Dinosaur Names Beginning With A
As Maria Von Trapp quite beautifully sang. Let’s start at the very beginning. And in this List of All Dinosaurs, we start with the letter A. Here we have all the dinosaur names beginning with A.
So expect to see some famous faces like Allosaurus and Ankylosaurus, and the largest (maybe dinosaurs like argentinosaurus and amphicoelias) and even ones with a possible X-men connections called Adamantisaurus.
If you still have the energy ( A is a long list) then you can click on the links above to look at other dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs Names Beginning with A
This list of dinosaur names beginning with A is quite a monster, as long as some of the dinosaurs in it like apatosaurus, or Amphicoelias maybe.
Aardonyx
Was kind of a cross between an Iguanodon and a sauropod, but more sauropd, was a very early sauropod ( basal) and lived about 195 million years ago. It was discovered in 2010.
Aardonyx Name meaning: “Earth Claw”
Abelisaurus
Was a Carnotaurus type carnivore, and only its skull has been found! It lived around 90 million years ago in South America and was discovered in 1985
Abelisaurus Name Meaning “Abels Lizard”
Abrictosaurus
Is both an early dinosaur, the first heterodontosaurus. It was alive 199 – 196 million years ago and was discovered in 1975.
abrictosaurus Name Meaning: “Wakeful Lizard”
Abrosaurus
was a small sauropod, small means about 30 feet long that lived in China 168 million years ago and was discovered in 1989.
Abrosaurus Name Meaning: “Delicate Lizard”
Abydosaurus
A similar sauropod to giraffatitan that lived in UTah 104 million years ago. One of the rare times a skull has been found. Was discovered in 2010.
Abydosaurus Name Meaning: “Abydos lizard”
Acanthopholis
Was an ankylosaurus type of dinosaur that lived in what is now England, It lived about 97 million years ago and could be 18 ft long. It was discovered in 1867
Acanthopholis Name Meaning: “Spiny Scales”
Achelousaurus
Was a Horned dinosaur, not quite as big was a triceratops at 18 feet but big enough! It lived 74 million years ago and was discovered in 1994.
Achelousaurus Name Meaning: “Achelous lizard” after a greek god
Achillobator –
Although not quite as big as Utahraptor, and Dakota raptor Achillobator was still very large for a dromaeosaur at 16 ft long. It live 96 million years ago and was discovered in 1999
Achillobator Name Meaning: “Achilles hero”
Acristavus
Acristavus lived around 70 million years ago and was a medium sized hadrosaur. it as discovered in Montana in 2011.
Acristavus Name Meaning: “no crest grandfather”
Acrocanthosaurus
Although over shadowed by the big 4 ( see the link) Acrocanthosaurus was one of the biggest meat eating dinosaurs to exist! 38 feet long! It lived 125 -100 million years ago annd was discovered in 1950
Acrocanthosaurus Name meaning: “high-spined lizard”
Acrotholus
Acrotholus was an ancestor of the more famous pachycephalosaurus, with a hard dome shaped head. lived 86 million years ago and was discovered in 2013.
Acrotholus Name meaning: :Highest Dome:
Adamantisaurus
Only 6 vertebrae have been found but enough to know Adamantisaurus was a large sauropod ( long necked) dinosaur from South America. It was discovered in 2006
Name Meaning: “Adamantina dinosaur” ( not named after the metal wolverine is made of unfortunately)
Adasaurus
This was a cousin of velociraptor, but a little bigger at 7 ft and 80 lbs in weight. Adasaurus lived in the same area in Mongolia around 70-68 million years ago. It was discovered in 1983
Adasaurus Name Meaning: “Ada lizard”
Adeopapposaurus
Was a very early sauropod, likely walking on both 2 and 4 legs, was smaller than a person about 9 feet long and 3 feet high. Adeopapposaurus lived 200-195 million years ago and was discovered in 2009.
Adeopapposaurus Name Meaning: “Far Eating Lizard”
Aegyptosaurus
Aegyptosaurus was a sauropod about 40-50 feet long, however it is one of a set of dinosaur fossils that was destroyed in the Second world war. It was discovered in 1932
Aegyptosaurus Name Meaning: “Lizard from Egypt”
Aeolosaurus
A 46 feet, 14,000 lbs long necked dinosaur ( sauropod) that lived in argentina and lived 8 -66 million years ago. Aeolosaurus was discovered in 1987
Aeolosaurus Name meaning: “Aeolus’ lizard”
Aerosteon
Aerosteon was a large ‘megaraptoran’ carnivore dinosaur living in Argentia 66 million years ago. it was discovered in 2009
Aerosteon Name Meaning: “Air Bone”
Afrovenator
Afrovenator was a 26 feet long 2000 lbs African carnivore dinosaur from the early Cretaceous, 110 million years ago. It was discovered in 1994.
Afrovenator Name Meaning: “African hunter”
Agathaumas
Agathaumas Might be a triceratops, or might be a new species of horned dinosaur (ceratopsian). That lived 66 million years ago and was discovered in 1972.
Agathaumas Name Meaning: “great wonder”
Agilisaurus
Agilisaurus was a fast herbivore from the ‘bird-hipped family’ (ornithopods) that was discovered in East Asia in 1990 but lived 168 million years ago.
Agilisaurus Name Meaning: “Agile Lizard”
Agujaceratops
Agujaceratops is a horned dinosaur like pentaceratops, and had a short nose horn. It lived 77 million years ago and was discovered in 1989.
Agujaceratops Name Meaning: “horned face from Aguja”
Agustinia
Agustinia was an up to 49 feet long Sauropod, that was thought to have a spikey back but turns out there were just ribs! It lived 100 million years ago and was discovered in 1999 in South America.
Agustinia Name Meaning: “Named after the discoverer Agustin Martinelli”
Ajkaceratops
Ajkaceratops was a small 1 meter long horned dinosaur from Europe and Asia that lived 85 million years ago. it was found in 2010 in Hungry.
Ajkaceratops Name Meaning: “Horned face from Ajka”
Alamosaurus
Alamosaurus was a very large ( 92-98 feet long!) Sauropod dinosaur, that lived in North America 70-66 million years ago. it was discovered in 1922.
Alamosaurus Name Meaning: “Ojo Alamo lizard”
Alaskacephale
Alaskacephale was a half sized member of the pachycephalosaurus family that lived 80-66 million years ago. It was discovered in 2006.
Alaskacephale Name Meaning: “Alaska Head”
Albalophosaurus
Albalophosaurus was a horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) that lived in the Early cretaceous period in Japan, it was discovered in 2009.
Albalophosaurus Name Meaning “white crest lizard”
Albertaceratops
Albertaceratops was a horned dinosaur that lived 77 million years ago. it was pretty big at 19 feet long. and was discovered in 2007
Albertaceratops Name Meaning: “Alberta horned face”
Albertadromeus
Albertadromeus was thought to be a herbivorous dinosaur that lived in Alberta canada, and walked (and ran) on two legs. it lived 77 million years ago and was discovered in 2013
Albertadromeus Name Meaning: “Alberta Runner”
Albertonykus
Albertonykus was a small, 2.5 ft long, long legged bird like dinosaur that lived 68 million years ago in North America. It was discovered in 2009
Albertonykus Name Meaning: “Alberta claw”
Albertosaurus
Albertosaurus was a large T-Rex Like carnivore that lived at the same time 68-66 million years ago. It could be 33 feet long and weigh 8500 lbs. it was discovered 1905
Albertosaurus Name Meaning: “Alberta Lizard”
Alectrosaurus
Alectrosaurus was a member of the Tyrannosaur family about 20 feet long, it lived in What is now mongolia. it was found / classified in 1933
Alectrosaurus Name Meaning: “alone lizard”
Aletopelta
Aletopelta was an ankylosaur type dinosaur, that was about 20 feet long and 4,000 lbs. it lived during the late cretaceous period and was discovered/named in 2001
Aletopelta Name Meaning: “Wandering small shield”
Alioramus
Alioramus was a small sized member of the tyrannosaur family that lived 70 million years ago. It was found in 1976, and 20069.
Alioramus Name Meaning: “Different Branch”
Allosaurus
Allosaurus was an awesome carnivore from North America 155-145 million years ago. it could be over 35 feet long and had an axe like mouth.
Allosaurus Name meaning: “Different Lizard”
Altirhinus
Altirhinus was a large plant eating iguanodon type dinosaur that lived 125-110 million years ago and was found in 1981.
Altirhinus Name meaning: “High Snout“
Alvarezsaurus
Alvarezsaurus lived around 86 million years ago and was a bird like dinosaur an was likely a fast runner like others in its family. it was found in 1991.
Alvarezsaurus Name meaning: “Alvarez’s lizard”
Alwalkeria
Was an early dinosaur dated to 228 million years ago and lived in what is now Indian. It was found in 1987.
Alwalkeria Name meaning: “for Alick Walker”
Alxasaurus
Alxasaurus is a early cretaceous member of the Therizinosaurus family that was about 13 feet long. It was found in 1988.
Alxasaurus Name meaning: “Alxa lizard”
Amargasaurus
Amargasaurus was a spiky long necked lizard that lived 129-122 million years ago. It was found in 1984 in South America.
Amargasaurus Name meaning: “La Amarga Lizard”
Amazonsaurus
Amazonsaurus was another big sauropod from South America, could be up to 40 feet long and lived 125 to 100 million years ago.
Amazonsaurus Name meaning: “Amazon Lizard”
Ammosaurus
Ammosaurus was an early Sauropod that could walk on both 2 and 4 legs. Dated to 200 million years ago it was found in 1818 or 1855.
Ammosaurus Name meaning: “Sand Lizard”
Ampelosaurus
Ampelosaurus Was a 60 ft long Sauropod dinosaur that lived in Europe. it lived about 7-66 million years ago and was found in France in 1989.
Ampelosaurus Name meaning: “vine lizard”
Amphicoelias
If Amphicoelias can ever be proved to have existed, or the missing fossil is discovered then it would have ben the largest ever dinosaur on earth. It has been reclassifed to maraaripunisaurus recently.
Amphicoelias Name meaning: “biconcave”
Amurosaurus
Amurosaurus was a 20 ft long hadrosaur living between 70 and 66 million years ago. It was found in russia in 1991.
Amurosaurus Name meaning: “Amur lizard”
Anabisetia
Was a bird like dinosaur that lived 93 million years ago in South America.
Anabisetia Name meaning: “for ana biset”
Anatotitan
Anatotitan is actually called Edmontosaurus now,
Anatotitan Name meaning: “huge duck“
Anchiceratops
This was a horned dinosaur with beak type mouth and a long frill that lived 72-71 million years ago. Anchiceratops was found in 1912.
Anchiceratops Name meaning: “near horn face”.
Anchiornis
Anchiornis was a bird like dinosaur that lived 160 million years ago, it was feathered and maybe could glide. It was discovered in 2009
Anchiornis Name meaning: “Near bird”
Anchisaurus
Anchisaurus was an early sauropod dinosaurs that lived 200 million years ago in North America. Dinosaurs like this were from from 1818 onwards.
Anchisaurus Name meaning: “near saurian / lizard”
Andesaurus
This was a huge Sauropod dinosaur that could be 60 feet long and 40,ooo lbs plus in weight. Andesaurus was found in South America in 1991
Andesaurus Name meaning: “Andes Lizard”
Angaturama
Thought to be the same dinosaur as irritator which was a member of the spinosaurus family.
Angaturama Name meaning: “noble, brave”
Angolatitan
An African Sauropod thought to be a little smaller than others in the family. Angolatitan was found in Angola after the civil war in 2005.
Angolatitan Name meaning: “angolan giant”
Angulomastacator
Angulomastacator was a hadrosaur dinosaur that lived 76 million years ago, it is known for have a mouth that bends down
Angulomastacator Name meaning: “bend chewer”
Animantarx
Animantarx was a small ankylosaur type dinosaur that lived 104 to 98 million years ago. it was about 10 feet long and was found in 1999
Animantarx Name meaning: “animated fortress”
Ankylosaurus
ankylosaurus was the biggest of the ankylosaur family at up to 26 feet long and 150,00lbs in weight was very well armoured! It was discovered in 1906
ankylosaurus Name meaning: “fused lizard”
Anodontosaurus
Was another member of the Ankylosaurus family, although Anodontosaurus name means toothless this was because the fossil was found without teeth, as compression had removed them.
Anodontosaurus Name meaning: “toothless lizard”
Anserimimus
Anserimimus was a bird like dinosaur found in the 1970s, it would have walked on 2 legs and been about 3 metres and about 100 lbs. it lived about 170 million years ago in Mongolia.
Anserimimus Name meaning: “Goose Mimic”
Antarctopelta
This 4 metre long (12 feet long) ankylosaur family member was the first ever dinosaur to be found in antarctica and Antarctopelta was found in 1986
Antarctopelta Name meaning: “Antarctic shield”
Antarctosaurus
A large sauropod found in South America in 1929 However size estimates are not possible as there is not enough fossil material of Antarctosaurus to make them!
Antarctosaurus Name meaning: “opposite North Lizard”
Antetonitrus
Antetonitrus Was a Sauropod from the Late Jurassic Period making it one of the first long necked dinosaurs. It was small for a long necked dinosaur about 30 feet long and 6 feet tall. It was found in 1981
Antetonitrus Name meaning: “before thunder”
Anzu
Anzu was a maniraptoran dinosaur about 3 metres long (9 feet) but was bulky at an estimated 400 lbs in weight! it was discovered in 2014
Anzu Name meaning: “Bird like Demon” ( named after one in Mesopotamian religion)
Aorun
Aorun Was a small, 3 feet long, bird like feathered theropod from 160 million years ago. It was discovered in Asia in 2013.
Aorun Name meaning: “Different Lizard”
Apatosaurus
The Apatosaurus features in many jurassic Park and World Movies and was about 20 metres long, 70 feet, and 40,000 lbs. it was discovered in 1877 during the bone wars
Apatosaurus Name meaning: “Deceptive Lizard”
Appalachiosaurus
Appalachiosaurus was a T-Rex type dinosaur that lived in North America 77 million years ago. it was smaller than t rex at over 20 ft and about 1500 Lbs. It was discovered in 1982
Appalachiosaurus Name meaning: “Appalachian lizard”
Aquilops
Aquilops was an early horned dinosaur that lived about 110 million years ago in North America. it was small at about 60 cm long and was found in 1997
Aquilops Name meaning: “eagle face”
Aragosaurus
This was a 60 ft long Sauropod (long necked) dinosaur ( there were so many!) from Spain. Aragosaurus was found in 1987
Aragosaurus Name meaning: “Arago lizard”
Aralosaurus
Aralosaurus Was a Hadrosaurs type dinosaur that was found in russia. in 1968 it lived in the Late cretaceous period about 83 million years ago.
Aralosaurus Name meaning: “Aral Sea Lizard”
Archaeoceratops
Archaeoceratops lived 125 million years ago and was a member of the horned dinosaur family, though it had no horns and just a frill. it was just a metre long!
Archaeoceratops Name meaning: “Ancient Horned face”
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx was thought to be one of the VERY few if not the only Feathered dinosaurs properly capable of powered flight. it lived in Europe about 150 million to 148 years ago. it was found in 1861.
Archaeopteryx Name meaning: “old wing”
Archaeornithomimus
Archaeornithomimus lived about 96 million years ago and was a bird like, ostrich like dinosaur about 3.4 metres long. It was discovered in 1995.
Archaeornithomimus Name meaning: “ancient bird mimic”
Arcovenator
Arcovenator was a carnivorous dinosaur that lived in France 74 million years ago. it was a similar size to a carnotaurus about 20 ft long and was discovered 2013
Arcovenator Name meaning: “Arc Hunter”
Arcusaurus
Arcusaurus dinosaur was an early sauropod that lived during the Early jurassic period. It was discovered in 2011.
Arcusaurus Name meaning: “Rainbow Lizard”
Argentinosaurus
Argentinosaurus was the largest dinosaur to walk the earth. (so far) although there are plenty of challengers for the title. it lived 96 to 92 million years ago.
Argentinosaurus Name meaning: “Argentina Lizard”
Argyrosaurus
Argyrosaurus was another large sauropod from South America, discovered in 1893 and living about 70 million years ago.
Argyrosaurus Name meaning: “Silver Lizard”
Aristosuchus
Aristosuchus was a small meat eating dinosaur similar to a compsognathus that lived about 130 – 122 million years ago. it was an early discovered dinosaur found in 1876
Aristosuchus Name meaning: “Different Lizard”
Arrhinoceratops
Arrhinoceratops was a horned dinosaur without a nose horn, which is where its name comes forms . It looked like a small version of triceratops.
Arrhinoceratops Name meaning: “no nose horn face”
Astrodon
Astrodon was another 60 ft sauropod dinosaur, there were so many of these . it lived 112 million years ago and was discovered in 1865.
Astrodon Name meaning: “Star tooth”
Asylosaurus
Asylosaurus was a sauropod type dinosaur that was discovered in 1834, making it one of the earliest dinosaurs to be discovered.
Asylosaurus Name meaning: “Sanctuary Lizard”
Atlasaurus
Atlasaurus could grown up to 50 feet in length, and was alive 167 to 164 million years ago. It is named after mountains in Morocco. .
Atlasaurus Name meaning: “Atlas mountain Lizard”
Atlascopcosaurus
Atlascopcosaurus was a small ( 2 to 3 metres) iguanodon type dinosaur that lived in what is now australia about 114 million years ago. It was found in 1984
Atlascopcosaurus Name meaning: “Atlas Copco Lizard” It is named after the company that provided the excavation gear
Atrociraptor
Atrociraptor was a small member of the raptor family ( unlike its Jurassic World Dominion depiction!) It had a flatter face than most raptors and was discovered in 1995
Name meaning: “Savage Thief “
Aublysodon
As Aublysodon is only known from a single tooth, which is now missing it is not sure if this is a seperate species or one from another dinosaur. What they do know is it was tyrannosaur, or carnivore like dinosaur and the tooth was found in 1868.
Aublysodon Name meaning: “backwards flowing tooth”
Aucasaurus
this was a 17 ft long very small armed dinosaur, that was part of the same family as skorpiovenator and Carnotaurus. It was discovered in 2002
Aucasaurus Name meaning: “Different Lizard”
Auroraceratops
Auroraceratops Was a horned face dinosaur, an early one from the early Cretaceous and was discovered in 2005.
Auroraceratops Name meaning: “Dawn Horned face”
Australodocus
This sauropod was just under 60 ft.. at 56 feet. it was discovered in 2007 in tanzania Africa.
Australodocus Name meaning: “Southern Beam”
Australovenator
Australovenator was a 95 million year old carnivore that lived in australia. it would be 20 ft long and 2000 lbs in weight. It was discovered in 2009.
Australovenator Name meaning: “Southern Hunter”
Austroraptor
Austroraptor is one of the largest raptors known, only utahraptor achillobator and dakotaraptor beating it for size. it lived about 78 – 66 million years ago. and was discovered in 2008.
Austroraptor Name meaning: “Southern Thief”
Austrosaurus
Annnnnd another 60 ft long sauropod this one was found in Australia in 1933
Austrosaurus Name meaning: “Southern Lizard”
Avaceratops
Avaceratops was a horned dinosaur that lived about 77 million years ago in the USA. it was pretty small at 7 feet long and is thought to be a young dinosaur.
Avaceratops Name meaning: “Ava’s horn Face” Named after his wife
Aviatyrannis
Aviatyrannis Was a tiny T-rex, well a tiny T-Rex ancestor. it was about 1 meter long about about 10 lbs in weight but might have been a juvenile dinosaur. I lived about 160 million years ago and was discovered in 2000, but named in 2003.
Aviatyrannis Name meaning: “Grandmother Tyrant”
Avimimus
Avimimus Was a 1.5 metre (5 ft) long bird like dinosaur that lived 85 to 70 million years ago. it was found in 1986 .
Avimimus Name Meaning: Bird Mimic
Conclusion
We will be working through the Dinosaur A-Z in the coming weeks. If you want to check out the others you can click the links on the table. In the meantime we hope you found these dinosaur names beginning with A.
There are a lot of famous dinosaur names beginning with A, Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Ankylosaurus just to name three. However there are more famous dinosaurs than even those beginning with the Letters, T, V and S. Do you know which ones we are talking about?
Hi, I am Roy Ford a General Studies and English Teacher who has taught all over the world. What started as a fossil collection became a great way to teach, motivate and inspire students of all ages and all over the world about dinosaurs and from that and children’s love of dinosaurs came the site dinosaur facts for kids, a resource for all ages.
