Oviraptor was a small theropod dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period. Discovered in the Gobi Desert around a century ago, Oviraptor was given the name “egg thief”, as it was found alongside some fossilized eggs. The dinosaur is now believed to have been brooding the eggs, rather than stealing them.

As well as its probable nesting behavior, Oviraptor had other bird-like features such as a toothless beak and a covering of feathers.

Read on to find out more about this distinctive Cretaceous dinosaur…

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Deinonychus was a predatory dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous Period. Its name, which means “terrible claw”, refers to the large, sickle-shaped claws on each hind foot.

The “Velociraptors” depicted in Jurassic Park were actually modelled on Deinonychus, rather than the true Velociraptor, which was significantly smaller.

Read on to find out more about the “true” hero of Jurassic Park…

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Huayangosaurus was a mid-sized stegosaurid dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic period. Discovered in the fossil beds of Sichuan Province, China, this herbivorous dinosaur roamed the Earth approximately 165 million years ago. With its distinctive bony plates and defensive tail and shoulder spikes, Huayangosaurus is one of the earliest known stegosaurids.

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Compsognathus, a small but fascinating dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, has captivated dinosaur enthusiasts since its discovery in the mid-19th century.

Compsognathus is primarily known for its small size; for many years it was the smallest-known dinosaur, and is often compared to a modern chicken in size (smaller dinosaurs, such as Microraptor and Parvicursor have subsequently been discovered).

All that is known about Compsognathus comes from two well-preserved fossils, one of which was found in the Solnhofen limestone of Germany; the other in the Portland limestone of France.

Read on to find out more facts about this diminutive dinosaur…

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Camptosaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur that roamed North America during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 157 to 145 million years ago.

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Riojasaurus was a sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Late Triassic Period. Discovered in the La Rioja Province of Argentina by paleontologist José Fernando Bonaparte in 1969, Riojasaurus stands out for its substantial size and robust build.

As one of the earlier members of the lineage that would give rise to the colossal sauropods of later periods, Riojasaurus provides invaluable insights into the adaptations and lifestyles of early herbivorous dinosaurs.

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Camposaurus was an early theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period in North America. Very little is known about this bipedal predator, which was discovered in Arizona, USA, as only limited fossil remains have been discovered.

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Alwalkeria was an early saurischian dinosaur from the Late Triassic period. The only known Alwalkeria specimen to have been discovered offers a fascinating glimpse into the early stages of dinosaur evolution.

Discovered in the Maleri Formation of India, this small, agile omnivore lived approximately 228 to 200 million years ago.

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Barosaurus was a giant, plant-eating sauropod dinosaur that lived in North America in the Late Jurassic Period, approximately 155 to 150 million years ago.

This enormous dinosaur, whose name means "heavy lizard," was distinguished by its exceptional size, featuring a remarkably long neck and tail that made it one of the longest dinosaurs ever discovered.

Discovered in the rich fossil beds of North America's Morrison Formation, Barosaurus belonged to the same family – Diplodocidae – as the closely-related Diplodocus.

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Hylaeosaurus was a plant-eating Ankylosaur that lived in what is now southern England in the Early Cretaceous Period.

Discovered in the early 19th century, Hylaeosaurus stands as a pivotal figure in the history of paleontology. As one of the first three reptiles to be scientifically described—alongside Iguanodon and Megalosaurus—Hylaeosaurus played a crucial role in defining the very concept of dinosaurs.

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