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) | Years (million years ago) | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
![]() |
||
| Amygdalodon | 177 - 169 mya | |
| Bellusaurus | 180 - 159 mya | |
| Brachytrachelopan | 150 - ? mya | |
| Cetiosauriscus | 175 - 160 mya | |
| Cetiosaurus | 170 - 160 mya | |
| Datousaurus | 170 - ? mya | |
| Emausaurus | 190 - 180 mya | |
| Eustreptospondylus | 165 - ? mya | |
| Gasosaurus | 170 - 160 mya | |
| Huayangosaurus | 170 - 160 mya | |
| Lapparentosaurus | 169 - 164 mya | |
| Megalosaurus | 170 - 155 mya | |
| Monolophosaurus | 180 - 159 mya | |
| Nqwebasaurus | 159 - 132 mya | |
| Omeisaurus | 169 - 159 mya | |
| Patagosaurus | 164 - 159 mya | |
| Podokesaurus | 195 - 180 mya | |
| Poekilopleuron | 169 - 164 mya | |
| Proceratosaurus | 169 - 164 mya | |
| Rhoetosaurus | 177 - 169 mya | |
| Segisaurus | 195 - 180 mya | |
| Shunosaurus | 170 - 160 mya | |
| Sinraptor | 169 - 142 mya | |
| Yandusaurus | 169 - 159 mya | |
| Yinlong | 159 - 154 mya |