Dinosaurs evolved partway through the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, around 230 Ma (million years ago). At that time, the earth had one supercontinental landmass, called Pangaea, of which Europe was a part. By the start of the Jurassic period, some 30 million years later, the supercontinent began to split into Laurasia and Gondwana. The largest inlet from Panthalassa, the superocean that surrounded Pangaea, was called the Tethys Ocean, and as this inlet cut deeper into the supercontinent, much of Europe was flooded. By the Cretaceous, from 145 to 66 million years ago, the continents were beginning to approach their present shapes, but not their present positions, and Europe remained tropical. At times, it was a chain of island-microcontinents including Baltica and Iberia. Europe is relatively rich in fossils from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and much of what is known about European dinosaurs dates from this time. During the Maastrichtian the end of the Cretaceous dinosaurs were dominating western and Central Europe as the Tremp Formation in Spain dates back to that age. Examples of dinosaurs from Maastrichtian Europe are Struthiosaurus and Canardia.
Criteria for inclusion The genus must appear on the List of dinosaur genera. At least one named species of the creature must have been found in Europe.
List of European dinosaurs
Valid genera
Invalid and potentially valid genera
Agrosaurus macgillivrayi: Originally mistakenly thought to be from Australia. It is now thought to be more likely from England and possibly a synonym of Thecodontosaurus. Archaeopteryx: A well-known taxon that combines bird-like pennaceous feathers with the teeth, claws and long tail of reptiles. It is usually considered a basal avialan but it might also be a non-avian deinonychosaur closely related to dromaeosaurids. Balaur bondoc: A strange paravian that possessed a suite of unique features, such as robust muscles, two sickle claws, a didactyl manus and a deep gut. It may have been an island-dwelling herbivore or omnivore. Studies show it either as a dromaeosaurid (possibly a velociraptorine or unenlagiine) or a basal avialan. It may be a synonym of Elopteryx. "Bihariosaurus bauxiticus": Although sometimes presented as a valid taxon, it is actually a nomen nudum. Ceratosaurus: Some specimens, mostly teeth, from Portugal and Switzerland have been assigned to this genus, but not to a specific species. Darwinsaurus evolutionis: May be a synonym of either Hypselospinus or Mantellisaurus. Delapparentia turolensis: Said to be a junior synonym of Iguanodon, but a 2026 study regarded it to be distinct from that genus, being more closely related to Magnamanus. Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis: Possibly a second species of Supersaurus. Elopteryx nopcsai: Has been placed in different maniraptoran groups throughout history. A recent study suggests an avialan position for the taxon based on new fossil material. Gresslyosaurus: Often thought to be synonymous with Plateosaurus, although several differences between them have been noted. Huxleysaurus hollingtoniensis: Potentially a synonym of Hypselospinus. "Ischyrosaurus": The generic name Ischyrosaurus is preoccupied. The dinosaur may be a synonym of Ornithopsis. Koutalisaurus kohlerorum: Usually seen as a synonym of Pararhabdodon, but it could also be its own taxon. Kukufeldia tilgatensis: May be a synonym of Barilium. "Liassaurus huenei": Could potentially be a second specimen of Sarcosaurus. Lusitanosaurus liasicus: Although originally described as an early thyreophoran, later research has questioned this assignment and considered it a non-dinosaurian archosauromorph. Mantellodon carpenteri: Known from a single specimen from Maidstone affectionally nicknamed a "Mantell-piece". While originally thought to be a specimen of Iguanodon, it may in fact be a synonym of Mantellisaurus. Oligosaurus adelus: May be synonymous with Mochlodon. Ornithomerus gracilis: May be synonymous with Mochlodon. Pachysauriscus ajax: Usually seen as a synonym of Plateosaurus, but a 2023 review considered it distinct. Pantydraco caducus: Originally named as a species of Thecodontosaurus and indeed it may belong to that genus. Polacanthoides ponderosus: Potentially a synonym of Hylaeosaurus, Polacanthus or both (a chimera). Proplanicoxa galtoni: May be a junior synonym of Mantellisaurus. Rhadinosaurus alcimus: Suggested to be synonymous with Struthiosaurus, but it might have been a crocodilian instead. Sellacoxa pauli: Possibly synonymous with Barilium. Stegosaurus: Some bones from Portugal have been assigned to this genus, but not to a particular species. Suchosaurus: Two species have been named, both from teeth. They are indistinguishable from those of baryonychines and may in fact belong to Baryonyx. Taveirosaurus costai: Only known from teeth. Initially thought to be an ornithischian but it might be a eutriconodont mammal instead. Therosaurus: This genus was named to accommodate the original type species of Iguanodon, I. anglicus. However, it was named before the type species was transferred to I. bernissartensis, so it remains a junior synonym of Iguanodon. Valdoraptor oweni: Potentially a junior synonym of Thecocoelurus. Wellnhoferia grandis: May be another specimen of Archaeopteryx. Yaverlandia bitholus: Originally believed to be a pachycephalosaur on account of its domed forehead, but later reexamination found it to be a maniraptoran. A second specimen described in 2026 showed that it also has similarities with crocodyliforms.
Timeline This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.
See also
Category: Cretaceous paleontological sites of Europe List of European birds List of dinosaur finds in the United Kingdom
Notes
