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Time Line - dinosaur originations
Below is a list of stage-by-stage appearances of major dinosaur groups
(mostly families). A seperate message (probably next week) will include
dinosaur extinctions.
Maastrichtian no change at familial level
Campanian First Ornithomimidae, Tyrannosauridae, Elmisauridae,
Avimimidae, Oviraptoridae, Noasauridae (Theropoda),
Pachycephalosauridae, Homalocephalidae
(Pachycephalosauria),
Centrosaurinae, Chasmosaurinae (Ceratopsidae)
Santonian nothing new known (many previously-thought Santonian
sites
are
now considered early Campanian)
Coniacian Advanced coelurosaur-like abelisauroids (Alvarezsaurus,
Velocisaurus)
Turonian First Oviraptorosauria (Theropoda), Hadrosauridae
(Ornithopoda), Protoceratopsidae, Ceratopsidae
(Ceratopsia),
Cenomanian nothing new known
Albian nothing new known
Aptian First Abelisauridae,Troodontidae, Therizinosauroidea
(Theropoda), Ankylosauridae (Ankylosauria),
Psittacosauridae
(first Ceratopsia: Marginocephalia)
Barremian First Dromaeosauridae, Spinosauridae (Theropoda),
?Pachycephalosauria (Marginocephalia)
Hauterivian nothing new known
Valanginian nothing new known
Berriasian First Ornithomimosauria (Theropoda), Iguanodontidae
(Ornithopoda), Stenopelix (first Marginocephalia)
Tithonian nothing new known
Kimmeridgian First birds, best early Coelurosauria (Compsognathus
Ornitholestes, Coelurus, etc.: Theropoda), Titanosauria
(Sauropoda), Polacanthidae (Ankylosauria), Iguanodontia
(Camptosaurus, Dryosaurus: Ornithopoda)
Oxfordian First Camarasauridae, Euhelopidae (Sauropoda)
Callovian First Allosauridae (Theropoda), Nodosauridae (first
Ankylosauria),
Hypsilophodontidae (Ornithopoda)
Bathonian First Brachiosauridae (Sauropoda), Stegosauridae
(Stegosauria)
Bajocian First Cetiosauridae, Diplodocidae (Sauropoda)
Aalenian First Megalosauridae (Theropoda)
Toarcian nothing new known
Pliesbachian First Anchisauridae (Prosauropoda), Stegosauria
(Thyreophora)
Sinemurian First Ceratosauridae? (Sarcosaurus: Theropoda), First
Thyreophora (Scuttelosaurus, Scelidosauridae),
Hettangian First Dilophosaurus (Theropoda) Massospondylidae,
Yunnanosauridae (Prosauropoda), Vulcanodontidae
(?Sauropoda),
Heterodontosauridae (Ornithopoda)
Rhaetian nothing new known
Norian First Plateosauridae, Melanorosauridae (both
Prosauropoda)
Carnian First true dinosaurs: Theropoda (Eoraptor,
Herrerasauridae,
Coelophysoidea), Prosauropoda (Thecodontosauridae),
Ornithischia (Pisanosaurus)
Ladinian First dinosauromorphs (Lagerpeton, Marasuchus, etc.)
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile Phone: 703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey FAX: 703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA 22092
U.S.A.