Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles that first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago. They became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates after the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event 201.3 million years ago, and their dominance continued throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record demonstrates that birds are modern feathered dinosaurs, having evolved from earlier theropods during the Late Jurassic. Birds were therefore the only dinosaur lineage to survive the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event approximately 66 million years ago, and constitute the only known living dinosaurs. This list of dinosaurs is a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been considered to be non-avialan dinosaurs, but also includes some dinosaurs of disputed status as non-avian, as well as purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accepted genera, but also genera that are now considered invalid, doubtful (nomen dubium), or were not formally published (nomen nudum), as well as junior synonyms and genera that are no longer considered dinosaurs. Many listed names have been reclassified as everything from true birds to crocodilians to petrified wood. The list contains 1,863 names, of which approximately 1,424 are considered either valid dinosaur genera or nomina dubia.
Scope and terminology There is no official, canonical list of all non-avian dinosaur genera. The closest is the Dinosaur Genera List, compiled by biological nomenclature expert George Olshevsky, which was first published online in 1995 and was regularly updated until June 2021. The most authoritative general source in the field is the second (2004) edition of The Dinosauria. The vast majority of names listed below are sourced to Olshevsky's list, and all subjective determinations (such as junior synonymy or non-dinosaurian status) are based on The Dinosauria, except where they conflict with primary literature. These exceptions are noted. Naming conventions and terminology follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Technical terms used include:
Junior synonym: A name which describes the same taxon as a previously published name. If two or more genera are formally designated and the type specimens are later assigned to the same genus, the first to be published (in chronological order) is the senior synonym, and all other instances are junior synonyms. Senior synonyms are generally used, except by special decision of the ICZN (see Tyrannosaurus), but junior synonyms cannot be used again for a different genus, even if deprecated. Junior synonymy is often subjective, unless the genera described were both based on the same type specimen. Nomen nudum (Latin for "naked name"): A name that has appeared in print but has not yet been formally published by the standards of the ICZN. Nomina nuda (the plural form) are invalid, and are therefore not italicized as a proper generic name would be. If the name is later formally published, that name is no longer a nomen nudum and will be italicized on this list. Often, the formally published name will differ from any nomina nuda that describe the same specimen. Nomen oblitum (Latin for "forgotten name"): A name that has not been used in the scientific community for more than fifty years after its original proposal. Nomen manuscriptum (Latin for "manuscript name"): A name that appears in manuscript of a formal publication that has no scientific backing. Preoccupied name: A name that is formally published, but which has already been used for another taxon. This second use is invalid (as are all subsequent uses) and the name must be replaced. Preoccupied names are not valid generic names. Nomen dubium (Latin for "dubious name"): A name describing a fossil with no unique diagnostic features. As this can be an extremely subjective and controversial designation (see Hadrosaurus), no genera should be marked as such on this list.
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Aachenosaurus – subsequently found to be a piece of petrified wood Aardonyx Abdarainurus Abditosaurus Abelisaurus Abrictosaurus Abrosaurus Abydosaurus Acantholipan Acanthopholis Achelousaurus Acheroraptor Achillesaurus Achillobator Acristavus Acrocanthosaurus
Acrotholus Actiosaurus – subsequently found to be a choristoderan Adamantisaurus Adasaurus Adelolophus Adeopapposaurus Adratiklit Adynomosaurus Aegyptosaurus Aeolosaurus Aepisaurus Aepyornithomimus Aerosteon Aetonyx – possible junior synonym of Massospondylus Afromimus Afrovenator Agathaumas – possible synonym of Triceratops Aggiosaurus – subsequently found to be a metriorhynchid crocodilian Agilisaurus Agnosphitys – possibly non-dinosaurian Agrosaurus – probably a junior synonym of Thecodontosaurus Agujaceratops Agustinia Ahshislepelta Ahshislesaurus Ahvaytum "Airakoraptor" – nomen nudum; Kuru Ajancingenia – synonym of Heyuannia Ajkaceratops Ajnabia Akainacephalus Alamosaurus "Alamotyrannus" – nomen nudum "Alashansaurus" – nomen nudum; Shaochilong Alaskacephale Albalophosaurus Albertaceratops Albertadromeus Albertavenator Albertonykus Albertosaurus Albinykus Albisaurus – subsequently found to be a non-dinosaurian reptile Alcovasaurus – possible junior synonym of Miragaia Alectrosaurus Aletopelta
Algoasaurus Alioramus Aliwalia – junior synonym of Eucnemesaurus Allosaurus Almas Alnashetri Alocodon Alpkarakush Altirhinus Altispinax Alvarezsaurus Alwalkeria – possibly non-dinosaurian Alxasaurus Amanasaurus – possibly non-dinosaurian Amanzia Amargasaurus "Amargastegos" – nomen nudum Amargatitanis Amazonsaurus Ambopteryx Ammosaurus – junior synonym of Anchisaurus Ampelognathus Ampelosaurus Amphicoelias "Amphicoelicaudia" – nomen nudum; synonym of Huabeisaurus "Amphisaurus" – preoccupied name, now known as Anchisaurus Amtocephale Amtosaurus – possible junior synonym of Talarurus Amurosaurus Amygdalodon Anabisetia Analong Anasazisaurus Anatosaurus – junior synonym of Edmontosaurus Anatotitan – junior synonym of Edmontosaurus Anchiceratops Anchiornis Anchisaurus Andesaurus
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