Dinosaur families

The 1,456 genera on this site fall into a few big groups, then into 94 families. A family is a group of closely related genera. Open a family to see its members.

Theropod (two-legged predators)638 genera

Dromaeosauridae53 genera154.8–66 million years ago

Troodontidae35 genera168.2–66 million years ago

Abelisauridae34 genera184.2–66 million years ago

Oviraptoridae22 genera121.4–66 million years ago

Alvarezsauridae17 genera113.2–66 million years ago

Tyrannosauridae17 genera89.8–66 million years ago

Caenagnathidae15 genera121.4–66 million years ago

Carcharodontosauridae15 genera152.21–72.2 million years ago

Spinosauridae14 genera139.1–72.2 million years ago

Noasauridae13 genera161.5–66 million years ago

Ornithomimidae13 genera93.9–66 million years ago

Therizinosauridae12 genera201.4–66 million years ago

Megalosauridae10 genera205.7–66 million years ago

Alexornithidae9 genera106.3–83.6 million years ago

Avisauridae9 genera100.5–66 million years ago

Coelophysidae9 genera227.3–174.7 million years ago

Megaraptoridae9 genera125.77–66 million years ago

Compsognathidae8 genera157.9–89.8 million years ago

Longipterygidae8 genera125.77–113.2 million years ago

Metriacanthosauridae8 genera174.7–93.9 million years ago

Bohaiornithidae7 genera161.5–113.2 million years ago

Hongshanornithidae7 genera132.6–113.2 million years ago

Deinocheiridae5 genera121.4–66 million years ago

Pengornithidae5 genera143.1–100.5 million years ago

Proceratosauridae5 genera168.2–113.2 million years ago

Hesperornithidae4 genera89.8–66 million years ago

Piatnitzkysauridae4 genera182.9–143.1 million years ago

Scansoriopterygidae4 genera165.3–119.57 million years ago

Neovenatoridae3 genera132.6–83.6 million years ago

Yanornithidae3 genera125.77–113.2 million years ago

Baptornithidae2 genera89.8–66 million years ago

Cathayornithidae2 genera121.4–113.2 million years ago

Caudipterygidae2 genera125.77–113.2 million years ago

Ceratosauridae2 genera192.9–143.1 million years ago

Sinosauropterygidae2 genera125.77–119.57 million years ago

Vitakrisauridae2 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Alethoalaornithidae1 genera121.4–113.2 million years ago

Alethoalaornis

Allosauridae1 genera152.21–143.1 million years ago

Saurophaganax

Brodavidae1 genera83.6–66 million years ago

Brodavis

Cuspirostrisornithidae1 genera121.4–113.2 million years ago

Largirostrornis

Enantiornithidae1 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Gurilynia

Eoenantiornithidae1 genera121.4–113.2 million years ago

Dapingfangornis

Gargantuaviidae1 genera83.6–66 million years ago

Gargantuavis

Nanotyrannidae1 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Nanotyrannus

Nqwebasauridae1 genera168.2–165.3 million years ago

Lepidocheirosaurus

Quercymegapodiidae1 genera83.6–72.2 million years ago

Palintropus

Sauropodidae1 genera227.3–205.7 million years ago

Sauropus

Schizoouridae1 genera121.4–113.2 million years ago

Mengciusornis

Unenlagiidae1 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Kank

No family assigned236 genera237–66 million years ago

Genera the Paleobiology Database puts in no family. Most sit between several families, or are known from too little to place.

Sauropodomorph (long-necked)370 genera

Mamenchisauridae23 genera201.4–113.2 million years ago

Rebbachisauridae22 genera149.2–89.8 million years ago

Euhelopodidae15 genera143.1–72.2 million years ago

Saltasauridae14 genera100.5–66 million years ago

Dicraeosauridae11 genera161.5–121.4 million years ago

Brachiosauridae10 genera161.5–93.9 million years ago

Diplodocidae10 genera157.9–132.6 million years ago

Massospondylidae10 genera237–168.2 million years ago

Plateosauridae6 genera227.3–192.9 million years ago

Pakisauridae5 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Saturnaliidae4 genera237–227.3 million years ago

Anchisauridae3 genera205.7–174.7 million years ago

Balochisauridae3 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Cetiosauridae3 genera182.9–154.8 million years ago

Gspsauridae3 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Lessemsauridae3 genera227.3–192.9 million years ago

Camarasauridae2 genera161.5–143.1 million years ago

Guaibasauridae2 genera237–205.7 million years ago

Nemegtosauridae2 genera89.8–66 million years ago

Riojasauridae2 genera227.3–201.4 million years ago

Unaysauridae2 genera227.3–201.4 million years ago

Argentinosauridae1 genera72.2–66 million years ago

Phosphatotitan

No family assigned214 genera247–66 million years ago

Genera the Paleobiology Database puts in no family. Most sit between several families, or are known from too little to place.

Ornithischian (bird-hipped)435 genera

Hadrosauridae62 genera121.4–66 million years ago

Ceratopsidae44 genera83.6–66 million years ago

Nodosauridae31 genera152.21–66 million years ago

Ankylosauridae30 genera125.77–66 million years ago

Stegosauridae16 genera174.7–93.9 million years ago

Thescelosauridae14 genera125.77–66 million years ago

Leptoceratopsidae13 genera121.4–66 million years ago

Silesauridae12 genera247–201.4 million years ago

Pachycephalosauridae10 genera100.5–66 million years ago

Heterodontosauridae8 genera201.4–137.05 million years ago

Chaoyangsauridae5 genera161.5–132.6 million years ago

Dryosauridae5 genera154.8–113.2 million years ago

Huayangosauridae5 genera170.9–154.8 million years ago

Hypsilophodontidae4 genera168.2–100.5 million years ago

Protoceratopsidae3 genera121.4–66 million years ago

Telmatosauridae3 genera83.6–66 million years ago

Tenontosauridae3 genera121.4–93.9 million years ago

Fabrosauridae2 genera170.9–154.8 million years ago

Iguanodontidae2 genera137.05–119.57 million years ago

Scelidosauridae2 genera205.7–174.7 million years ago

Jeholosauridae1 genera168.2–165.3 million years ago

Kulindapteryx

Rhabdodontidae1 genera83.6–66 million years ago

Rhabdodon

No family assigned159 genera237–66 million years ago

Genera the Paleobiology Database puts in no family. Most sit between several families, or are known from too little to place.

Not yet classified13 genera

Herrerasauridae4 genera237–227.3 million years ago

No family assigned9 genera247–201.4 million years ago

Genera the Paleobiology Database puts in no family. Most sit between several families, or are known from too little to place.

Families come from the Paleobiology Database. Scientists still argue about where many genera belong, and some families may be redrawn as new finds come in.