Learning Lists: Jumbled Dinosaur Facts

Dinosaur Facts Unite!

1. Two of the most whimsically named pachycephalosaurs, Stygimoloch spinifer (thorny Moloch of the Styx) and Dracorex hogwartsia (dragon king of Hogwarts) are most likely just juvenile specimens in the genus Pachycephalosaurus.

2. Oviraptor means 'egg thief', as it was believed to steal and eat eggs of other dinosaurs. However, it now appears that they were highly invested nesters. A better name might have been 'Ovimater'.

3. Nine dinosaur genus names start with Q, most of them from China. They are Qantassauru, Qianzhousauru, Qiaowanlong, Qijianlong, Qingxiusaurus, Qinlingosaurus, Qiupalong, Quaesitosaurus, and Quilmesaurus.

4. While the end of the alphabet can be tricky when devising ABC's, there are over 50 dinosaur genus names that start with W, X, Y, or Z. Why not try out Zuniceratops or Yixianosaurus during your next dinosaur board book?

5. The dinosaur with the shortest name is Yi, a theropod from china whose name means 'wing'.

6. The dinosaur with the longest name is Micropachycephalosaurus, a pachycephalosaur whose name means 'small thick-headed lizard'.

7. The first dinosaur discovered was Megalosaurus, a theropod whose name means 'great reptile'.

8. The most recent dinosaurs discovered, all still in press, are Bashosaurus (stegosaur), Dzharaonyx (theropod), Guemesia (theropod). Ondogurvel (theropod), Tyrannosaurus imperator, and Tyrannosaurus regina.

9. Unknown A's and teeth? Four dinosaurs that start with the letter 'A' are known from a single tooth: Alocodon, Altispinax, Amygdalodon, and Aublysodon.

10. Well-known A and no teeth? Anodontosaurus, an ankylosaur whose name means 'toothless lizard', is known from at least 15 skulls and several nearly complete skeletons.

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