The first dinosaurs appeared around 225 million years ago (mya) in a time known as the Mesozoic Era. Scientists divide this era into 3 periods: the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.
Select a section of the timeline below to see dinosaurs that lived then.
| NAME (GENUS) | TAXONOMY | BODY SHAPE |
|---|---|---|
| Agilisaurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Cerapoda, Ornithopoda, Euornithopoda |
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| Allosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Tetanurae, Avetherapoda, Carnosauria, Allosauroidea, Allosauridae |
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| Apatosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Diplodocoidea, Diplodocidae |
|
| Archaeopteryx | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Tetanurae, Avetherapoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptoria, Avialae, Archaeopterygidae |
|
| Barosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Diplodocoidea, Diplodocidae |
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| Brachiosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Macronaria, Camarasauromorpha, Titanosauriformes, Brachiosauridae |
|
| Camarasaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Macronaria, Camarasauromorpha, Camarasauridae |
|
| Camptosaurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Cerapoda, Ornithopoda, Euornithopoda, Iguanadontia, Euiguanadontia, Dryomorpha, Ankylopollexia |
|
| Ceratosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Ceratosauria, Neoceratosauria |
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| Chaoyangsaurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Cerapoda, Marginocephalia, Ceratopsia, Neoceratopsia |
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| Chialingosaurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Thyreophora, Stegosauria, Stegosauridae, Stegosaurinae |
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| Chinshakiangosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda |
|
| Chirostenotes | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Tetanurae, Avetherapoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Oviraptorosauria, Caenagnathoidea, Caenagnathidae |
|
| Chungkingosaurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Thyreophora, Stegosauria, Stegosauridae, Stegosaurinae |
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| Coelurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Tetanurae, Avetherapoda, Coelurosauria |
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| Compsognathus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Tetanurae, Avetherapoda, Coelurosauria, Compsognathidae |
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| Dacentrurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Thyreophora, Stegosauria, Stegosauridae |
|
| Dicraeosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Diplodocoidea, Dicraeosauridae |
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| Diplodocus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Diplodocoidea, Diplodocidae |
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| Dryosaurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Cerapoda, Ornithopoda, Euornithopoda, Iguanadontia, Euiguanadontia, Dryomorpha, Dryosauridae |
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| Dubreuillosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Tetanurae, Spinosauroidea, Megalosauridae, Eustreptospondylinae |
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| Elaphrosaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotherapoda, Ceratosauria, Neoceratosauria |
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| Euhelopus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda |
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| Europasaurus | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Macronaria |
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| Gargoyleosaurus | Dinosauria, Ornithischia, Genasauria, Thyreophora, Ankylosauromorpha, Ankylosauria |
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