The 10 longest dinosaur names are revealed. (2023)

Dinosaurs have long captivated us because of their enormous size and enigmatic existence. Their distinctive names, which are frequently tongue twisters, are one feature that makes them even more interesting. Since most dinosaurs only have a scientific name, unlike creatures of the present day, their names are lengthy. It can be difficult to pronounce some dinosaur names since they are so long and complicated.

The top 10 longest names given to dinosaurs are examined in the list below. Get ready to learn about the longest and most unusual names in the field of paleontology as you increase your knowledge of dinosaurs.

Micropachycephalosaurus

Here it is: Micropachycephalosaurus, the dinosaur with the longest name ever. This 23-letter moniker denotes a little reptile with a thick head. The late Cretaceous era produced these tiny creatures, which were discovered in Asia. They were more closely linked to horned dinosaurs like triceratops and had a distinctive skull form.

These diminutive dinosaurs were just 2.5 feet long on average (0.8 meters). Despite their diminutive size, Micropachycephalosaurus were ferocious hunters. With their razor-sharp teeth, they probably hunted in packs and gorged on tiny reptiles and animals. They were not to be messed with, despite their diminutive size.

These dinosaurs are thought to have inhabited the Earth circa 69 million years ago based on fossils found in China's Shandong Province.

Carcharodontosaurus

The 19-letter name of the Carcharodontosaurus translates to "shark teeth lizard." 165 million years ago, this creature walked the Earth. Its strong jaw and razor-sharp teeth made it a dangerous predator capable of inflicting serious injuries on its prey. It's thought that this animal hunted mostly using its eyes, however it might have also used its nose to find its next meal.

The fossil record of the Carcharodontosaurus was initially scant. Paleontologists are forced to rely on literary descriptions because World War II destroyed the predator's fossils. However, more substantial remains than the initial specimen were found in 1996.

The hunt of The Frightful One #Daspletosaurus #Struthiomimus #paleoart #dinosaur #art pic.twitter.com/0pfT41R1Gi

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This enormous predator, which coexisted with the giganotosaurus in the mid-Cretaceous, was almost the same size. It may have measured 44 feet in length and seven tonnes in weight. It was a top predator in its era thanks to its ferocious jaws, which were lined with eight-inch serrated teeth.

Archaeornithomimus

Theropod Archaeornithomimus (18 letters), which lived around 80 million years ago in what is now Mongolia, has one of the longest dinosaur names. It was around 10 feet (3 metres) long and 500 pounds (227 kg) in weight. The Greek terms "ancient" and "Ornithomimids," which translate to "bird mimic," are the origin of the name "Archie's." In 1972, Archaeornithomimus fossils were found in Uzbekistan and Mongolia.

The Ornithomimid family includes Archaeornithomimus, one of the most avian-like dinosaurs ever to exist. These dinosaurs had small heads and long legs, and their jaws resembled beaks. They were quite light and quick runners, therefore it's probable they could run on both two and four legs.

When we examine this dinosaur, we can see how dinosaurs evolved into birds. It is recognised as one of the earliest dinosaurs to have shared a relationship with birds.

Eustreptospondylus

In the late Jurassic era, the theropod known as the Eustreptospondylus roamed the regions of southern England. Its name, which is composed of 18 characters and is a translation of the Greek word for "genuine, well-curved vertebrae," is a reference to the distinctive skeletal structure of the creature.

The Eustreptospondylus was previously believed to be a species of megalosaurus when it was discovered in 1870, which was before the development of accurate dinosaur classification systems. But in 1964, it was officially designated as a distinct genus.

This bipedal carnivore was about 15 feet long and weighed around 1,000 pounds. It had short forelimbs and large muscular rear limbs. The Eustreptospondylus belonged to the Stegosauridae family, which also contains well-known dinosaurs like the triceratops and stegosaurus. It was distinguished by its armoured plates and spiky tail.

The Eustreptospondylus was a fearsome predator, utilising its keen teeth and claws to tear apart its victim despite being smaller than other members of its family. It distinguishes itself from other members of the Stegosauridae family thanks to its distinctive skeletal structure and the precise amount and location of spikes along its spine.

Pachycephalosaurs

During the late Cretaceous epoch in North America, the pachycephalosaurs coexisted with other enormous dinosaurs. It is not thought to be linked to the Micropachycephalosaurus despite having a name that sounds similar. Pachycephalosaurs is an 18-letter name that meaning "thick-headed lizard" in English.

The huge, rounded skull of the pachycephalosaurs, which was initially mistaken for the kneecaps of larger dinosaurs, was the first part of the animal to leave behind fossils. Its remains may have been discovered as early as the 1850s in southeast Montana, and the dinosaur has a history of contradictory interpretations.

Uncertainty surrounds the pachycephalosaurs' nutrition. Because of its small, ridged teeth, it was unlikely to have been able to eat tough, fibrous materials like flowering bushes.

Although it was once thought that sauropods were only herbivorous, new information has caused scientists to reevaluate this notion. According to fossil evidence, this specific dinosaur may have eaten a variety of leaves, fruits, and seeds as well as perhaps including meat in its diet.

The discovery of a complete fossil jaw with front teeth that resemble the serrated, blade-like teeth of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs lends credibility to this notion. This discovery has inspired a fresh round of inquiry and theories regarding the diets of sauropods.

A large member of the pachycephalosaur family, the pachycephalosaurs, most likely had two legs. This dinosaur was thought to have been the largest of its type, measuring approximately 15 feet long and weighing between 820 and 990 pounds. It made a significant impact on the prehistoric landscape during its time as a powerful presence.

Opisthocoelicaudia

Scientists from Poland and Mongolia made the spectacular discovery of the Opisthocoelicaudia (18 letters), a magnificent sauropod from the late Cretaceous epoch, in 1965. During the Cretaceous epoch, this amazing 39-foot-long dinosaur roamed the planet. Its ruins were discovered in Mongolia's Gobi Desert, which was previously covered in lush jungles and murky marshes but is now a desolate area. The discovery of this extinct animal provides a window into the past and an opportunity to comprehend the variety of life that predated humans by millions of years.

The new genus that Borsuk-Biaynicka discovered in 1977 was previously thought to be a camarasaur. Salgado and Coria, two paleontologists, categorised the species as a saltasaurid titanosaur in 1993 despite the fact that study was still ongoing at the time. However, the corpse had disintegrated before being buried, and the fossilized remains were fragmentary, lacking a skull and neck. As a result, scientists only have a vague idea of what the creature's head and neck would have looked like.

The discovery's incompleteness prompts new inquiries and provides a window into the intricacy of primordial existence. According to Borsuk-Biaynicka, tyrannosaurids may have scavenged the cadaver because tooth impressions on the pelvis and femur were found.

Opisthocoelicaudia skeletal structure is notable for having a substantial amount of ligament and muscle tissue on its tail, comparable to that of many other tyrannosaur's. This causes the tail to tilt slightly upward rather than downward, suggesting that it may have been employed as a support to create a tripod with the dinosaur's hind limbs in order to reach high foliage.

Panamericansaurus

Argentina was home to a titan saurian sauropod dinosaur known as the Panamericansaurus (17 letters) in the late Cretaceous. In 2010, Jorge Orlando Calvo and Juan Domingo Porfiri gave this dinosaur its name and a description. The paleontological inquiries and study were financially financed by Pan American Energy.

This species, which now bears the name of the energy firm, provides a window into the past and the variety of life that predated millions of years ago.

The holotype, MUCPv-417, was discovered in 2003 and consists of a left humerus, rib fragments, five tail vertebrae, a sacral vertebra, and haemal arches. Based on the fact that the humerus is 48 inches long, experts calculate that the entire dinosaur would have been 36 feet long.

This remarkable find gives a window into the past and significant insights into the size and structure of this extinct creature.

Brachylophosaurus

Mid-sized Hadrosaurid Brachylophosaurus, also referred to as the "short-crested lizard," lived between 81 and 76.7 million years ago. A number of skeletons and bonebed material have been discovered in the Wahweap Formation of Utah, the Oldman Formation of Alberta, and the Judith River Formation of Montana. This dinosaur was given a 17-letter name.

This dinosaur, which continues to captivate scientists and dinosaur lovers alike, has a distinctive crest that has shed light on the variety of life that existed during the late Cretaceous period.

The feeding preferences of the Brachylophosaurus have been clarified by a recent examination of the famous dinosaur mummy Leonardo. According to the study, this dinosaur consumed a wide variety of vegetation, including conifers, ferns, leaves, and blooming plants like magnolias. The results show that the Brachylophosaurus was a generalist herbivore, capable of modifying its diet through grazing and browsing, but it mostly relied on browsing. The Indianapolis Children's Museum is home to this dinosaur mummy.

Its unusually small head is one of its most distinguishing characteristics, which was odd for a dinosaur of its size. It was notable also by the remarkable length of its lower arms. Its upper jaw's beak was also wider than that of other hadrosaurs of the same era.

It was taller than its peers and at least 30 feet long as an adult, making it a commanding presence in the prehistoric environment.

Gigantspinosaurus

The unusual stegosaur Gigantspinosaurus was distinguished from its cousins by the size of its shoulder spikes. These spikes might have been used for defence or to entice mates. The Stegosauria family is thought to have started in Asia before moving to Africa, Europe, and North America.

Paleontologist Ouyang Hui made the initial Gigantspinosaurus find in 1985 at Pengtang, close to Jinquan. It was once thought to be a specimen of Tuojiangosaurus, but Gao Ruiqi and colleagues correctly identified it in 1986. In an abstract of a presentation from 1992, Ouyang identified and described the species as Gigantspinosaurus Sichuaneses.

This dinosaur was estimated to have been 14 feet long and weigh 1,500 pounds in 2010.

The dinosaur was a marvel of nature, possessing distinct physical traits that distinguished it from other animals. The shoulder spines, which were noticeably larger and had bases that were twice as long as their shoulder blades, stood out sharply in contrast to the diminutive dorsal plates. Its comparatively big head and 30 teeth in each lower jaw, as well as the triangular plates on its neck, contributed to its distinctive appearance.

The 17-letter name Gigantspinosaurus means "giant-spine lizard."

Haplocanthosaurus

The interesting genus of intermediate sauropod dinosaurs known as Haplocanthosaurus, with its 17-letter name that translates to "simple spined lizard," lived between 152-155 million years ago. Since a skull specimen has not yet been discovered, a fragmentary dinosaur skeleton and a facsimile skull can be seen at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

The Morrison Formation's Haplocanthosaurus was a comparatively diminutive sauropod, growing to a maximum length of only 49 feet. In contrast, certain Morrison sauropods may reach lengths of over 66 feet.

It is thought that rugged mountains, dense forests, and grasslands made up these dinosaurs' environment. They were social creatures who huddled together.

In general, sauropods were herbivores that consumed plants and leaves. In contrast to larger sauropods, which ate from the tallest trees, Haplocanthosaurus was likely smaller, hence it probably consumed plants that were closer to the ground. Its wide, flat teeth were useful for chewing plant material.