Dinosaurs of North America

05Mesozoic

A deep skull, bone-crushing bite and keen senses made it one of the last giant theropods.

Western North America

06Mesozoic

Three horns and a broad frill formed a formidable display and defense system.

Western North America

07Mesozoic

Tall back plates and a four-spiked tail made this low-browsing herbivore unmistakable.

Western North America

10Mesozoic

Body armor and a heavy tail club turned a plant-eater into a walking fortress.

Western North America

11Mesozoic

Its long hollow crest may have carried low calls across forests and floodplains.

North America

40Mesozoic

A lightweight skull and serrated teeth equipped this large predator for repeated slashing bites.

Western North America

41Mesozoic

Long forelimbs lifted its shoulders and neck toward the Jurassic canopy.

Western North America

42Mesozoic

A whip-like tail balanced an extremely long neck on this lightly built giant.

Western North America

45Mesozoic

A stiff tail, grasping hands and enlarged foot claw made an agile feathered hunter.

Western North America

48Mesozoic

A thick dome of bone crowned the skull of this two-legged herbivore.

Western North America

51Mesozoic

A slender, hollow-boned hunter was among the early successful dinosaurs.

Southwestern North America

53Mesozoic

Paired head crests advertised this agile predator; there is no evidence for venom or a neck frill.

Southwestern North America

88Mesozoic

A broad duck bill and dense dental batteries processed huge amounts of vegetation.

Western North America

107Mesozoic

This huge, robust dromaeosaur used strength and a curved second-toe claw to control prey.

Western North America · Present-day Utah

224Mesozoic

Tall neural spines along the neck and back supported a muscular ridge rather than a paper-thin sail.

River plains and open woodland · North America

227Mesozoic

A huge nasal horn and long spikes radiating from the frill made one of the most dramatic ceratopsian heads.

Coastal plains · Alberta, Canada

228Mesozoic

Fifteen horn-like ornaments across the nose, brows and broad frill formed a folded crown around the skull.

Island coastal plain · Utah, USA

271Mesozoic

A nasal horn, brow ridges and small midline osteoderms made this predator unmistakable.

River plains · North America

272Mesozoic

A huge skull and unusually powerful three-fingered arms marked one of the largest megalosaurids.

River plains and open woodland · North America

275Mesozoic

A solid spike-like crest projected behind the skull and probably carried a strong visual signal.

River plains · Alberta, Canada

276Mesozoic

A helmet-shaped hollow crest contained looping nasal passages that could shape resonant calls.

Coastal plains · Alberta, Canada

277Mesozoic

Its hatchet-shaped hollow crest changed dramatically as the animal matured.

Rivers and coastal forests · Alberta, Canada

278Mesozoic

A massive nasal boss replaced the long horn seen in many ceratopsians.

High-latitude river plains · Western Canada

279Mesozoic

Long shoulder spikes and dense armor protected one of the largest nodosaurids.

River forests and open plains · North America