Continent: Africa

Dinosaurs of Africa

Featuring the Bahariya and Kem Kem deltaic systems of North Africa, home to colossal riverine theropods and unique freshwater ecosystems.

Cataloged Specimens from Africa (11 total)

Theropoda

Cretaceous PeriodCarnivore

Carcharodontosaurus

Carcharodontosaurus saharicus Depéret & Savornin, 1925

The 'shark-toothed lizard', a colossal North African apex predator rivaling Tyrannosaurus in length.

11.5–13 m (37.7–42.7 ft)

6.0–9.0 metric tons (13,228–19,842 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Dicraeosaurus

Dicraeosaurus hansemanni Janensch, 1914

A specialized short-necked diplodocoid from Late Jurassic Tanzania bearing tall, bifurcated dorsal spines.

12–14 m (39.4–45.9 ft)

4.0–6.0 metric tons (8,818–13,228 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Giraffatitan

Giraffatitan brancai Janensch, 1914

A towering, high-browsing brachiosaurid sauropod from the Late Jurassic Tendaguru beds of Tanzania.

22–25 m (72.2–82.0 ft)

30.0–45.0 metric tons (66,139–99,208 lbs)

Stegosauria

Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Kentrosaurus

Kentrosaurus aethiopicus Hennig, 1915

A spiky East African stegosaur equipped with dermal plates along its neck and long sharp spikes along its back and hips.

4–5 m (13.1–16.4 ft)

0.7–1.2 metric tons (1,543–2,646 lbs)

Theropoda

Cretaceous PeriodCarnivore

Majungasaurus

Majungasaurus crenatissimus Lavocat, 1955

A stocky, cannibalistic abelisaurid from Late Cretaceous Madagascar sporting a single midline horn on its skull.

6–7 m (19.7–23.0 ft)

1.0–1.5 metric tons (2,205–3,307 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Triassic PeriodHerbivore

Melanorosaurus

Melanorosaurus readi Haughton, 1924

A massive, quadrupedal basal sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic of South Africa.

7–8.5 m (23.0–27.9 ft)

1.8–3.2 metric tons (3,968–7,055 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Nigersaurus

Nigersaurus taqueti Sereno et al., 1999

The 'Mesozoic lawnmower', a specialized sauropod with a wide, straight-edged mouth and 500 replaceable teeth.

8.5–9.5 m (27.9–31.2 ft)

3.5–4.5 metric tons (7,716–9,921 lbs)

Ornithopoda

Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Ouranosaurus

Ouranosaurus nigeriensis Taquet, 1976

The 'brave lizard', an unusual African iguanodontian bearing a high dorsal sail and camel-like fat hump.

7–8.3 m (23.0–27.2 ft)

2.0–3.5 metric tons (4,409–7,716 lbs)

Featured SpecimenTheropoda

Cretaceous PeriodPiscivore

Spinosaurus

Spinosaurus aegyptiacus Stromer, 1915

A giant sail-backed theropod possessing anatomical specializations associated with riparian ecosystems, with its aquatic locomotion subject to ongoing scientific debate.

13–14.5 m (42.7–47.6 ft)

6.5–8.0 metric tons (14,330–17,637 lbs)

Theropoda

Cretaceous PeriodPiscivore

Suchomimus

Suchomimus tenerensis Sereno et al., 1998

A massive spinosaurid predator with crocodile-like jaws and a low dorsal sail that stalked Cretaceous Niger.

9.5–11 m (31.2–36.1 ft)

2.5–4.0 metric tons (5,512–8,818 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Vulcanodon

Vulcanodon karibaensis Raath, 1972

An archaic Early Jurassic basal sauropod discovered beneath volcanic lava beds in Zimbabwe.

6–7.5 m (19.7–24.6 ft)

3.0–4.5 metric tons (6,614–9,921 lbs)