ''Brachiosaurus'' itself (''Brachiosaurus brancai''): it was not recognized as distinct until 2009. If you see a brachiosaur in a film, book or documentary, it will almost surely be the African animal, with its concave-shaped head. Unlike ''Diplodocus'', brachiosaurs are not usually confused with ''Apatosaurus'' thanks to their distinctive body shape, with short tails, very long, upright necks and forelegs longer than their back legs, which gives them their name, from the Latin for arms. ''Brachiosaurus'' was the dinosaur that was the big show-opener in ''Jurassic Park'', and some argue one day it will substitute "Brontosaurus" as the iconic sauropod.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur_size#Sauropods Largest Sauropods]]]]'' *

->As mentioned above, since the seventies ''Brachiosaurus'' has lost its traditional title as 'the biggest ever', as even larger sauropods entered the dinosaur-list. They maintained briefly their record, however: first came '':[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersaurus Supersaurus]]'' in 1972, then ''Ultrasaurus'' in 1983, (both described by the same paleontologist that invented their easily-translated names), then ''Seismosaurus'' (literally 'Earthquake lizard') in 1991 (all these three from Late Jurassic North America), finally ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentinosaurus Argentinosaurus]]'' from Cretaceous [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Argentina]] in 1993. Within the 'record-holding' period, each of them gained obviously much consideration in press and had the possibility to enter in popular culture as well... but this did not happened as one may think, either because their remains were very scant (and thus the measures themselves were very uncertain and speculative: for example, ''Seismosaurus'' has been variably described from 30 up to 50 m long!), or because sauropods look like each other a lot and are easily confused. Now ''Ultrasaurus'' and ''Seismosaurus'' are not even recognized valid dinosaurs by scientists (ironically, [[MixAndMatchCritter 'Ultrasaurus' was wrongly described from a mixture of Supersaurus and Brachiosaurus bones]], while the Earthquake-Maker seems to be another species of ''Diplodocus''). But even ''Argentinosaurus'' itself may not be the true holder: several rivals were discovered after 1993 (''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauroposeidon Sauroposeidon]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralititan Paralititan]]'' and so on, all fragmentary). However, the two main contenders are even less-known scientifically than the others (''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruhathkayosaurus Bruhathkayosaurus]]'' giant leg bone is perhaps a fossilized tree-trunk, while the giant vertebra of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphicoelias Amphicoelias]]'' has been lost...) In short, ''Brachiosaurus'' remains the tallest/heaviest (and ''Diplodocus'' the longest) dinosaur according to TV programs like 'Walking with dinosaurs'. We still have to wait the creature that will take off them out of the throne.

!!Prosauropods

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosauropoda Prosauropod]] means "before the sauropods" as they were early, mostly bipedal, herbivorous/omnivorous relatives of the latter. Living in Triassic or Early Jurassic periods, prosauropods were among the very first dinosaurs ever appeared on Earth, and very first dinosaurs to reach a size similar to an elephant; some of them were the ancestors of sauropods, the latter becoming even larger than their predecessors. Being relatively not-so-spectacular they are usually under-represented in media, and only one genus has surely made some apparitions, in part because is one of the largest of them.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plateosaurus Plateosaurus]]]]'' *

->The most well-known Triassic (215-200 million years ago) dinosaur along with ''Coelophysis'', ''Plateosaurus'' is also one of the most abundant European dinosaurs in fossil record (rivalling ''Iguanodon''), and is regarded as the "token prosauropod". Prosauropods resembled sauropod for their general body shape, but were much smaller than the classic 'brontosaurs' and bore also some resemblances with meat-eating dinos, for example being ''bipedal'' most the time. Like ''Coelophysis'', ''Plateosaurus'' is one of the least portrayed of the stock dinosaurs, appearing rarely ''even'' in documentaries, and mostly as the rise to power of the dinosaurs. Despite this, one can see occasional dinosaurs with a prosauropod shape (the best example is perhaps Dino from the Flintstones)... or maybe Dino and the occasional 'bipedal long-necks' are simply [[FunnyAnimal anthropomorphized sauropods]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Armor-bodied plant-eaters]]

The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyreophora Thyreophorans]] (shield bearers), were a group of dinosaurs [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin that had some kind of body armor]]. Originally small bipeds (although heavy for their size and with osteoderms), they grew into quite large plant-eaters with distinctive body plans (the most advanced members of the group were wider that taller). Their armor also got more complex, going from simple osteoderms in critical areas to [[BeyondTheImpossible armored eyelids]], and they had a tendency to develop weapons on the tips of their tails. All but the most primitive forms belong to one of these two groups: Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs.

!!Stegosaurs

The less-armored thyreophoran group, its member were small-headed, mostly Jurassic herbivores which developed large bony plates along their backbone for uncertain purpose, and had couples of spikes on their tail and sometimes on their shoulders as well.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegosaurus Stegosaurus]]]]'' ***

->Lived in Late Jurassic North America, 155 to 145 million years ago. One of the most easily recognizable dinosaur thanks to its bony plates, spike-tail and distinctive silhouette, ''Stegosaurus'' has always been one of the most iconic dinosaurs of all, along with ''T. rex'', "Brontosaurus" and ''Triceratops''. It is regularly portrayed both in films and in cartoons, although it may not be obligatory the main dino-character, since this role is attributed to sauropods and carnivores more often. If you see a stegosaur, expect to see some inaccuracies in its look. In particular, expect to see the plates coupled each other instead of alternated, or in a worse case, ''on a single line'' (though it may be justified in hand-drawn cartoons, since it's quite annoying to draw those plates thousands times). And oh, it may have two, three, five, six or even ''eight'' spike on its tail. [[hottip: *:ironically, the eight choice is partly TruthInTelevision: scientists [[ScienceMarchesOn once believed]] some ''Stegosaurus'' species ''did'' have a double number of spikes]]. While ''Velociraptor'' is commonly believed as the 'smartest' dino, Stego is known for the opposite thing.... expect somebody to make a crack about how "his [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain brain's the size of a walnut]]!" (While the brain of ''Stegosaurus'' was far from huge, it was substantially larger than a walnut). Stegosaurs are almost always portrayed as big, stupid herd animals, not unlike scaly elephants with substantially less charm. This is true especially in older fiction, where Stegosaurs are generally depicted as the [[TooDumbToLive 'losers']] in a battle with ''Allosaurus'', ''Ceratosaurus'' or ''[[MisplacedWildlife Tyrannosaurus]]'' ; in more recent fiction they tend to be slightly more active and even with some feelings. As an additional note: The spikes on the tail of ''Stegosaurus'' and similar dinosaurs is known as a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thagomizer thagomizer]], taken from a [[TheFarSide Far Side]] comic regarding them and adopted so readily by the palaeontological community you can find it used in serious scientific publications, in another awesome case of non-pop culture SureWhyNot. ''Stegosaurus'' is usually the only member of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegosaur Stegosaur]] group that you have the possibility to see in Fictionland, ever. Exceptions in both documentary and fictional work can be counted on one hand.

!!Ankylosaurs

The most well-armored thyreophorans (and dinosaurs), mostly Cretaceous, with low frames, strong short legs and complex armor covering the upper part of their body.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosaurus Ankylosaurus]]]]'' **

->Lived in North America from 68 to 65 Million years ago. Though being the least portrayed member of the stock trio of "living tanks" (the other two being ''Stegosaurus'' and ''Triceratops''), ''Ankylosaurus'' is certainly the most armored of the three thanks to its heavy, spiky, yet articulated armor-back and its mace-like tail: considering that that ''even its eyelids'' had armor plating, no surprise that it is usually used as the ultimate "Armored Tank Dinosaur". Discovered in 1908, its stocky build and weapons often make it a prime target (behind ''Triceratops'', of course...) for a "Dinosaur fight" against large meat eaters like ''T. rex''--which is actually TruthInTelevision to a degree since both animals are from the Hell Creek formation, and thus shared the same habitat. However, in old-fashioned portraits it may also be shown as a sluggish, spiky, giant tortoise-like loner capable to defend itself only by sheltering under its armor. Surprisingly, ''Ankylosaurus'' is not as well-known in paleontology as in pop culture, its remains being rather incomplete: this may explain in part why the look of ''Ankylosaurus'' is so variable in media, not only in Fictonland but even in books and documentaries. Many portraits have the club-like tail incorrectly shaped (it may even have ''points'', looking like a Middle-Ages mace!). Things do not get better about the remaining armor. This is often modeled more like that of other relatives, like the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodosauridae nodosaurids]]: if so, our ''Ankylosaurus'' may have small mosaic-like plates covering its back and long spikes protruding from the sides of its body. Both ''Ankylosaurus'' head and "club" often resemble more those of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euoplocephalus Euoplocephalus]]'' (this is more acceptable however, since ''Euoplocephalus'' was its closest relative). As you can get by now, there were far more than one single ankylosaur variety in RealLife: ''Ankylosaurus'' is only the namesake and the largest member of his group of dinosaurs, named precisely [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosaur ankylosaurs]] and nicknamed 'armored dinosaurs'. Some of them may have been portrayed in fiction, but since ''Ankylosaurus'' itself is often reconstructed [[MixAndMatchCritter with body-elements from its relatives]], [[TheyJustDidntCare it is hard to tell if some of the latter have ever appeared in movies, much less which species they are]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Armor-headed plant-eaters]]

The most recent group of ornithischian dinosaurs, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marginocephalia Marginocephalians]] were closer to Ornithopods (see further) than to Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs, and are divided in two very different subgroups: Ceratopsians and Pachycephalosaurs, unified by their armored head.

!!Ceratopsians

The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratopsia Ceratopsians]] were a group of dinosaurs characterized by a bony "frill" at the back of the neck. Starting as small bipedal animals like ''all'' the main dinosaur groups, they evolved towards a heavy quadrupedal body plan, while lengthening the frill and growing horns in their eyebrows and nose.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratops Triceratops]]]]'' ***

->Lived 70 to 65 million years ago in Late Cretaceous North America. It was a major discover from the notorious [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_Wars Bone Wars]] that has gifted us some of the today most conspicuous pop-culture Dinos, notably ''Apatosaurus'', ''Diplodocus'', ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'' (but not ''T. rex'': it was discovered some decades after the end of this paleontological competition). It has been traditionally the largest ceratopsian, hence [[RuleOfCool its supremacy in popularity]] compared to the other members of this family. One of the most classic cliches about ''Triceratops'' is to see it battling with his 'archenemy' ''T. rex'', because its powerful built and armored head make it perfectly suited for that; this may be TruthInTelevision (Not all scientists agree, however), since both animals lived in the same places in the same epoch. Probably the tyrannosaur attacked the young more often, being more vulnerable. Horned dinosaurs are usually seen behaving like rhinos or even bulls. Curiously, ''Triceratops'' and his family have gotten off pretty easy as far as fictional depictions go, expecially in contrast with Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs; the Ceratopsians in the original ''The Lost World'' are nearly as believable as those in ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' (which were actually ''Torosaurus'', but we'll get into that later). This may be because they're pretty hard to screw up; just put a mask and a tail on a rhino and you're 90% there. However, recent discoveries that the early relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psittacosaurus Psittacosaurus]]'', and thus possibly ''Triceratops'', had quills may make many old representations of ''Triceratops'' inaccurate. ScienceMarchesOn, I guess.

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styracosaurus Styracosaurus]]]]'' **

->''Styracosaurus'' Lived in North America 77-75 million years ago. It has the most striking, distinctive appearance among ceratopsids thanks to its several horns around its frill: thus, despite being considerably smaller than ''Triceratops'', it is traditionally shown when a writer desires to use a horned dinosaur different than its iconic relative. Issues regarding its portraits in fiction are not different than those of ''Triceratops''.

''[[AC: Other [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratopsidae ceratopsids]]]]'' *

->Still other Ceratopsids [[hottip:* :Ceratopsid and Ceratopsian are not the same thing; Ceratopsids include only the largest animals (almost always with horns), while Ceratopsians is the group as a whole, including ''both'' the largest ''and'' the smallest, more primitive forms (usually ''without'' horns).]] may be used as substitutes, but more rarely. Those that have made some apparition in fiction include: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torosaurus Torosaurus]]'' (the second largest member of the group); ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoclonius Monoclonius]]'', which may actually be immature members of another stock horned dinosaur ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrosaurus Centrosaurus]]''; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasmosaurus Chasmosaurus]]'' because of its distinctive look; and, more recently, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachyrhinosaurus Pachyrhinosaurus]]''. Ceratopsids are all Late Cretaceous and are differentiated mostly by the number of horns on their heads, the position of these horns, and the shape and size of the shield behind their head.
->1) ''Triceratops'' has famously two long, bovine-like horns on the front and one much smaller on his nose, and a round, short frill.
->2) ''Torosaurus'' is nearly identical to ''Triceratops'', but has an enormous shield covering even the shoulders; in fact, it is so similar, it may be a fully matured Triceratops, not just a close relative.
->3) ''Chasmosaurus'' is also similar to ''Triceratops'' but smaller in size, with shorter frontal horns, and a huge, strikingly angular frill with an elaborate silhouette.
->4) ''Centrosaurus'' is the most rhino-like of all ceratopsians with its nasal horn much longer than ''Triceratops'', but no horns on the front; his short frill has two 'hooks' curving downwards from the top. It replaced its almost-identical relative ''Monoclonius'' in books and documentaries after the spectacular Canadian find of a huge fossilized herd of centrosaurs drowned during a river-crossing, in 1980. Like ''Chasmosaurus'', these two horned dinosaurs were rather small compared to ''Triceratops''.
->5) ''Styracosaurus'' is like ''Centrosaurus'' in body-size and the shape of the skull, but had not 'hooks'; it had instead three pairs of spectacular spikes along its frill, fashioned in a 'rayed' manner.
->6) ''Pachyrhinosaurus'' is also like ''Centrosaurus'', but is distinguished by having ''no'' true horns but a thick bony knob instead of the nasal horn.
->This list would be incomplete without ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agathaumas Agathaumas]]'', an obsolete genus of horned dinosaur (perhaps a synonym of ''Triceratops''): it made an appearance in the 1925 version of "The Lost World", and then several book appearances since then as well as toy appearances.

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoceratops Protoceratops]]]]'' *

->A close relative of the Ceratopsids but much, much smaller (the size of a sheep), ''Protoceratops'' lived 83-70 million years ago in Late Cretaceous Asia, contrary to the giant horned dinosaurs which were all North-American in distribution. Its look may recall that of an immature ''Triceratops'', having a similar body-form but without horns on his head (some individuals have a simple relief on their nose). Perhaps the most abundant Asian dinosaur in fossil record, ''Protoceratops'' rarely appears in films or other pop media confronted with some of its much more spectacular multi-ton cousins, [[RuleOfCool because of his relatively humble appearance]]: one example is B.J. from the show [[BarneyAndFriends Barney & friends]]. Just for curiosity: the most famous evidence of a 'battle' between a plant-eating dino and a meat-eater in fossil record comes from an amazing discovery from Mongolia: a ''Protoceratops'' and a ''Velociraptor'' (the ''true Velociraptor'', the turkey-sized one), clasped in a "death hug"; they killed each other during the struggle, remaining in this death-pose for 80 million years. However, the real reason that brought the two dinos to combat each other remains unclear: although ''Protoceratops'' and ''Velociraptor'' were the same length (5 ft/1,8 m), the former was 12 times heavier than the latter, and some hypothesize that ''Protoceratops'' was actually hunting the "raptor" instead, due to the possibility of ceratopsians being omnivorous animals. Still another hypothesis is that one of the two was defending its nest. Interestingly, this fossil looks rather like the classic fight between ''Triceratops'' and ''T. rex'' miniaturized. But this time it's not speculation, it's ''[[RealLife real]]''.

!!Pachycephalosaurs

They were the more conservative branch of Marginocephalians, and unless Ceratopsians, they kept the original bipedal body plan, but evolved a thick skull roof. Like Ceratopsians, there is the possibility that were partially meat-eaters.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycephalosaurus Pachycephalosaurus]]]]'' *

->Lived in Late Cretaceous 70 to 65 million years ago, and as many of the most well known dinosaurs, its home was North America. Though not as commonly portrayed as many of the other dinosaurs, it usually shows up when the creators feel like showing an "exotic" dinosaur. Although relatively small (14ft/5m long the most), ''Pachycephalosaurus'' has one of the more distinctive looks among dinosaurs because of his dome-like head that almost resembles that of a 'big-brain' guy (this is actually misleading: the height of the dome is almost entirely made of 30 cm bone, and the brain was not larger than those of the other dinosaurs); it has also many bony 'spikes' around the base of the dome and on his nose (by contrast the dome itself was smooth, creating a sort of 'bald head' effect). However, since the rest of his body is poorly known, its portrait is classically based on another, less-famous relative, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegoceras Stegoceras]]'', which was also the member of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycephalosauria Pachycephalosaur]] group discovered first. Traditionally, Pachycephalosaurs are shown ramming their thick head together like rams, but [[ScienceMarchesOn recent research]] suggests they rammed others' bodies with their domed heads--if they rammed at all. Other species had even spikier heads that may have been purely for display, [[RuleOfCool but headbutting is far cooler than just showing off]]: these are ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stygimoloch Stygimoloch]]'' and the recently discovered ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracorex Dracorex]]'' ''[[HarryPotter hogwartsia]]''. ''Pachycephalosaurus'' is the largest pachycephalosaur and the namesake of the family, thus it was once the only one portrayed in fiction; although as small as a person, ''Stygimoloch'' and ''Dracorex'' have recently made some occasional apparitions as well thanks of their very spiky head. A more recent theory suggest that these two Pachycephalosaurs are just younger specimens of the main species: ''Pachycephalosaurus'', who used their dome heads to display maturity to others like an over-sized toucan bill. [[ScienceMarchesOn Science may March On for these dinosaurs yet again]].

[[folder:Bipedal plant-eaters]]

The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithopod Ornithopod]] group contains several Ornithischian dinosaurs of different size. The most conservative of the Ornithischians if the body plan is concerned, these herbivores varied from partially to completely bipedal, and lacked the thick defenses of the ornithischians above mentioned, but often made up from that either with speed or sheer bulk.

!!Hadrosaurs

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrosauridae Hadrosaurs]] are nicknamed "duck-billed dinosaurs" because of their wide beak. The most evolved Ornithopods, their grinding maxillary mechanism was the most efficient of all reptiles ever, and they also developed complex prominences above their skull with social function.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasaurolophus Parasaurolophus]]]]'' **

->Lived 76 to 73 million years ago in Late Cretaceous North America. This dinosaur has a rather strange destiny in Dino Fiction: its one of the most often shown herbivores, and yet it's hard to hear his name (Perhaps because it is regarded as 'too complicated to utter' by film-makers?). Despite that, ''Parasaurolophus'' is probably the most popular of all the Hadrosaurs, because [[RuleOfCool it's one of the coolest looking.]] Ironically, it's one of the least common duckbills in fossil record. As a group, Hadrosaurs fit perfectly in the role of the 'main prey' both in Fictionland and in reality, since they were big, sometimes enormous, but rather harmless giants. Furthermore, they are perhaps the nicest-looking of all the dinosaurs, thanks to their vaguely DonaldDuck-like face (it's worth noting that unlike birds, 'duckbilled dinosaurs' have ''many'' grinding teeth behind their bill, up to 500!), and their crests or bumps on their heads largely diverse among species and individuals, while the rest of their body is almost identical in shape. Like the sauropods above, Hadrosaurs were once believed amphibian creatures, and even today one may find them associated with water and seen swimming in spite of [[DidNotDoTheResearch all modern evidence to the contrary]]. They may even have palmated hands, thus resembling literally 'giant ducks'. ''Parasaurolophus'' may sometimes be shown using its distinctive single horn as a snorkel. This just plain doesn't work; there aren't any holes in it, for one thing. The most commonly accepted scientific theory is that the complex series of tubes found within were used for amplifying the mating calls.

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmontosaurus Edmontosaurus]], often called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmontosaurus Anatosaurus]] or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachodon Trachodon]]]]'' **

->Lived in North America 73-65 million years ago. One of the largest hadrosaurs, even larger that ''Tyrannosaurus'' itself, lived together with it and was probably one of his favorite prey. ''Edmontosaurus'' (named after the capital of Alberta) deserves the nickname 'duck-billed dinosaur' more than its relatives, having a very wide beak rather spatula-like in shape. ''Edmontosaurus'' (more precisely ''E. annectens'') has been perhaps the most complicated case of ScienceMarchesOn in terms of naming conventions among the stock dinosaurs: first called ''Trachodon'', then ''Anatosaurus'' (meaning 'duck reptile'), now this dinosaur has been 'split in two', as ''Anatosaurus'' remains pertain to ''two'' distinct animals, ''Edmontosaurus annectens'' and the almost-identical ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatotitan Anatotitan]]'' (meaning giant duck). In older media ''Trachodon'' used typically to be the iconic duckbill, but today it is depicted less frequently in fiction. However, it is still common in documentaries, usually under the name ''Anatotitan'' (the latter was the duckbill portrayed alongside ''T. rex'' in the last episode of WalkingWithDinosaurs).

''[[AC: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corythosaurus Corythosaurus]] * and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saurolophus Saurolophus]]]]'' *

->As said above, the old ''Trachodon''/''Anatosaurus'' is not so common in these days as it used to be in the past, and now the crested hadrosaurs seem to be the most popular in fiction; besides ''Parasaurolophus'', we have ''Corythosaurus'' and ''Saurolophus''. ''Corythosaurus'' is easy to distinguish from ''Parasaurolophus'' thanks to his large, frisbee-like crest (although it is rarely named in fiction too); on the other hand, ''Saurolophus'' is usually confused with its similar-named cousin, because both have a 'horn' pointing ''backwards'' (the major example of this confusion has been seen in the ''TheLandBeforeTime''.), although they aren't so closely related as one might think. Both these dinosaurs were contemporaries of ''Parasaurolophus'', lived in North America as well, and were as large as their "trumpet"-crested relative: but ''Saurolophus'' lived also in Asia (it's one of the few dinosaurs that roamed both continents, and is the most known Asian duckbill too).

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiasaura Maiasaura]]]]'' *

->This crestless hadrosaur discovered in Montana (again contemporary to ''Parasaurolophus'') deserves a special mention. Despite its rather inconspicuous look, its discover in 1980 has been of great paleontological significance, due to the spectacular finding of many many fossil nests full of eggs along with ''embryos'' and hatchlings, belonging to this species. That discover shed new light on RealLife dinosaurs' parental behavior: we know that ''Maiasaura'' (meaning 'good mother' not casually) actively cared their young like modern birds, and this has also contributed to debunk the "big, stupid, unfeeling, oafs" thing. Interestingly, in fiction the parental behavior of ''Maiasaura'' has speculatively been attributed to other types of dinosaurs up to and including ''every'' large herbivore (that doesn't make much sense: it's like saying that if sparrows build cup-like nests, ''every'' bird does the same--can you imagine an ostrich or a penguin [[SomewhereAnOrnithologistIsCrying brooding its eggs laid into a cup nest built on a branch?)]]

!! Other Ornithopods

There were many non-hadrosaur ornithopods as well, but only one of them has surely made some appearances in fiction, plus another possible candidate.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguanodon Iguanodon]]]]'' **

->Lived 140 to 120 million years ago in Early Cretaceous Europe and North America; it was the second dinosaur to be identified, in 1822, after ''Megalosaurus''. ''Iguanodon'' was a large herbivore, basically the Cretaceous equivalent of modern herd animals like bison or elephants. Since there have been so many specimens found, this is one of the dinosaurs we know the most about; in 1877 a 'dinosaur mine' in Belgium near the town of Bernissart was discovered, containing dozens of ''Iguanodon'' skeletons, the very first 'dino graveyard' ever found. Although nearly as big as ''Tyrannosaurus'', Iguanodon has not a very distinctive appearance: it resembles the archetypical dinosaur, with a huge tail, massive body and powerful limbs. Its very special hands contain all the 'oddities' in its skeleton: not only the typical 'thumb-spikes' but also the opposable 'pinkie' fingers, while the other three digits are hoof-like and supported the weight of the dinosaur in life. In older depictions ''Iguanodon'' was portrayed with speculative 'bumps' along his back, and in the classic 'tripodal stance' once attributed to all large bipedal dinosaurs, just like ''T. rex'' . Actually, ''Iguanodon'' has changed his look ''two'' times in its history: it was initially portrayed as a huge iguana-like quadruped because of the scarcity of his remains at the time; after the discover of the 'dinosaur mine', it became bipedal and upright; finally, in the last decades Iguanodon has become a mostly quadrupedal herbivore vaguely horse-like, as seen in Disney's ''Dinosaur''. Before the Bone Wars ''Iguanodon'' was perhaps the most iconic dinosaur, together with the carnivorous ''Megalosaurus''. Today its comparative relevance is lower in part because of its not-so-spectacular look, but unlike ''Megalosaurus'' it has managed to remain popular in modern days as well.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsilophodon Hypsilophodon]]]]'' *

->Lived in Europe 130-125 million years ago (coexisting with ''Iguanodon''). Considering this dinosaur as 'stock' may look somewhat arbitrary, since it was never really portrayed in popular media: however, it has a complicated history of portraits in books and 3D models, so we make an exception here. One of the smallest dinosaur, the size of a dog, it is nicknamed 'the gazelle dinosaur' for being a graceful, harmless biped that escaped predators with agile legs well adapted for high-speed runs. In the past, however, ''Hypsilophodon'' was depicted as a tree-climbing animal, vaguely similar to a large, long-legged, spike-less iguana. Sometimes in fiction 'giant lizard looking' things can be seen in the canopy; in this case, if the film was before the seventies, there ''is'' the possibility that they were ''Hypsilophodon''s. But they are almost never named.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Non-stock dinosaurs]]

Dinosaurs that are only portrayed in popular books or documentaries are not part of the pop-culture in broader sense; however, they make [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dinosaurs the vast majority of dinosaurs]]. Here is a partial list of non-stock dinosaurs, which are as cool as their famous relatives (most recently-discovered dinos are not in this list because they're too "young" to be already consolidated in such media).

''[[AC:Large / medium-size theropods]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarbosaurus Tarbosaurus]]'': It's practically the Asian twin of ''Tyrannosaurus rex'', although slightly smaller. It shows up as the king of the predators in its habitat, Late Cretaceous Asia, just like ''T. rex'' in North America. These two dinosaurs are so similar that some scientists believe that ''Tarbosaurus'' is indeed another species of ''Tyrannosaurus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgosaurus Gorgosaurus]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertosaurus Albertosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daspletosaurus Daspletosaurus]]'': Miniaturized versions of ''T. rex'', they lived in North America like their cousin but were slightly earlier (80-75 million years ago). In the past they were confused each other and often thought to be the same dinosaur. ''Gorgosaurus'' (its name recalls an [[{{Kaiju}} old Godzilla-like movie-monster]]) is the one commonly depicted in older books, while ''Albertosaurus'' is the most common in the recent ones. The latter was the first dinosaur discovered in Canada and named after Alberta (where most of the abundant Canadian dinos have been discovered).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryptosaurus Dryptosaurus]]'': The first theropod discovered in North America, it is a relative of ''T. rex'' as well, but smaller and more primitive than all the above-mentioned cousins. It has the distinction to be the first dinosaur ever depicted by the famous paleo-artist Charles Knight (under its older name ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laelaps Laelaps]]''), with two individuals fighting each other.

->* Other tyrannosaurs: More species of small tyrannosauroids are known to science: for example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alectrosaurus Alectrosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alioramus Alioramus]]'' (both from Asia); North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotyrannus Nanotyrannus]]'' (the "dwarf tyrannosaur"); and the primitive English ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotyrannus Eotyrannus]]'' (the "dawn tyrannosaur", still with long, ''three fingered'' forelimbs). All these were Late Cretaceous, except the Early Cretaceous ''Eotyrannus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baryonyx Baryonyx]]'': Lived in Europe in the Early Cretaceous together with ''Iguanodon''. Its discover in 1983 was heavily reported in British media because this large theropod was totally different to any other known at the time, and was also the largest and most complete English big meat-eater. Its name means "heavy claw" and has popularly been nicknamed "Claws" because of [[HookHand its enormous hook-like thumb-claws]] that were probably used to catch large fish along rivers and streams, like a huge grizzly bear. Moreover, it had elongated, croc-like jaws with the double of teeth than the other carnivores. Even though ''Baryonyx'' is not a proper stock dinosaur, it appears in popular books with the same frequency of ''Spinosaurus'', ''Dilophosaurus'' and other theropods like these. It has recently appeared in the BigBad role in the "IceAge 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" film (although exaggeratedly oversized, since it was slightly smaller than ''T.rex'' in RealLife); some think it it may become the next new entry in the stock dinosaur ensemble, following ''Giganotosaurus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus Deinocheirus]]'': One of the largest and most mysterious dinosaurs, from Late Cretaceous Mongolia. Only its forelimbs and shoulders are known, similar to those of an Ornithomimid but ''two times taller than a fully grown human'' (''Deinocheirus'' means "terrible hands"). Some argue that it was the largest theropod ever discovered, possibly as long as ''Spinosaurus'' but even taller than it. However, it was more probably a giant omnivore rather than the powerful predator sometimes described in old textbooks. Dino fans still hope that one day its entire skeleton will be dug out.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therizinosaurus Therizinosaurus]]'': The great rival of ''Deinocheirus'': another huge-armed giant theropod from Late Cretaceous Mongolia, known only by fragmentary remains like the former. Its most striking feature are the [[WolverineClaws immense scythe-like claws]] on its hands, the largest claws known so far within the entire animal kingdom, ''as long as an human arm'' (hence the name meaning "scythe reptile"). Like ''Deinocheirus'', ''Therizinosaurus'' was often portrayed as a fearsome carnivore in the past; now scientists think it was probably an inoffensive browser that used its claws for pulling down branches and reach the leaves with its mouth. It was portrayed in a special edition of WalkingWithDinosaurs.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahraptor Utahraptor]]'': The discovery of this North American dromeosaurid in 1993 made particular sensation. The movie JurassicPark came to audiences that year, and the Velociraptor-named ''Deinonychus''es were achieving their immense popularity just in that period: the thing is, Spielberg felt he had to scale up his "raptors" to about six feet tall for them to be sufficiently menacing. The discovery of ''Utahraptor'' effectively prevented the giant raptors from becoming mere fictions and may even have surpassed them in size. Not surprisingly, it has become the favorite dinosaur by many paleo-fans, and many of them think erroneously the raptors in the film are indeed ''Utahraptor''s (this is not the case, since it was discovered ''after'' the production of the movie). Many dino-books portrayed it as "the most powerful killing machine of all times", [[BeyondTheImpossible even capable to slay the largest sauropods]]. ''Utahraptor'' lived slightly earlier than the more classic ''Deinonychus'', and because of its aforementioned popularity it was chosen instead of the latter in the Early Cretaceous episode of WalkingWithDinosaurs. Ironically, despite its name easily means "raptor from Utah", it was portrayed ''[[MisplacedWildlife living in Europe]]'', and has been reconstructed with the body- and head- shape of ''Deinonychus'' (this is justified though, since ''Utahraptor'' remains are very fragmentary and lacking any skull aside from the very end of the snout).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosaurus Carcharodontosaurus]]'': Named "great white shark lizard", it was the first theropod that challenged ''T. rex'' about the title of "the largest carnivore" that popular media knew about (year 1995), only to be surpassed by the now stock cousin ''Giganotosaurus'' merely a year later. Discovered in Sahara, it shared that part of the world with its even larger rival ''Spinosaurus''. It's the namesake of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosauridae Carcharodontosaurid]] family, a recently-identified group of gigantic theropods related to ''Allosaurus'' which includes not only the famous ''Giganotosaurus'' but also other animals. Among these, the recently discovered ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapusaurus Mapusaurus]]'' from South America: just as large as ''Giganotosaurus'', its fossils seem to show proof of pack-hunting behavior.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suchomimus Suchomimus]]'': The "imitator of the crocodile", it's a close relative of ''Baryonyx'' and lived in North Africa in the Early Cretaceous. It's the only dinosaur with -mimus suffix that is not an ornithomimid or another small bird-like dino, and has started to become common in books since the last decade.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangchuanosaurus Yangchuanosaurus]]'': Its exotic name reveals its origin: it's the most well-known Chinese giant theropod, and occupied in ancient Asia the same ecological niche ruled by its relative ''Allosaurus'' in North America at the same epoch (155-145 million years ago). Other smaller Jurassic Chinese theropods include: the crested ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolophosaurus Monolophosaurus]]'' and the smallish, Middle Jurassic ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasosaurus Gasosaurus]]'', whose curious name comes from a gasoline company that funded the excavation of its skeleton.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustreptospondylus Eustreptospondylus]]'': A smaller and more slender cousin of ''Megalosaurus'', it lived in the same age and the same locations. Like ''Dilophosaurus'', it was another victim to the former ''Megalosaurus'' confusion, but a more justified one and ''Eustreptospondylus'' may even be a young ''Megalosaurus''. It has one apparition in the WalkingWithDinosaurs third episode, but it was wrongly collocated [[MisplacedWildlife in the Late instead of the Middle Jurassic]].

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrocanthosaurus Acrocanthosaurus]]'': ''Spinosaurus'' wasn't the only sail-backed theropod: there were other giant carnivores with a flat crest running along their backbone, but they weren't related to ''Spinosaurus''. ''Acrocanthosaurus'', being as large as ''Tyrannosaurus'', is the most striking of these. Related to ''Allosaurus'' and ''Giganotosaurus'', its "sail" was much longer and much lower than that of ''Spinosaurus'', running from the neck to the tail. It was the top predator of Early Cretaceous North America, and shared its habitat with the famous giant dromeosaur, ''Utahraptor''. Other "sail-backs" lived in Europe: the Early Cretaceous ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altispinax "Altispinax"]]'' (now called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becklespinax Becklespinax]]'') and the Middle Jurassic ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metriacanthosaurus Metriacanthosaurus]]'' were smaller and with scantier remains than ''Acrocanthosaurus''. The name ''Metriacanthosaurus'' appears on one of the embryo-containing vials in the first JurassicPark film.

->* Relatives of ''Carnotaurus'': There are several (all from the Cretaceous Period), such as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abelisaurus Abelisaurus]]'' from South America, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltadromeus Deltadromeus]]'' from Sahara, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majungasaurus Majungasaurus]]'' from Madagascar (this one has shown the first true proof of cannibalism among dinosaurs). None of them has the classic couple of bovine-like horns which have made ''Carnotaurus'' popular, but some of these had other kind of ornamentations on their skull.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaraptor Megaraptor]]'': Despite its name this theropod is not a large dromeosaur, but it was initially believed to be such. This because its first discovered remain was a huge sickle-claw which was wrongly put on its feet, but then other bones were discovered, and now we know this claw was on its thumb instead. Another large theropod, the more famous "[[HookHand Claws]]" (''Baryonyx'') also had an enormous thumbclaw the same size of that of ''Megaraptor''. But ''Baryonyx'' was much bigger than ''Megaraptor'', thus the latter's thumbclaw was even larger compared to the overall body size: it might even be the largest claw among all dinosaurs (proportionate to total body length).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segnosaurus Segnosaurus]]'': Today this Late Cretaceous dinosaur from Mongolia rarely appears in books, but it was rather common in the nineties because it was the prototype of its group of dinosaur, "Segnosaurs". Its classification has been very problematic, since it seemed to have [[MixAndMatchCritter features of many groups of dinosaurs]]: theropod claws, prosauropod body-plan and ornithopod-like beak. Now we know it is a close relative of the contemporary ''Therizinosaurus'' and thus a ''true'' theropod.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratosaurus Teratosaurus]]'': Lived in Europe during the Triassic period. Discovered in 1861, this "monster lizard" (the meaning of its name) was long believed the first [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnosaur carnosaur]] ("carnosaur" is an old term indicating all large-sized theropods: today this word indicates ''Allosaurus'' and its closest relatives). It made some apparitions in books where was portrayed with a "megalosaur" look. Then in the mid 80s it was discovered that ''Teratosaurus'' was instead a four-legged, non-dinosaurian Archosaur related to ''Postosuchus'' (see in the "pre-dino reptiles" section), and now is out of fashion. Since that discover ''Dilophosaurus'' began to be hailed as the "first large carnivore" in substitution.

->* Other examples: The smallish Jurassic ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piatnitzkysaurus Piatnitzkysaurus]]'' was a South American animal despite its Russian-sounding name, and was related with contemporary theropods living far away, such as the european ''Eustreptospondylus''. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryolophosaurus Cryolophosaurus]]'' (also Jurassic) has been the first Antarctic dinosaur which received an official name; because of the "curly" shape of its crest it was initially nicknamed "[[ElvisPresley Elvisaurus]]". The small "horned" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceratosaurus Proceratosaurus]]'' was not a ''Ceratosaurus'' relative despite its name means "before ''Ceratosaurus''. The North American megalosaur ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torvosaurus Torvosaurus]]'' has already been mentioned in the ''Allosaurus'' entry. Still other large/medium theropods may appear in books and documentaries, and it's difficult to list them just because there are too many. No doubt big carnivores receive more attention than every other dinosaur ensemble, [[RuleOfCool for obvious reasons]].

''[[AC:Small theropods]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromaeosaurus Dromaeosaurus]]'': The namesake of the "raptor" family, it isn't so famous as ''Velociraptor'' but appears regularly in books because it lived in the Late Cretaceous North America, and thus, unlike ''Velociraptor'' or ''Deinonychus'', it can be shown up living along with ''T. rex'' and other "stars" of this habitat like ''Triceratops'' (it actually was slightly older than these two animals). One example is in the sixth episode of WalkingWithDinosaurs (again, wrongly depicted with a ''Deinonychus'' shape as the ''Utahraptor''s). As a group, dromeosaurids are traditionally shown attacking herbivores much, much larger than themselves like wolves, and disemboweling them with their sickle-claws: however, [[ScienceMarchesOn recent research]] says they more probably hunted small preys and only ate the carcasses of the giant herbivores.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornitholestes Ornitholestes]]'': A small and slender theropod with a rather incospicuous appearence; however, it lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'' and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus is often depicted together with the latter. Often shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' kills and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Its name means "bird-thief" and the first historical portrait shows it grasping an ''Archaeopteryx'' (this one was from the same age but [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]). Often depicted with a horn-like crest on its nose, as seen in the second episode of WalkingWithDinosaurs: however, we know now that ''Ornitholestes'' [[ScienceMarchesOn didn't have this feature]].

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurus Coelurus]]'': Very similar to the former, it lived in the same places and age (the two are often confused each other). Poorly known in fossil record, it has though a great historical relevance as it is the namesake of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurosaur coelurosaurs]]: that is, all the theropods of small size. "Coelurosaur" has changed meaning in the last decades though, now indicating the natural group that includes the most bird-like of all the carnivorous dinosaurs, ''even Tyrannosaurs''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herrerasaurus Herrerasaurus]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staurikosaurus Staurikosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eoraptor Eoraptor]]'': Among the most ancient and primitive dinosaurs known to science, all from Triassic South America. Even more basal than ''Coelophysis'', they were discovered only since the sixties. In fact, they are so primitive that many scientists believe they weren't theropods at all, but rather something between theropods and sauropods, and ''Eoraptor'' itself is, as of 2011, considered an early sauropodomorph.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus]]'': Once called ''Syntarsus'', but renamed controversially by an entomologist, it was an African close relative of ''Coelophysis''. It has the distinction to be the first dinosaur (excluding ''Archaeopteryx'' of course) ever depicted with feathers (in 1985), in a time when this theory was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avimimus Avimimus]]'': Discovered in 1980, the name of this very birdlike dinosaur has the same meaning of ''Ornithomimus'' with Latin prefix instead of Greek, but this time isn't an ornithomimid. It was the first non-avian theropod that showed us any proof of the presence of feathers: not prints in the rock however, only a crest on its arm bones that resembles that of modern birds. The toothless ''Avimimus'' lived in Late Cretaceous Mongolia alongside its larger relative ''Oviraptor''.

->* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feathered_dinosaurs Feathered coelurosaurs]]: The first dinosaurs with real impressions of feathers came to light in the second half of the 1990s in Liaoning (province of China). Unlike ''Avimimus'' they come from the Early Cretaceous, and as a whole they represent almost all the main coelurosaur subgroups. For example, the tiny ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudipteryx Caudipteryx]]'' was an oviraptorosaur similar to ''Avimimus''; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinosauropteryx Sinosauropteryx]]'', the very first one discovered, was a member of the ''Compsognathus'' family; while the herbivorous ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beipiaosaurus Beipiaosaurus]]'' belonged to the Therizinosaur group. Even a ''feathered tyrannosauroid'' was discovered: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilong Dilong]]''. Prehistoric Park showed up some feathered animals from this fauna in its third episode, ''Dino-Birds''. The chosen ones were the buck-toothed ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incisivosaurus Incisivosaurus]]'', because of its [[RuleOfFunny funny look]]; the ''Troodon'' relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mei_(dinosaur) Mei]]'' (that has replaced ''Minmi'' as "the shortest-named dino"), which acts here as the "danger of the forest" and to fit better the role was [[SomewhereAPaleontologistIsCrying oversized and without any feather]]; and naturally, ''Microraptor'' (see below).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptor Microraptor]]'': Discovered in year 2000, this dromeosaurid (its name means tiny "raptor") was a find that strongly surprised not only paleo-fans but also the whole paleontologist community. And not because it was a feathered dino (such animals were already known from the same site); nor because it was the smallest non-avian dinosaur known at that point (merely 1.5ft long, but this record is contested now). It was its unique body-plan that make us astonished. A ''four-winged'' dino! At least, ''Microraptor'' is usually described in this way; actually it didn't have more wings than ourselves do. Technically a wing is a structure apt for active flight, while ''Microraptor'' limbs weren't; scientists think it was simply a glider just like modern "flying" squirrels, "flying" fish and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_volans flying lizards]]"''. Following the sensationalism that surrounded its discover, ''Microraptor'' became rapidly popular in illustrated books and become even more widely-known after being portrayed as the main animal character in the aforementioned third episode of [[WalkingWithDinosaurs PrehistoricPark]]. Soon after it started to gain attention by the broader pop-cultural world as well, to the point it might become the next entry in the Stock Dinosaur World in the near future (some'll ''already'' [[YourMileageMayVary qualify it as a YMMV stock]]).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoavis Protoavis]]'': Discovered in 1990, this incomplete Triassic fossil from Texas originated many discussion among paleontologists: some of them proposed that it, and not ''Archaeopteryx'', was the ''true'' ancestor of birds (its name means "first bird" properly). Thus, it was often mentioned in books and documentaries in those years. However, its legacy with birds is now discredited, and ''Protoavis'' as it was described was not even a real animal, but a composite of different animals (to its credit, however, the fossils were mixed, and part of the composite was a dinosaur).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltopus Saltopus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procompsognathus Procompsognathus]]'': Both from Triassic Europe. ''Saltopus'' from Scotland was often referred as "the smallest dinosaur" in books (when ''Compsognathus'' wasn't already), but now it is not even thought to be a true dinosaur, and its remains are very fragmentary. ''Procompsognathus'' from Germany was slightly larger, and has been portrayed in the novel JurassicPark (nicknamed "compy" and depicted with a [[RuleOfCool totally speculative venomous bite]]).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaphrosaurus Elaphrosaurus]]'': A poorly-known theropod with a slender frame, whose skull is missing in its only well-known skeleton. It often shows up along with "Brachiosaurus" (''Giraffatitan'') and other Late Jurassic dinosaur from the same continent, ancient Africa.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromiceiomimus Dromiceiomimus]]'': The "imitator of the emu" is one of the three North American ornithomimids along with ''Struthiomimus'' and ''Ornithomimus'', and it is often considered the fastest-running of all these. Among the other ornithomimids, we can mention the primitive ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garudimimus Garudimimus]]'' which lived in Late Cretaceous Mongolia alongside its larger cousin ''Gallimimus''. Even more basal ornithomimosaurs still retained small teeth: one example is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelecanimimus Pelecanimimus]]'' from Cretaceous Spain.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirostenotes Chirostenotes]]'': Once called ''Caenagnathus'', it is one of the several ''Oviraptor'' relatives, and the most well-known among the few North-American ones. Most oviraptorosaurs have been discovered in Asia indeed, all small-sized except one: the recently-discovered ''Gigantoraptor''. [[hottip: *:Despite the way it sounds it's ''not'' an overgrown dromeosaur, its name is "gigantic (ovi-)raptor"]] This one grew up to 25ft in length, and was probably more similar in its way of life to ''Deinocheirus'' and ''Therizinosaurus'' than to ''Oviraptor''. That's cool, all the three main small-sized coelurosaur-subgroups have at least one oversized member within. ''Deinocheirus'' the giant ornithomimosaur; ''Utahraptor'' the giant dromeosaur; and ''Gigantoraptor'' [[RuleOfThree the giant oviraptorosaur]].

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saurornithoides Saurornithoides]]'': The most well-known relative of ''Troodon'', it lived in the Late Cretaceous Asia alongside two iconic small theropods from the same habitat, ''Velociraptor'' and ''Oviraptor''. The similar-named ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saurornitholestes Saurornitholestes]]'' was not a troodontid but instead a dromeosaurid from Late Cretaceous North America: its name is a portmanteau from ''Saurornithoides'' and ''Ornitholestes''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mononykus Mononykus]]'': Once called ''Mononychus'', it is an enigmatic, very bird-like animal which shared the same habitat with other small theropod like ''Avimimus'', ''Velociraptor'', ''Saurornithoides'' and ''Oviraptor''. Its name means "one claw" because of its strange, ''one-fingered'' hands. ''Mononykus'' was actually first identified as a bird, but even today its position in the phylogenetic tree is uncertain.

->* Other examples: In South-American settings a ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noasaurus Noasaurus]]'' or an ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvarezsaurus Alvarezsaurus]]'' may appear. The first was thought to be similar to dromeosaurids in the past, but now is regarded as a small ''Carnotaurus'' relative; the latter was closely related to the aforementioned ''Mononykus''. Among examples we can also mention ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipionyx Scipionyx]]'' from Italy, the first dino discovered with ''fossilized internal organs''. And don't forget the recently (2006) discovered ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanlong Guanlong]]'': despite its small size and its look it is the most ancient Tyrannosaur known to date, and it's perhaps the most famous dino with the Chinese suffix -long (meaning dragon); ''Guanlong'' has recently appeared in one popular documentary, and in the third movie within the IceAge series.

''[[AC:Sauropods]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camarasaurus Camarasaurus]]'': The most common North American sauropod in fossil record, lived alongside its three pop-culture relatives. A rather unsauropod-like sauropod because of its short neck and large, round head. It may be confused with "Brontosaurus" in old books because the classic brontosaur portraits have a ''Camarasaurus''-like head and a short, blunt tail; however, ''Camarasaurus'' was more related to ''Brachiosaurus'' than to ''Apatosaurus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamenchisaurus Mamenchisaurus]]'': Perhaps the most famous Chinese dinosaur, it also lived in the same age of ''Apatosaurus'' and so on. It's the most portrayed Asian sauropod, classically mentioned for having the "longest neck of any creature ever lived", although it may not be such. It makes a brief cameo in JurassicPark 2, but it is not named. Many portraits in books (and even most museum mounts!) have an inaccurate ''Diplodocus''-like head.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barosaurus Barosaurus]]'': A close relative of ''Diplodocus'', it is separated by its famous relative by having a much longer neck. Lived in North America and perhaps in Africa, again in the same age of the stock sauropods. Its skeleton makes the star of the American Museum of Natural History, mounted erected on two limbs to defend its young from an ''Allosaurus''. In the past, one suggestion was that it may have had [[BeyondTheImpossible eight hearts]] to pump blood up to its lofty head.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltasaurus Saltasaurus]]'': Sometimes misspelled ''Saltosaurus'', it's the most iconic South American sauropod, and is also the most well-known sauropod that lived ''after'' the "three stock band", in Late Cretaceous. Rather small for being a sauropod, its discover in 1980 made sensation because was the first long-neck discovered with an ''armor'' covering its back. It lived alongside ''Carnotaurus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetiosaurus Cetiosaurus]]'': Lived in Europe and Africa ''before'' the stock sauropods, in the Middle Jurassic. The first sauropod discovered (but initially believed to be a sea reptile: hence its name meaning whale-lizard), it is considered the archetypical primitive sauropod, but it has no particular traits that make it recognizable to non-specialists. Lived roughly alongside ''Megalosaurus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanosaurus Titanosaurus]]'': This Late Cretaceous sauropod ("titanic lizard") is often mentioned in books, but it actually is one of the most fragmentary of all. It's another prime example of a wastebin taxon like ''Megalosaurus'', because scientists used to attribute ''all'' unidentifiable Cretaceous sauropod rests to this genus. It's the namesake of the most evolved subgroup of sauropods, the Titanosaurs. The most common of them in books is the aforementioned ''Saltasaurus'', but we can also sometimes see (all from Late Cretaceous): the North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamosaurus Alamosaurus]]'' (the ''only'' sauropod which lived alongside ''T. rex''), the huge South American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctosaurus Antarctosaurus]]'', the European ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypselosaurus Hypselosaurus]]'' (very fragmentary as well, but believed to be the font of the largest dinosaur eggs known to science, found in France) and the almost unutterable ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opisthocoelicaudia Opisthocoelicaudia]]'' (the most complete Asian Late Cretaceous sauropod). It's also worth of mention the strange ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isisaurus Isisaurus]]'' (the most notable victim of the "Titanosaurus" confusion); with its thick neck and strongly sloping backbone, it was even more giraffe-like than the well-known brachiosaurs.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicraeosaurus Dicraeosaurus]]'': This ''Diplodocus''-like sauropod makes the smallest member of the Late Jurassic "sauropod African trio" also comprending ''Barosaurus'' and "Brachiosaurus" (actually ''Giraffatitan''). These three sauropods were discovered in the 1910s in Tanzania near the town of Tendaguru, along with other non-sauropod dinosaurs such as the stegosaur ''Kentrosaurus'' (see further), the small theropod ''Elaphrosaurus'', the small ornithopod ''Dryosaurus'' and perhaps even ''Allosaurus'' and ''Ceratosaurus''; some of these dinosaurs were already known from North American remains, demonstrating that modern continents were still partially united 150 million years ago (the famous supercontinent "Pangea" started to break about 40 million years before).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunosaurus Shunosaurus]]'': This small sauropod from Middle Jurassic China is perhaps the most common sauropod in fossil record and is depicted for its distinctive look: it has a tail ending with a "club" and four short spikes, resembling a combination between a ''Stegosaurus'' and an ''Ankylosaurus'' tail.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amargasaurus Amargasaurus]]'': Another small sauropod, from Cretaceous Argentina. Discovered in 1990, ''Amargasaurus'' has an odd look as well as ''Shunosaurus'': it's the only sauropod whose neck has long protruding spikes which might be connected by a flap of skin, creating a "sail-neck". One close relative, the recently discovered ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachytrachelopan Brachytrachelopan]]'' from Jurassic Argentina, is even stranger: with its extremely shortened neck, it didn't seem even a sauropod!

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcanodon Vulcanodon]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barapasaurus Barapasaurus]]'': These two sauropods come from Early Jurassic and may be cited as the first sauropods appeared on Earth (now this record belongs to some "prosauropod", see below). ''Vulcanodon'' was one of the smallest sauropods and was discovered in Africa; ''Barapasaurus'' from India was the first sauropod to obtain the classic huge proportions we know among these dinosaurs.

->* Other examples: There are dozens of other sauropods known to science: we can mention the Chinese ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euhelopus Euhelopus]]'' (it appears in "Prehistoric Park" identified as a generic titanosaur); ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrodon Astrodon]]'' (the first sauropod discovered in North America); South American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagosaurus Patagosaurus]]''; and European ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelorosaurus Pelorosaurus]]'' (another historical Wastebin Taxon: one of its offspring is the cool- named ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantosaurus Gigantosaurus]]''). In old textbooks one may often read the name ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantosaurus Atlantosaurus]]'' (the first dinosaur discovered during the Bone Wars, but probably synonym of ''Apatosaurus'': it used to be described as [[UpToEleven the largest creature ever lived on Earth]]).

''[[AC:Prosauropods]]'' [[hottip:* :Note that it was recently discovered that some of these ''aren't prosauropods'' in a phylogenetic sense.]]

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massospondylus Massospondylus]]'': The second most well-known prosauropod after ''Plateosaurus'', it was fairly younger that its larger relative (Early Jurassic) and was South African in distribution. Similar to ''Plateosaurus'' but smaller and more slender.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchisaurus Anchisaurus]]'': Perhaps the first dinosaur ever discovered in North America (but not recognized as such at the time), it was one of the smallest and less sauropod-like of all the prosauropods. An Early Jurassic animal like ''Massospondylus'', very elongated and short-limbed, it is the dinosaur which most resembles the Flintstones character "Dino". [[ScienceMarchesOn Now we know that it was instead the most primitive sauropod]].

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussaurus Mussaurus]]'': Discovered in 1979 in Triassic South America, its name means "mouse reptile" because its only remains are from newborns the size of a rat, which died just after being hatched. Curiously, many popular books have reported it as the "smallest dinosaur" ever (or at least the smallest herbivorous one) and depicted the adult form with a large head and a short neck - we don't know how the adult was big since adult skeletons have never been discovered so far, but almost certainly it was at least as large as a human and had the classic small head and long neck of its relatives.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riojasaurus Riojasaurus]]'': The largest true prosauropod known and the most sauropod-like of all, it was 30 ft long (as large as many "small" sauropods). A South American Triassic animal like ''Mussaurus'', it was perhaps the only quadrupedal prosauropod. The African contemporary ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanorosaurus Melanorosaurus]]'' was similar in shape and size but has recently been discovered to be one of the first sauropods.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lufengosaurus Lufengosaurus]]'': The most well-known Asian early dinosaur, it was very similar to ''Plateosaurus'' but smaller, and was perhaps the last surviving prosauropod (Early to Middle Jurassic). It has the distinction to be the first dinosaur ever portrayed in a postage stamp.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecodontosaurus Thecodontosaurus]]'': Despite its name it's not a "thecodont" (see "Triassic Archosaurs"); it was instead the most primitive sauropodomorph known until recent years. Lived in Triassic Europe like ''Plateosaurus'' and was the most theropod-like of the "prosauropods" in traditional sense.

''[[AC:Stegosaurs]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentrosaurus Kentrosaurus]]'': A smaller African cousin of Stegosaurus, it lived in Late Jurassic along with the huge, famous sauropod ''Giraffatitan'' (the iconic Brachiosaurus). It may be nicknamed the porcupine dino, because instead of having only four spikes at the tip of the tail, it had several pairs of these along all the length of the tail, with another pair on its shoulders (but in older portraits these spikes were on its hips instead).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuojiangosaurus Tuojiangosaurus]]'': As one may easily note from the way it sounds this dinosaur has a Chinese passport and is traditionally regarded as the stock Asian stegosaur (most members of this group were discovered in Asia). Very similar to ''Stegosaurus'' but slightly smaller, its plates were much narrower and triangle-shaped than its popular relative. One of the three most famous Late Jurassic Asian dinos, along with ''Mamenchisaurus'' and ''Yangchuanosaurus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravidosaurus Dravidosaurus]]'': This stegosaur has had some mentions in old books because it lived at the end of the Age of Dinosaurs (where all the other members were already extinct 40 million years before), and was one of the few dinosaurs from India as well. But...wait a moment...[[ScienceMarchesOn now scientists know it was a sea-going plesiosaur]]. Oops. And yet we may hear its name mentioned as the "last stegosaur" [[DidNotDoTheResearch even in recent documentaries]].

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacentrurus Dacentrurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexovisaurus Lexovisaurus]]'': Both from Middle Jurassic Europe, these stegosaurs were similar to a large ''Kentrosaurus'' in shape; however, their fossil record is rather poor.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayangosaurus Huayangosaurus]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chialingosaurus Chialingosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuerhosaurus Wuerhosaurus]]'': These stegosaurs all come from China like ''Tuojiangosaurus''. ''Huayangosaurus'' from Middle Jurassic is the most primitive stegosaur known; the Late-Jurassic ''Chialingosaurus'' was ''Kentrosaurus''-like; while the short-plated ''Wuerhosaurus'' was one of the last stegosaurs, from Early Cretaceous.

''[[AC:Ankylosaurs]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euoplocephalus Euoplocephalus]]'': By far the most well-known ankylosaur in fossil record, it was a close relative of ''Ankylosaurus'' and was Late Cretaceous and North American as well. It had very complex armor and a club-like tail that [[IncrediblyLamePun resembles the "club" from playing cards in shape]]. It is used as the stock ankylosaur in many books since its larger, more famous relative is less-known scientifically. In old portraits ''Euoplocephalus'' was called ''Scolosaurus'' and was wrongly depicted with two spikes at the end of the tail, as we can see in TheLandBeforeTime: Rooter was just an old-fashioned ''Euoplocephalus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinacosaurus Pinacosaurus]]'': Lived in Late Cretaceous Asia. The Asian equivalent of ''Euoplocephalus'', with a similar look. The first ankylosaur discovered in Asia and the most well-known of them. In the eighties several youngster of this species were discovered, that show us a proof of social behavior in young dinos. ''Pinacosaurus'' has appeared in some documentaries as well, but only named as generic ankylosaur.

->* Other Asian club-tailed ankylosaurs: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saichania Saichania]]'' (similar to ''Ankylosaurus'' but smaller); ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talarurus Talarurus]]'' (two specimens appear in Disney's Dinosaur); and the huge ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarchia Tarchia]]'' (the largest Asian ankylosaur). These dinosaurs were all from Late Cretaceous Mongolia.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polacanthus Polacanthus]]'': One of the most spiky ankylosaurs, this small genus (4 m long) is an Early Cretaceous English specialty, and lived alongside ''Iguanodon''. One of the armored dinosaurs discovered first, its name just means "many spikes"; appears in the fourth episode of WalkingWithDinosaurs (wrongly portrayed in North America other than in Europe).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylaeosaurus Hylaeosaurus]]'': This ankylosaur lived in Early Cretaceous England just like ''Polacanthus''. It's one of the three dinosaurs that were used to define the dinosaur group for the first time (the other were ''Megalosaurus'' and ''Iguanodon''), but is the smallest and most obscure of them. We can see an outdated ''Hylaeosaurus'' model in the famous Crystal Palace Park in London together with the equally old-fashioned but more famous models of ''Iguanodon'' and ''Megalosaurus'' (and of several other prehistoric critters as well).

->* Other European ankylosaurs: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthopholis Acanthopholis]]'' (a very fragmentary Early Cretaceous genus); ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracopelta Dracopelta]]'' from Late Jurassic; and the dwarf insular form ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struthiosaurus Struthiosaurus]]'' from Late Cretaceous (its name means "ostrich lizard", an odd name for an ankylosaur...).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodosaurus Nodosaurus]]'': Lived in Cretaceous North America. Traditionally regarded as the prototypical [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodosauridae nodosaur]] (scientists used to put in the nodosaur subgroup all the clubless ankylosaurs), it actually is one of the most fragmentary armored dinosaurs.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeoscincus Palaeoscincus]]'' The first ankylosaur discovered in North America, ''Palaeoscincus'' is known only from one tooth, but has been one of the most commonly depicted ankylosaurs in old books; this because it was historically treated as a "Wastebin-Taxon" just like ''Megalosaurus'' (many undetermined "nodosaur" remains were assigned to it in the past).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauropelta Sauropelta]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmontonia Edmontonia]]'': These large, spiky dinosaurs are the most well-known North American nodosaurs today (from Early and Late Cretaceous respectively) and because of their completeness they have recently substituted ''Nodosaurus'' in popular books as the iconic members of their family. An invalid synonym of ''Edmontonia'' is ''Denversaurus'' (this name recalls that of a famous dino-cartoon).

->* Other North American ankylosaurs: We can mention ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastonia Gastonia]]'' (one of the most impressive-armored ankylosaurs known, discovered in 1998); ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargoyleosaurus Gargoyleosaurus]]'' (one of the few Late Jurassic ankylosaurs, described in the same year); ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panoplosaurus Panoplosaurus]]'' (the last nodosaur before the mass extinction); and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvisaurus Silvisaurus]]'' (similar to the contemporaneous ''Sauropelta'' but smaller).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scelidosaurus Scelidosaurus]]'': The most ancient armored dinosaur (Early Jurassic, from England and Asia), it was once considered in the middle between Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs: now, according to the cladistic method, it's regarded as the first true ankylosaur, but it was more slender and far less armored that its descendants.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minmi_(dinosaur) Minmi]]'': One of the few Australian dinosaurs known (from Early Cretaceous), it used to be the shortest-named dinosaur until recently. This small ankylosaur is one of the three most well-known Australian dinosaurs along with ''Leaellynasaura'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus'' (see further), but did not appear in WalkingWithDinosaurs unlike the latter.

->* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctopelta 'The mysterious dino from ice']]: The very first dinosaur ever discovered in Antarctica was an ankylosaur, in 1986; yet dino-fans had to expect ''twenty years'' to see it named: ''Antarctopelta''. (Today ankylosaurs tend to be named with the suffix ''-pelta'' [[FollowTheLeader after the ur-example]] ''Sauropelta'': indeed this is the dino group with more names ending in -a, giving them a bizarre "feminine" sound for such bulky armored tanks...)

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianchisaurus Jurassosaurus nedegoapeferima]]'': Discovered in Late Jurassic China slightly after the start of the JurassicPark-mania, its scientific name was created in homage to Spielberg. The second term is formed from the surnames of the film's main stars: Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sir Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, Ariana Richards, and Joseph Mazzello. Well it's true, Ankylosaur names are among the coolest of all dinosaurs, with no doubt.

''[[AC:Ceratopsians]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentaceratops Pentaceratops]]'': Lived alongside the other giant ceratopsians in North America. Similar to ''Chasmosaurus'' but bigger, it now detains the record of having the "largest skull" of any land animal ever (the former record holder was ''Torosaurus''). Most ceratopsians have the suffix -ceratops: ''Triceratops'' means "three-horned face", ''Protoceratops'' "first horned face" and ''Pentaceratops'' "''five-horned'' face" (an incorrect name, since its horns were ''three'' just like ''Triceratops''; the other two "horns" actually are spiky cheeks).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchiceratops Anchiceratops]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrhinoceratops Arrhinoceratops]]'': Like the former example; both are large ''Triceratops''-like ceratopsians from Late Cretaceous North America, but were smaller than ''Pentaceratops''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptoceratops Leptoceratops]]'': North American and contemporary of ''Triceratops'', but similar to ''Protoceratops'' in size and much more slender. One of the most archaic ceratopsians, it had no horns, a very small frill, and could walk on two legs like an ornithopod.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psittacosaurus Psittacosaurus]]'': Once believed to be the most ancient ceratopsian ever (lived 100 million years ago in Asia), it resembles anything but a ''Triceratops'': small, slender, partially bipedal, with porcupine-like quills (but those could also be in Triceratops itself) with only hints of horns and frill, the only things revealing its relationship are the parrot-bill and spiky cheeks (two features present among ''all'' ceratopsians) that give it the name ("psittacos" is Greek for parrot). It is the dinosaur with most species described (more than 10) and one of the most well-known Asian dinosaurs as well. The recently discovered ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinlong Yinlong]]'' (year 2006) from Late Jurassic China is now the oldest ceratopsian known and has already attained some notoriety: it shows up in the same documentary featuring the small tyrannosaur ancestor ''Guanlong''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microceratus Microceratops]]'': Its name aptly means "tiny horned face": it's one of the smallest ceratopsians known so far, the size of a cat, and was also one of the most unusual members of this group since it was ''totally bipedal'' and with a very slender body-shape more similar to ''Hypsilophodon'' than to a typical ceratopsian (while its head was unmistakably ceratopsian-like). Lived in Late Cretaceous Asia alongside ''Protoceratops'' and, like the latter, it had no horns. Very poorly known in fossil record, ''Microceratops'' was nonetheless chosen by Disney's {{Dinosaur}} to represent the smallest member of Kron's migrating herd instead of [[RuleOfCool better-known but less peculiar-looking]] dinosaurs of similar size such as ''Compsognathus''. This dinosaur [[ScienceMarchesOn has even changed its name recently]], and now is called ''Microceratus''.

->* Other examples: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avaceratops Avaceratops]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagaceratops Bagaceratops]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachyceratops Brachyceratops]]'', and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montanoceratops Montanoceratops]]'' were small-sized ceratopsians with a rarer fossil record than other relatives. Among more recently-discovered ceratopsians ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einiosaurus Einiosaurus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuniceratops Zuniceratops]]'' have been portrayed in two popular documentaries of the 2000s. But don't forget the obscure namesake of the family: just ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratops Ceratops]]''.

''[[AC:Pachycephalosaurs]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegoceras Stegoceras]]'': Lived in Late Cretaceous North America. As mentioned in the "Pachycephalosaurus" entry, it's the first "bonehead" discovered and the most complete member of the group in fossil record; thus, it receives the same amount of attention in books as ''Pachycephalosaurus'' (some of them cite it as the prototypical thick-headed dinosaur indeed). However, ''Stegoceras'' was much smaller than its more spectacular, pop-culture cousin (2.5 m at the most), and lacked spikes on the nose.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenocephale Prenocephale]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homalocephale Homalocephale]]'': The two classic Asian pachys, both the same size of ''Stegoceras'' and contemporary of it. The first had a head similar to ''Stegoceras'' in shape, while the second do not even resembles a pachycephalosaur because it has a ''flat'' head (some scientist argue that [[ScienceMarchesOn it was instead the juvenile form]] of ''Prenocephale'').

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stygimoloch Stygimoloch]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracorex Dracorex]]'': As mentioned in the main entry these two dinosaurs have recently made some appearances in pop-culture thanks to their impressive look, breaking the "monopoly" of their larger cousin ''Pachycephalosaurus''. ''Stygimoloch'' shows up in Disney's ''Dinosaur'', ''Dracorex'' is portrayed in ''Primeval''. The controversy about their validity (both may be just juvenile ''Pachycephalosaurus'') is still unresolved for now.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaverlandia Yaverlandia]]'': It used to be mentioned as the "most ancient pachycephalosaur" in old textbooks, but it is known only from a fragment of the skull roof, and now its identity is regarded as dubious (it seems to be a ''theropod'' instead).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropachycephalosaurus Micropachycephalosaurus]]'': It may get a reference for having the longest name of any dinosaur: ironically, it was one of the tiniest dinos that ever lived (50 cm/1.5 ft long). Probably a generic ornithischian rather than a pachycephalosaur.

''[[AC:Hadrosaurs]]'' [[hottip:* :Most of them, useless to say it, are North-American (if not, they are Asian), and all lived between 80 and 65 million years ago - at the end of the Mesozoic.]]

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrosaurus Hadrosaurus]]'': The namesake of its family and the first dinosaur ever identified as such in America (and outside Europe), but known through incomplete remains. It was also the first large dinosaur depicted as ''bipedal'' (a revolutionary idea at the time).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kritosaurus Kritosaurus]]'': Also North-American, it is a poorly-known genus now, but very common in old books because of its alleged relief on its nose, that often made it one of the classic five hadrosaurs along with ''Anatosaurus'', ''Saurolophus'', ''Corythosaurus'' and ''Parasaurolophus''. ''Kritosaurus'' appears in the Disney "Rite of Spring" (''{{Fantasia}}'', 1940) along with its relatives.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambeosaurus Lambeosaurus]]'': Similar to ''Corythosaurus'' but with a more complex, ''two branched'' crest; it was the largest North American hadrosaur known so far (and the largest animal in its fauna, with 15m/50ft of length), but the majority of individuals were smaller than this. It's worth noting the largest non-sauropod dinosaurs belonged to the duckbill family (they were longer than Ceratopsians and heavier than ''Tyrannosaurus'' or even ''Spinosaurus'').

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmontosaurus Edmontosaurus regalis]]'': Discovered in Canada, it is the original ''Edmontosaurus'', the only species known of its genus before ''Anatosaurus annectens'' has become ''Edmontosaurus annectens'' in 1990. Often portrayed with an inflatable, frog-like sack on its snout (as well as ''Saurolophus'' and other hadrosaurs).

->* Other North American hadrosaurs: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypacrosaurus Hypacrosaurus]]'' was the twin of ''Corythosaurus''; and then, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosaurolophus Prosaurolophus]]'' (not to be confused with '''Para'''saurolophus), ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachylophosaurus Brachylophosaurus]]'', and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryposaurus Gryposaurus]]'' (this one may be considered the "heir" of the classic ''Kritosaurus'').

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsintaosaurus Tsintaosaurus]]'': Nicknamed the "unicorn dinosaur" because of its high, pointed crest on its head, it's one of the most classic Chinese dinosaurs. It also has had one of the most tormented ScienceMarchesOn stories among dinosaurs.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantungosaurus Shantungosaurus]]'': Very similar to Edmontosaurus, it has long been the largest Asian hadrosaur known to science (15 m/50 ft long, as much as the largest ''Lambeosaurus''es).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactrosaurus Bactrosaurus]]'': The most complete of the earliest duckbills, this Asian genus was one of the smallest hadrosaurs and was still rather Iguanodon-like in look (hadrosaurs are just very specialized iguanodonts).

->* Other examples: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandschurosaurus Mandschurosaurus]]'' may appear in old texts being the first dinosaur ever described from China. Several new hadrosaur species have been recently discovered in northern Asia: the hatchet-crested ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olorotitan Olorotitan]]'' and the very ''Parasaurolophus''-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charonosaurus Charonosaurus]]'' have the most striking look among them. Hadrosaurs from other continents such as the european ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telmatosaurus Telmatosaurus]]'' and south- american ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secernosaurus Secernosaurus]]'' have a scant fossil record, and are just as rare in books.

''[[AC:Other ornithopods]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camptosaurus Camptosaurus]]'': The most abundant Late Jurassic large ornithopod, similar to ''Iguanodon'' but smaller and without thumbspikes, it lived in North America along with many dino-stars like ''Apatosaurus'' and ''Stegosaurus'', and was probably the favorite prey of ''Allosaurus'' (it has been discovered in Europe as well).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouranosaurus Ouranosaurus]]'': This dinosaur from Cretaceous Sahara looks rather like a MixAndMatchCritter, with hadrosaur-like bill, ''Iguanodon''-like thumbspikes and a large sail on its back similar to that of its neighbor and possible predator ''Spinosaurus'' (some argue that both dinosaurs had a fleshy hump instead of a "sail"). ''Ouranosaurus'' was a close relative to hadrosaurs.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenontosaurus Tenontosaurus]]'': A North American ornithopod similar to ''Camptosaurus'' but with a much longer tail; it shared its Early Cretaceous habitat with ''Deinonychus'' and is classically portrayed in a battle against a pack of the latter in books, because its first skeleton was discovered surrounded by several ''Deinonychus''.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryosaurus Dryosaurus]]'': Lived in North America, Europe and Africa. The other iconic Late Jurassic ornithopod along with ''Camptosaurus'', similar to a large ''Hypsilophodon'' in shape, but it was closer to ''Iguanodon''. Both ''Camptosaurus'' and ''Dryosaurus'' were discovered during the Bone Wars.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaellynasaura Leaellynasaura]]'': Discovered in 1989, this tiny herbivore is one of the three most known Australian dinosaurs, and has the particularity to be named after the daughter of its discoverers. It's the main dinosaur portrayed in the fifth episode from WalkingWithDinosaurs. However, in 2010, its status as an Ornithopod and as of a bearer of a normal tail not 3 times longer that its own body have been disputed.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muttaburrasaurus Muttaburrasaurus]]'': This dinosaur is also one of the three stock Australian dinosaurs, was contemporary to the other two (Early Cretaceous) and also was portrayed in the same episode of WWD along with ''Leaellynasaura''. Similar to ''Iguanodon'' but smaller, it's recognizable thanks to its bulb-shaped nose.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orodromeus Orodromeus]]'': Discovered together with ''Maiasaura'', this small Late Cretaceous "hypsilophodont" was thought to be the source of some small nests discovered next to those of that hadrosaur, and received some attention in the nineties: [[ScienceMarchesOn now we know]] that those eggs were from ''Troodon'' instead. Fossils of the latter were discovered as well around those nests, but it was thought that it was ''actually preying upon Orodromeus nestlings'' (much like the more famous ''Oviraptor''-''Protoceratops'' confusion).

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thescelosaurus Thescelosaurus]]'': One of the last dinosaurs remained on Earth before the mass extinction, it lived in North America alongside ''T. rex''. Similar to a large ''Hypsilophodon'', it is the animal from which the controversial "fossilized heart" comes from (probably a fossilization artifact).

->* Other examples: The Late Jurassic "hypsilophodont" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othnielia Othnielia]]'' lived in North America along with the larger ''Dryosaurus'' (see [[WalkingWithDinosaurs Big Al]]). Its contemporary ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanosaurus Nanosaurus]]'' is often mentioned in old textbooks as "the smallest North-American dinosaur", but may not even be a valid name. Among other non-hadrosaurian ornithopod of different size and location, we can mention the Late Cretaceous North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parksosaurus Parksosaurus]]''; the Late Cretaceous European ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdodon Rhabdodon]]''; the Middle Jurassic European ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callovosaurus Callovosaurus]]''; and the Cretaceous Asian ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probactrosaurus Probactrosaurus]]'' (closely related to hadrosaurs).

''[[AC:Primitive ornithischians]]''

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodontosaurus Heterodontosaurus]]'': Lived in Early Jurassic South Africa 190 million years ago. Superficially similar to ''Hypsilophodon'' but even smaller (1.20 m/4 ft long), its name means "lizard with different teeth" because it had a peculiar, mammal-like dentition: four long protruding "tusks", large grinding teeth behind these and small peg-like ones at the tip of its upper jaw.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesothosaurus Lesothosaurus]]'': It shared its African habitat with the contemporary ''Heterodontosaurus'', had a rather similar body shape but was ''even smaller'' (3 ft long, the same size of ''Compsognathus''). The classic example of the most primitive ornithischians, it had no specialization in its skeleton. Often called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabrosaurus Fabrosaurus]]'' in older books; its modern name [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin derives from the African state of Lesotho]] where its remains were dug out.

->* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutellosaurus Scutellosaurus]]'': The most primitive thyreophoran known, it was similar in size and look to ''Lesothosaurus'' but was more robust and had light armor covering its torso. Lived in Early Jurassic North America alongside ''Dilophosaurus'', and it is sometimes presented as its main prey.

->* Other examples: South American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisanosaurus Pisanosaurus]]'' was the most ancient of all ornithischians known, while European ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinodon Echinodon]]'' was a late-surviving form. Two recently discovered basal ornithischians will probably gain interest for the next future because of their importance: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eocursor Eocursor]]'' (the only complete Triassic ornithischian) and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianyulong Tianyulong]]'' (the first ornithischian discovered with a sort of "protofeathers").
[[/folder]]

!Non-Dinosaurian Reptiles

The following groups of prehistoric "reptiles", to quote Lore Sjoberg, "are not technically speaking dinosaurs but end up in the dinosaur section of the plush toy aisle nonetheless":

[[folder:Flying reptiles]]

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterosauria Pterosaurs]] (usually called ''Pterodactyls'' in media and in pop-language) were the main flying beings in the Age of Dinosaurs, coexisted with their land-living relatives for 160 million years and eventually went extinct together with the last dinosaurs. In fiction, these "reptiles" usually act as [[GiantFlyer air-born terrors]] to menace humans and/or other animals, usually grabbing them with improbable eagle-like feet and magically strong enough to lift and carry their victims in flight, often giving them to their nestlings just like eagles. In It/RealLife pterosaurs had very weak legs with non-opposable digits and caught their food with their mouth instead. Sometimes they are even portayed with [[MixAndmatchCritter Bat Wings]], tying into the whole DinosaursAreDragons thing. As if that was not enough, they tend to be represented ''always'' huge. In RealLife there were ''many'' types of pterosaurs (just like what happens to modern birds) and they were astonishingly diverse in size, being from the size of a sparrow up to a small airplane. Other misconceptions to debunk: they weren't either dinosaurs, nor were they birds. Further, they were not even the ancestors of any modern flier: instead, they were only ''relatives'' of dinosaurs (and thus birds, of course). Like dinosaurs, pterosaurs have undergone a sort of scientific "renaissance" since the seventies: traditionally described as awkward, cold-blooded gliders, then it has become clear that they were instead active and efficient fliers, ''covered with down'' like several dinosaurs and with high-rate metabolism. Nevertheless, even today they remain one of the most enigmatic group of prehistoric beasts, as their fossil record has always been one of the scarcest of all. For their depiction in media, see PteroSoarer.

!!Stock Pterosaurs

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteranodon Pteranodon]]]]'' ***

->''Pteranodon'' lived 75 million years ago on the shorelines of North America. Of course ''Pteranodon'' is the most commonly portrayed of the entire group, as it was considered the largest for a whole century (and had a nifty crest on its head). The main mistake with this one is that it is often portrayed with teeth; in this case, these imaginative teeth are usually shown as sharp and protruding like those of ''Rhamphorhynchus'' (see below). In life, ''Pteranodon'' was more of a giant pelican both in shape and in behavior, and thus, if it were alive today, it would not be particularly dangerous to us folks. Ironically, there is a recent discovery of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludodactylus an actual pterosaur]] that coincidentally ''looks like the fictional depiction'' of ''Pteranodon''. Its name derives from a Latin root meaning "play" or "toy", as a sort of RealLife LampshadeHanging.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchus Rhamphorhynchus]]]]'' **

->''Rhamphorhynchus'' is the second most commonly portrayed pterosaur, mainly because its vaguely 'dragon-like' look: sharp protruding teeth for catching fish and a long tail with a fin at the end (this tail has often been applied to ''[[MixAndMatchCritter Pteranodon]]'' as well in popular drawings). Lived 150 million years ago. Although much, much smaller than ''Pteranodon'' (being the size of a large gull), its main mistake is being shown at larger than average size--usually matching its larger relative.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzalcoatlus Quetzalcoatlus]]]]'' *

->''Quetzalcoatlus'' (its name is derived from Quetzalcoatl, an ancient Aztec god) was one of the last pterosaurs before the mass extinction. With its 12-meters (~40ft) wingspan, it replaced ''Pteranodon'' as the "Biggest" in the mid 80s. As such, it was often portrayed as a largely crest-less, upscale ''Pteranodon''. Today we know it was more like a stork in overall habit and design. Recently-found ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatzegopteryx Hatzegopteryx]]'', a close relative, has just stolen Quetzacoatl's title as the biggest. Among paleo-buffs, there's an expectation that once Witton and Naish's interpretation and correct reconstruction of these pterosaurs (belonging to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azhdarchidae Azhdarchid]] family) becomes more widely known, they should gain in popularity because of their general coolness. [[http://pterosaurs.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/azhdarchid-paleobiology-part-i/ Here]] is a couple of reconstructions. Yes, that thing is the size of a giraffe. That could ''fly''.

''[[AC: Other Pterosaurs]]'' *

->Rarely will you see any other pterosaur in fiction, but if you do, it will either be: the big-headed ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimorphodon Dimorphodon]]'' or the little flying namesake ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactylus Pterodactylus]]''. Both will be scaled up to ''Pteranodon'' size or bigger. Note that ''Pterodactylus'' was the very first flying reptile ever found; this explains why ''pterodactyl'' has become the popular name of pterosaurs (the word ''pterosaur'' was invented later, when ''pterodactyl'' has already become stock).

!!Non-stock Pterosaurs

->In dinosaur books we can see some other pterosaurs as well, especially those with unusual heads: the shellfish-eating ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dsungaripterus Dsungaripterus]]'', the filter-feeding ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodaustro Pterodaustro]]'', the duck-billed "Ornithodesmus" (now called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istiodactylus Istiodactylus]]'') and the keel-billed "Tropeognathus" (now ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithocheirus Ornithocheirus]]''). The last one was the main flying reptile portrayed in the WalkingWithDinosaurs series ([[UpToEleven although exaggeratedly oversized]]). Among the others, we can also see ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cearadactylus Cearadactylus]]'' (mentioned in the first Jurassic Park novel), ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudimorphodon Eudimorphodon]]'' (one of the first pterosaurs appeared on Earth), the tiny, blunt-faced ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anurognathus Anurognathus]]'', and in recent years the huge-crested ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapejara Tapejara]]''. But we cannot forget ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sordes Sordes]]'' with its relevance in ptero-science; it was the first pterosaur ever discovered with fur-like cover (20 years before the description of the first feathered dinosaur), and thus led the start to the "pterosaur renaissance".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Swimming Reptiles]]

These animals are often collectively referred to as "swimming dinosaurs", despite being in at least three completely different taxonomic groups with no affinities among each other, and nobody of them was even related with true dinosaurs (contrary to pterosaurs which ''were'' close to dinos within the phylogenetic tree). If you'd like to see a seagoing dinosaur, watch ''[[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins March of the Penguins]]''.

!!Main groups of Sea Reptiles

As with most prehistoric animals, only the largest will be mentioned from each group (the Plesiosaur ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elasmosaurus Elasmosaurus]]'', the Pliosaurs ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liopleurodon Liopleurodon]]'' or ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronosaurus Kronosaurus]]'' and the Mosasaurs ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylosaurus Tylosaurus]]'' or the namesake ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosasaurus Mosasaurus]]'')--with the exception of the Ichthyosaurs. Ichthyosaurs will be represented only by ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyosaurus Ichthyosaurus]]'' which was actually small for the group (though that won't stop them writers from making it bigger). Never mind that its relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonisaurus Shonisaurus]]'' was as big as a large whale.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyosaur Ichthyosaurs]]]]'' *

->Ichthyosaurs have the very evocative name of 'fish-lizards', they really resemble large fish in shape and swimming style, but recall modern dolphins as well thanks to their flippers and their long 'nose' (However, unlike dolphins they had ''four'' flippers and an ''upright'' caudal fin). In older portraits, though, they often appear without dorsal or even caudal fins and rather crocodile- or mosasaur-like (as in Verne's novel ''[[JourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarth A Journey to the Center of the Earth]]''). Ichthyosaurs were the most marine of all marine reptiles and never came onto land, not even for laying their eggs. The namesake ''Ichthyosaurus'' was the first discovered, and as said above, the only one that appears in fiction: however, in dinosaur books we can also see: the primitive, eel-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixosaurus Mixosaurus]]''; the aforementioned huge ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonisaurus Shonisaurus]]''; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenopterygius Stenopterygius]]''; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temnodontosaurus Temnodontosaurus]]''; and the swordfish-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurhinosaurus Eurhinosaurus]]''. The Walking With series featured the toothless, huge-eyed ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthalmosaurus Ophthalmosaurus]]'' and the primitive, mosasaur-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbospondylus Cymbospondylus]]''.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plesiosaur Plesiosaurs]]]]'' **

->Plesiosaurs are perhaps the most portrayed of all marine reptiles because they have the most distinctive look of them all, thanks to their long necks. The commonly shown species is ''Elasmosaurus'', which had a 20ft/7m long neck, longer than the rest of its body. It will usually be portrayed in a somewhat swan-like posture when not swimming underwater in older media. Even if not, the neck will be far more snake-like than it is in reality, and its teeth more developed and protruding, literally making a snake-like head. And every time a plesiosaur shows up, ''someone'' will bring up the [[StockNessMonster Loch Ness Monster]]. Other than ''Elasmosaurus'' we can see other plesiosaurs in dino-books: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptoclidus Cryptoclidus]]'' and the small namesake ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plesiosaurus Plesiosaurus]]'' are the most common. No one ever pays attention to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycotylidae Polycotylids]] (the only ''short-necked'' subgroup), outside of National Geographic Specials (featuring ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolichorhynchops Dolichorhynchops]]'') and the rare museum mount.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliosaur Pliosaurs]]]]'' *

->Possibly the largest of all mesozoic marine reptiles, Pliosaurs belonged to the same group which contains also the Plesiosaurs. Indeed, the word ''plesiosaur'' has two distinct meanings: 1) in the narrower sense it means ''Elasmosaurus'' and its closest relatives, usually with long necks and small heads; 2) in the broader sense includes Pliosaurs as well, usually with short necks and large heads. The two largest Pliosaurs, ''Liopleurodon'' and ''Kronosaurus'', were the top-predators of the Jurassic and early Cretaceous oceans respectively, and are the only ones that ''have'' the possibility to appear in fiction. ''Liopleurodon'' in particular owes some popularity to a memorable appearance on WalkingWithDinosaurs. Smaller pliosaurs will appear only in illustrated books: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloneustes Peloneustes]]'' and the long-necked ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroplata Macroplata]]'' are two main examples.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosasaur Mosasaurs]]]]'' *

->The most recent group of large sea-reptiles, Mosasaurs lived at the end of the Age of Dinosaurs, replacing Ichthyosaurs and coexisting with the last Plesiosaurs. While the latter were not related with any other mesozoic reptile, Mosasaurs are the only prehistoric animals which literally deserve the title of 'giant lizards': they belong to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamata Squamates]], the group containing modern lizard and snakes, and were closely related to modern monitor lizards. Indeed, thanks to the shape of their body, they are often compared with the legendary 'sea-serpent', and often depicted with a speculative dragon-like crest running along their back. The aforementioned ''Tylosaurus'' and ''Mosasaurus'' are the two stock genera (often confused with each other); if you see a mosasaur in fiction it will be one of these two. One can sometimes see other relatives in books, however: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plotosaurus Plotosaurus]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platecarpus Platecarpus]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clidastes Clidastes]]'' and the unusual shellfish eater ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globidens Globidens]]''.

''[[AC:Other groups]]'' *

->Other group of marine reptiles appear more rarely in fiction, but can show up in books: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protostegidae giant sea turtles]] (''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archelon Archelon]]'' being the largest); fish-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metriorhynchus sea]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosaurus crocodiles]]; and two more primitive groups: the slender, fish-eating [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothosauria nothosaurs]] and the turtle-like, shellfish-eating [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placodontia placodonts]].

!!Sea Reptiles as a whole

It's worth noting that marine reptiles were ''already'' well-known to science in the first two decades of the 19th century (while dinosaurs were not even known at the time), and their fossil record is wealthier and better-preserved than that of the dinosaurs. Indeed, the very ''first'' time that 'antediluvian' reptiles entered in popular consciousness was after the 'battle between an ichthyosaur and a plesiosaur' from the aforementioned novel ''[[JourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarth A Journey to the Center of the Earth]]'' written by Jules Verne in 1864. In older media, mosasaurs, pliosaurs and ichthyosaurs tend to be confused each other: the sea-equivalent of the classic battle between ''T. rex'' and a large plant-eating dinosaur is that of a fight between ''Elasmosaurus'' and some sort of 'giant swimmer with huge jaws' which is often difficult to say which group it belongs. Another cliché about marine reptiles is seeing them emerging abruptly from the surface, grabbing a giant pterosaur (typically ''Pteranodon'') and dragging it underwater. This could be possible for mosasaurs and pliosaurs, but ''not'' for Ichthyosaurs and Elasmosaurs: the first were already extinct at the age of ''Pteranodon'', while the mouths of the latter were too small to swallow whole [[GiantFlyer Giant Fliers]] like these.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pre-Dinosaurian Reptiles]]

At least Pterosaurs and the above-mentioned seagoing animals are from the same Mesozoic time-period. Don't even get us started on how [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapsida Synapsids]] (commonly named "mammal-like reptiles") and other pre-dino reptiles are sometimes labeled dinosaurs.

!!Mammal-like "reptiles"

Most synapsids lived well before the apparition of the first dinosaur; indeed, Synapsid were the very first large land vertebrates and diversified much during their permanence on Earth, until they were outcompeted by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archosaur Archosaurs]], the group containing dinosaurs, pterosaurs and crocodilians. Synapsids had an extraordinary relevance in the history of evolution because they were the ancestors of mammals and thus of '''[[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman mankind ]]''' itself, and yet they have not gained popularity like that of the dinosaurs, probably because of their relatively small size compared to things like ''T. rex'' or Sauropods. They are traditionally divided into two groups, the more archaic [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelycosaur Pelycosaurs]] and the more advanced/mammal-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapsid Therapsids]]. ''[[TaxonomicTermConfusion Technically]]'' they are not even "reptiles".

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimetrodon Dimetrodon]]]]'' **

->The only mammal-like 'reptile' whose popularity matches that of the stock dinosaurs is ''Dimetrodon'', thanks to its mohawk-esque crest (sail) on its back and its large, meat-eating jaws as well. One of the earliest and most primitive mammal-like 'reptiles' (lived 280-265 millions years ago), it still had a giant-lizard look like all Pelycosaurs, while the more recent, advanced Therapsids lost that appearance altogether. Although ''Dimetrodon'' is more closely related to ''you'' and ''me'' than to any dinosaur, and predated the first dinosaur by at least a country mile of geologic time, it is often shown in dioramas along with dinosaurs because it [[RuleOfCool looks cool]]. In movies and comics, it may even show up [[WallBanger living with Cavemen]]. Among the other Pelycosaurs, only the similarly mohawked but herbivorous ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edaphosaurus Edaphosaurus]]'' may show up, but less commonly.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapsid Therapsids]]]]'' *

->Therapsids are less frequent in media than ''Dimetrodon''. They were divided in several groups, some were herbivorous and others were carnivorous, and their look was very diversified among species. Among plant-eaters, we can see the bulky, dome-headed ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moschops Moschops]]'' and some species of the two-tusked [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicynodont Dicynodonts]], such as the vaguely pig-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lystrosaurus Lystrosaurus]]'', and the larger ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placerias Placerias]]''. In older works one may encounter references to ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicynodon Dicynodon]]'', the first synapsid ever found in fossil record. The close mammal relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynognathus Cynognathus]]'' has traditionally been the stock carnivorous therapsid. This one is so similar to a large [[AngryGuardDog dog]] in size and shape that it is hard to tell everyone that it used to be identified as a reptile [[ScienceMarchesOn in older classifications]]. Other relatives of ''Cynognathus'' that have more recently appeared are the large sabertoothed [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgonopsidae Gorgonopsids]]. One may sometimes encounter the almost-mammal ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrinaxodon Thrinaxodon]]'' as well.

!!Other Pre-Dinosaurian Reptiles

''[[AC:Triassic Archosaurs]]'' *

->Pre-dino reptiles mainly include those that were once named [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thecodont "Thecodonts"]], actually an artificial assemblage including basal Triassic archosaurs, some of them were the ancestors of crocs and dinos; actually some of them (''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratosaurus Teratosaurus]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithosuchus Ornithosuchus]]'' and others) were once believed ''true dinosaurs'', precisely the very first large carnivorous dinosaurs. Today, basal archosaurs, often being somewhere between Crocodilians and Dinosaurs, rarely are named and tend to get token appearances more in art and documentaries than anywhere else. Some notable subgroups of them include: the land-living, long legged croc-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rauisuchia "Rauisuchians"]] (the most commonly represented as they are the competition for the early dinosaurs and the top predators, usually under the name ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postosuchus Postosuchus]]''); the armored, plant-eating [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aetosaur Aetosaurs]] which looked like Ankylosaurs crossed with Crocodiles; and the water-loving and very crocodile-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytosaur Phytosaurs]]. Despite some of these creatures may superficially look dinosaurs, the only true basal archosaur related to dinos was the tiny ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagosuchus Lagosuchus]]'' and its relatives; however, the small croc-relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltoposuchus Saltoposuchus]]'' was once believed the real ancestor of dinosaurs because of its appearance.

''[[AC:Others]]'' *

->There were several archosaur offshoots as well in the Triassic: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euparkeria Euparkeria]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythrosuchus Erythrosuchus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proterosuchus Proterosuchus]]'' which were similar to the archosaurs above; the plant-eating [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhynchosauria Rhynchosaurs]] with their parrot-like beak; the enormously long-necked ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanystropheus Tanystropheus]]''; and finally the small croc-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choristodera Champsosaurs]]. Originated in the Triassic period, Champsosaurs are of particular interest as they managed to survive beyond the age of the dinosaurs and into the age of mammals where most of its brethren went extinct as Dinosaurs rose to power: they are the ''only'' now-extinct group of reptiles that lasted after the end of the Mesozoic era. Still other Triassic reptiles included [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuehneosauridae many]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longisquama "gliding]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharovipteryx lizards"]] vaguely similar to modern ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_volans Draco volans]]'' (though not forming a natural group), and the aforementioned aquatic Nothosaurs and Placodonts. Most [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapsida Anapsids]], like the large armored ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutosaurus Scutosaurus]]'' and the small aquatic ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesosaurus Mesosaurus]]'', were even more ancient, living in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian Permian period]], these will not get much detail other than being described as "Lizard Like" and which one is noted to be [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylonomus the oldest]], which one gave rise to Synapsids and which one gave rise to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diapsida Diapsids]].
[[/folder]]

!Other Extinct Creatures

Even prehistoric ''mammals'', are sometimes mislabeled dinosaurs. Colloquially, this is often true of fish as well, or any prehistoric-looking creature, such as the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth Coelacanth]].

[[folder:Extinct Mammals]]

Ice Age mammals are the most portrayed, because they lived along with [[AllCavemenWereNeanderthals the most iconic hominid species]]. Other mammals in fiction may be pre-Ice Age mammals (very few of them, [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs despite their huge variety and their importance as ancestors of today-living mammals]]), but [[TheyJustDidntCare historical extinctions and even modern mammals may appear, passed off as "prehistoric"]].

!!Ice Age Mammals

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly_mammoth Woolly Mammoth]]]]'' ***

->[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth Mammoths]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammut Mastodons]] (completely different animals, just so you know) often show up in anything dealing with prehistory, though usually associated with the Ice Ages thankfully. The species definitely most portrayed of these is ''Mammuthus primigenius'', better-known as the Woolly Mammoth, probably the most iconic non-dino prehistoric animal of all. A common misconception about this one is saying it was ''larger'' than modern elephants: actually the 'woolly' was as big as its tropical, 21th century cousins (perhaps this is due to the confusion with other mammoth species that ''were'' much larger, like the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbian_Mammoth Columbian Mammoth]]). It's worth noting that Mammoths, scientifically speaking, are just another type of elephant, since they belong to the same phylogenetic branch. And Asian Elephant is more closely related to ''mammoths'' than to his more distant African modern relative (thus mammoths ''weren't'' the direct ancestors of elephants as heard sometimes). On the other hand, the Mastodon ''is not'' a true elephant but just a distant relative of ''both'' modern pachyderms ''and'' mammoths (its scientific name, ''Mammut americanus'', is misleading). And unless you are not watching a documentary, don't expect to see other ancient odd-looking elephant relatives, like the shovel-jawed ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platybelodon Platybelodon]]'', the huge, reverse-tusked ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinotherium Deinotherium]]'' or the ancestral, tapir-like form ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeritherium Moeritherium]]''.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilodon Smilodon]]]]'' ***

->[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saber-toothed_cat Saber-tooth cats]], with their distinct fangs, are just as iconic in pop-culture. There were many species of them, but the only saber-toothed cats you'll ever likely see are ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilodon_fatalis Smilodon fatalis]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilodon_populator Smilodon populator]]'', which is larger but [[RuleOfCool has a less awesome name]]. Although "saber-tooths" belongs to the "cat family", they pertain to a separate branch of that clade compared to modern felines; thus, the popular denomination "Sabertooth tiger" is not correct at all. The 'tiger' thing means that ''Smilodon'' is often heard roaring just like an actual tiger or a lion, though only the big cats of the genus ''[[PantheraAwesome Panthera ]]'' (that is, Lion, Tiger, Jaguar and Leopard) could make roars thanks to the structure of their larynxes unique of this group. This is, however, vindicated by science, as the structure of the small bones in its mouth are set up for roaring. It will probably also use its sabers for every conceivable task, like slaying herbivores the size of the Mammoths or ''Megatherium'' with a single stab, despite the fact that most real sabertooths (as well as their relatives, the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homotherium scimitartooths]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megantereon dirktooths]]) had relatively delicate fangs. Oh, and it'll be stripy, like a tiger, which - in ''populator'' 's case - isn't completely impossible, given that it lived on grasslands. A curious thing is that some prehistoric meat-eating mammals had a bewildering 'sabertooth cat' look, even though they were not cats at all: two main examples are ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusmilus Eusmilus]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacosmilus Thylacosmilus]]'' (the latter being a marsupial, thus more close to ''kangaroos'' than to ''Smilodon'').

''[[AC:Other Ice Age Mammals]]'' *

->'Sabertooth cats' and the hairy elephant-looking herbivores above are likely going to be the only representatives of the Ice Ages among mammals. If any others show up, they will usually be [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_sloth Giant Ground Sloths]] and/or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyptodontidae Glyptodonts]] (giant relatives of Armadillos). These herbivores were related each other, and their respective prototypes are ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megatherium Megatherium]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyptodon Glyptodon]]''. Other Ice-Age mammals that show up will be larger cousins of some modern "megafauna" land mammals. The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dire_Wolf Dire Wolf ]] (''Canis dirus''), a large wolf, is a common feature in ancient North America. If the scene is set in Europe, one may encounter a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly_rhino Woolly Rhino]] (''Coelodonta antiquitatis''), a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursus_spelaeus Cave Bear]] (''Ursus spelaeus'') or the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_elk Giant Deer ('Irish Elk')]] ''Megaloceros giganteus'', other than the iconic Woolly Mammoth. More rarely the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_leo_spelaea Cave Lion]] (a mere larger subspecies of the modern lion) may be portrayed. Please note that all these creatures were ''relatives'' of modern mammals, not their ''ancestors'' at all.

!!Other Mammals

''[[AC:Mammals living before the Ice Ages]]'' *

->If mammalian fauna living before the Ice Ages shows up, it will include a primitive horse (usually one of the smaller varieties) such as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyracotherium Hyracotherium]]'' usually called ''Eohippus'' in older works. Another feature will be the ''almost sauropod-sized'' ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraceratherium Paraceratherium]]'' usually called either ''Indricotherium'' or ''Baluchitherium''. Naming conventions have not been kind to it. If you're lucky a ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uintatherium Uintatherium]]'' or a ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontotherium Brontotherium]]'' will show up, often confused with rhinos or even [[YouFailBiologyForever ceratopsians]]. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrewsarchus Andrewsarchus]]'', a large predator known only from a single skull, is beginning to show up as well. Many other [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenozoic Cenozoic]] mammals show up only in documentaries and popular books about prehistory. Among the coolest-looking of them: the two-horned ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsinoitherium Arsinoitherium]]''; the early whale ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilosaurus Basilosaurus]]''; the MixAndMatchCritter-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalicotheriidae Chalicotheres]] the primitive carnivores called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creodonta Creodonts]]; the huge "unicorn rhinoceros" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elasmotherium Elasmotherium]]''; the giant boar-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entelodontidae Entelodonts]]; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantopithecus Gigantopithecus]]'', an Asian primate oversizing modern gorillas; the South American herbivores ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrauchenia Macrauchenia]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxodon Toxodon]]''; several elephant relatives already mentioned above; the elk-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetoceras Synthetoceras]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivatherium Sivatherium]]'' (not related with deer though); the cow-sized rodent ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoberomys Phoberomys]]''; and several giant marsupials, like the aforementioned South American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacosmilus Thylacosmilus]]'' and the Australian [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procoptodon Giant Kangaroos]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diprotodon Diprotodonts]] and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacoleo Marsupial Lion]]. And these are only a very small percentage of the countless mammals which existed before human history...

''[[AC:Non-prehistoric Mammals]]'' *

->Among mammals that went extinct between 15th to 21th century, one may get a reference about the cattle-ancestor [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurochs Aurochs]], the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarpan Tarpan]] horse, the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quagga Quagga]] zebra, and the huge [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrodamalis_gigas Steller's Sea Cow]]. And the ([[WildMassGuessing maybe not]]) extinct [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacine Tasmanian Wolf]]. Otherwise, many modern mammals will be cast as prehistoric animals, such as Opossums, Lemurs, Tarsiers, Rodents, Shrews and other generally small mammals, often acting as the ancestors of other larger mammals, maybe even ''humans''. And, of course, [[RubberForeheadAliens people in makeup as]] [[AllCavemenWereNeanderthals Cavemen]] and/or [[FrazettaMan Ape-Men]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other Extinct Animals]]

!!Birds

Like mammals, one may see some historical extinct birds that are portrayed as prehistoric, even though they weren't at all. ''[[ScienceMarchesOn Technically]]'' a still surviving branch of the dinosaurs, but treated as separate here to conform to traditional knowledge.

''[[AC:Prehistoric Birds]]'' *

->Large flightless predatory birds are the most commonly brought up. These usually fall into either a "''Diatryma''" , today called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastornis Gastornis]]'', or a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorusrhachid 'Terrorbird']], like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorusrhachos Phorusrhachos]]''. Other full birds will generally related to the background of a scene. If set in the Age of Dinosaurs, one may encounter one of the two 'toothed birds', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyornis Ichthyornis]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesperornis Hesperornis]]''. If set in the ice ages, a ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratornis Teratornis]]'' may show up. Rather surprisingly, the gigantic condor-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentavis Argentavis]]'' ([[GiantFlyer the largest flying bird]] ever discovered: 20ft/7m of wingspan, ''as much as Pteranodon'') has not been appeared yet in fiction despite its coolness. Hell, it only really has one documentary appearance to date (''Paleoworld'' which included it as a side note for Phorusrhacids).

''[[AC:Recently Extinct Birds]]'' *

->And if dealing with historical extinctions, expect references to the huge [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moa Moa]] and its avian predator [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haasts_Eagle Haast's Eagle]], both from New Zealand; and the equally huge [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aepyornis Elephant-Bird]] from Madagascar as well. Still another example may be the marine, flightless [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinguinus_impennis Great Auk]]. Another stalwart is the perennial icon of extinction: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo the Dodo]].

!!Modern reptiles

Contrary to what many shows make to believe, Dinosaurs, Pterosaurs, ''Dimetrodon'' and Sea reptiles ''were not'' the ancestors of any modern reptile (instead some of them were at the origin of ''bird and mammal groups''). However, there were ''true'' relatives of modern reptilian species in the past as well, and they have existed since the beginning of the Age of Dinosaurs or even before that time (except snakes, which are a rather young group evolutionarily speaking). Some of them were almost identical to their modern descendents, but other had a rather different look (remember that ''all'' animals will evolve over time).

''[[AC:Prehistoric relatives of modern reptiles]]'' *

->In general, most media and even documentaries will go with the larger species of them. Among those alive in the Mesozoic Era, we have the giant sea turtle ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archelon Archelon]]'' and two Giant Crocodilians, "Super Croc" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcosuchus Sarcosuchus]]'' and the giant Alligator ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinosuchus Deinosuchus]]''. Then, giant python-like snakes ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantophis Gigantophis]]'' and the recently described ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanoboa Titanoboa]]'', both lived slightly after the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. More close-to-today choices are the giant monitor lizard ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalania Megalania]]'' and the giant tortoises ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossochelys Colossochelys atlas]]'' and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiolania Meiolania]]''. The smaller relatives are almost never mentioned because [[RuleOfCool they are not spectacular enough]], even though they were more abundant that their gigantic versions, just like what happens to modern animals in general.

''[[AC:Living-fossil reptiles]]'' *

->Some living reptiles may also get a reference as "Living Fossils". The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatara Tuatara]] is the most portrayed example, because is the last survivor of his group. One sometimes can even hear large modern lizards referred as "living dinosaurs" in non-fictional works, most notably the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon Komodo Dragon]].

!!Amphibians

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinthodontia Extinct amphibian groups]]]]'' *

->If ancient amphibians show up at all, there will be only two named species: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyostega Ichthyostega]]'' (classically known as 'the first vertebrate with limbs'), and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eryops Eryops]]'' (with its size/shape that matches that of many pre-Jurassic amphibians). Other species will not be named, but generally belong to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temnospondyli Temnospondyl]] group. They'll usually receive only minimal description, generally amounting to "Giant Amphibian." In books on prehistoric life, species referenced may include ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodonsaurus Mastodonsaurus]]'' , ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacops Cacops]]'' and the boomerang-headed ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplocaulus Diplocaulus]]''. The first will be mentioned for its huge size, the second as being reptile-like, and the latter for its strange head. In old textbooks one may find ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymouria Seymouria]]'' only because it was once believed the 'missing link' between reptiles and amphibians.

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lissamphibia Living amphibian groups]]]]'' *

->But don't expect to see [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triadobatrachus any of]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaurus the ancestors]] of modern frog and salamanders. They'll just sort of "pop" in around the Jurassic period or so. Despite them (and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnophiona caecilians]]) being the only true amphibians, with the previously mentioned animals being different early [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrapod tetrapods]] more or less close to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniote amniotes]] (the group that include mammals, birds and the so-called 'reptiles'), but probably not related with modern amphibians.

!!Fish

With prehistoric fish, the aforementioned Coelacanth is one of the most prominent, as it is a prime example of "living fossil". It's prehistoric relative, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusthenopteron Eusthenopteron]]'', may also be mentioned with it as an ancestor of land vertebrates (but as little else). Ironically, the today most common [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcopterygii relative of land vertebrates]], the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lungfish Lungfish]], appears less frequently.

The only other fish to get a name mention in fiction (or mainstream general prehistoric life sources) are the armored ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkleosteus Dunkleosteus]]'' (named ''Dinichthys'' in older sources) and the shark ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalodon Megalodon]]'' (synonym ''Carcharocles'') --only because they were top predators of their time, though the idea of [[{{Megalodon}} giant sharks rather common]]. Other fish that appear will not be named, but act as a GeniusBonus. [[DontExplainTheJoke For those not up to catching them]], these would include:

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrichthyes Sharks]]]]'' *

->The "Ironing Board" shark ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stethacanthus Stethacanthus]]'', the eel-like freshwater sharks of the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenacanthidae Xenacanthid]]'' family, and the "Switchblade Shark" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybodus Hybodus]]''; if a White-Shark like animal appears amongst seagoing reptiles, it is likely the "Ginsu Shark" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretoxyrhina Cretoxyrhina]]'' (which is a shark that normally grows to the size of the beast in ''{{Jaws}}''). In popular books ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladoselache Cladoselache]]'' is often mentioned as "the first shark".

''[[AC:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinopterygii Ray-finned fish]]]]'' *

->The "Saber toothed herring" ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchodus Enchodus]]'', the 15-20ft long, bulldog-faced ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphactinus Xiphactinus]]'', the gar-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidorhynchus Aspidorhynchus]]'', the stub-faced ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidotes Lepidotes]]'', the herring-like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptolepis Leptolepis]]'', the stocky ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dapedium Dapedium]]'', and the whale like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leedsicthys Leedsicthys]]''. In popular books one may get ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeoniscus Palaeoniscus]]'' and/or ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheirolepis Cheirolepis]]'' mentioned as the "first modern-looking fish", as well as the enigmatic [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthodii Acanthodes]] (the first [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnathostomata fish with jaws]] ever appeared, but not true ray-finned fish), such as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climatius Climatius]]''.

''[[AC:Armor-plated fish]]'' *

->They don't make a natural group but instead an artificial ensemble of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeozoic Paleozoic]] fish with some sort of armor covering part of their body. They are traditionally divided in the more advanced, jawed [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placodermi Placoderms]] and the more ancient, jawless [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracoderm Ostracoderms]] (the latter were among the very first vertebrates ever). Among Placoderms, apart from ''Dunkleosteus'', we can see some type of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothriolepis Bothriolepis]]'', which makes sense--as it is one of the most common fossil fish in history, with 100 different species found on every continent. More rarely a ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccosteus Coccosteus]]'' may appear. Among Ostracoderms, the most commonly portrayed is perhaps ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalaspis Cephalaspis]]'', which appears in "Walking With Monsters" as the stock armored fish. Other common feature in books is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteraspis Pteraspis]]''.

!!Invertebrates

With Invertebrates, things become even more generalized. They rarely appear in fiction, and are almost never named and are usually either Arthropods or Cephalopods.

''[[AC:Prehistoric Invertebrates]]'' *

->Among marine Arthropods, there's generic [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilobite Trilobites]], and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurypterid "Sea Scorpions"]] (usually ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterygotus Pterygotus]])''; among the land-living ones the giant proto-dragonfly ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meganeura Meganeura]]'' and the giant millipede relative ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthropleura Arthropleura]]'', both from the Carboniferous. Their smaller relatives are not striking enough to show up, but some generic specimens may occasionally appear (see below). Among "true" scorpions ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeophonus Palaeophonus]]'' may get a reference in books for being one of the first land animals ever; in recent years, the giant semi-aquatic scorpion ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontoscorpio Brontoscorpio]]'' has been made famous by "Walking With Monsters".

->Among Cephalopods, only [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonite Ammonites]] and, more recently, the nautiloid ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroceras Cameroceras]]'' (another [[WalkingWithDinosaurs WWM]] offspring) may appear in fiction, only for the former's sheer numbers during the Mesozoic and the latter's size. None will receive description beyond a single line--if at all. There is a bit more variety in books; other than generic spiral-shaped Ammonites we can sometimes see cone-shaped nautiloids (like ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthoceras Orthoceras]]'') and generic [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belemnite Belemnites]] (the latter were similar to modern squid lacking an external shell). But don't expect to see other details.

->Other extinct Invertebrates will appear rarely even in illustrated books. Many of them were from the same groups which are still common today (sea urchins, clams, crustaceans, gastropods and so on), while others belong to now-extinct ensembles: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graptolite Graptolites]] (colonial organisms forming floating colonies in the sea), [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homalozoa Homalozoans]] (distant relatives to Vertebrates), [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudists Rudists]] (unusual giant clams) among them. Still others are rare now but very common in fossil record: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachiopoda Brachiopods]] (clam-like in shape but not related with them) and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinoidea Crinoids]] ("sea lilies") are two main examples.

->If [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrian_explosion Cambrian life]] is discussed, it will always feature an ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomalocaris Anomalocaris]]'' or one of its relatives--though a lot of other organisms will appear, usually only to cement [[OurMonstersAreWeird how strange life was back then.]] The stock one are ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opabinia Opabinia]]'', ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucigenia Hallucigenia]]'' and the "first ancestor of vertebrates", ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikaia Pikaia]]''.

''[[AC:Living-fossil Invertebrates]]'' *

->Again, one may see certain modern archaic-looking invertebrates in prehistoric settings: the jellyfish is one of the most common examples, symbolizing ancestral forms of life. Among modern arthropods, examples include dragonflies, scorpions, spiders, centipedes, cockroaches and beetles. A [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weta Weta]] may be used to live-act other ancient insects. Many of these will be portrayed as rather large by modern standards (or [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever exaggerated to be even larger]]): roaches the size of mice or rats, scorpions up to 3ft long and so on. Finally, don't let us to forget two classic "living fossils" among Invertebrates: the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_crab Horseshoe Crab]] (which actually was closer to scorpions and spiders than to crustaceans), and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautilus Nautilus]], sometimes wrongly referred as the "Living Ammonite".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Extinct Plants]]

There is another group of organisms portrayed in fiction, and this is the most generalized of all: plants. ''None of them'' will be ''ever'' mentioned, but tend generally to resemble modern archaic-looking "trees", often palm-like, such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tree_fern tree-ferns]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycad cycads]], and so on. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiosperm Angiosperm trees]] appear more rarely, and tend to be generic-looking. In books on prehistory the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia Magnolia]] is the most-often mentioned as it has already been present in the Cretaceous. Among [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnosperm "gymnosperms"]], the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba Ginkgo]] may get a reference as "living fossil". [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conifer Conifers]] are generally not shown in movies, maybe because they look too "modern" to film-makers, or because they usually are associated with cold climates, while {{Prehistoria}} is ''always'' a very hot world. Anyway, one may encounter Redwoods, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucariaceae Araucarias]], and other primitive conifers in books . Among [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteridophyta plant that don't produce seeds]], we can see generic ferns and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetopsida horsetails]]; in specific [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboniferous Carboniferous]] settings, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidodendron giant]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigillaria lycopods]] show up.

A common mistake in films and sometimes even in books is to portray ''grasslands'' in the Mesozoic Era: however, grassland has appeared only in the middle of the Mammal Age, though grass as a group had already evolved in the Cretaceous, but was sparse and didn't form large associations yet. Although the pop-culture prehistoric landscape is almost always similar to tropical forests and jungles, in RealLife it was very diverse depending to ages and places: indeed many Mesozoic habitats were prevalently arid and desertic.
[[/folder]]