Dinosaur Names Beginning With C
Ceratosaurus, Carnotaurus, Carcharodontosaurus and Chasmosaurus are some of the stars of the dinosaur names beginning with C. They are the large stars, but plenty of smaller dinosaur names begin with this letter too, Compsognathus will be the most famous of these. , . We will take a look at all of them in this article.
We cover all the main types of dinosaur including huge carnivores and herbivores like the five mentioned above but also the later feathered carnivores. Hopefully you find some dinosaurs you didn’t know here.
there are over 60 dinosaurs names beginning with C so this will be quite a list. We have added return to top buttons to make your navigation easier.
Also, as with all of our A to Z dinosaur pages we have the table below to help you check other dinosaurs, we aim to cover them all but of course there are new dinosaurs almost every week so bear with us!
You can find other dinosaur names and information by following the links in the table above.
Dinosaurs Names Beginning with C
we have information on each dinosaur here, just a few details as the pages get long! If we have an article on the dinosaur you can click the name to jump there and learn even more.
Caenagnathasia
was a oviraptor dinosaur from Asia. it was named and described in 1994. it lived during the early Cretaceous about 90 million years ago in what is now Uzbekistan.
Caenagnathasia Name Meaning: “Recent Jaw From Asia”
Camarasaurus
Camarasaurus was a sauropod from North America. It lived about 155-145 million years ago and was first discovered in 1877. It was a large heavy sauropod reaching 75 feet long ( 23 metres) and possibly weighing up to 47000 kg ( 100,000+ Lbs.)
it was one of the more common sauropods of its time.
Camarasaurus Name Meaning: “Chambered lizard”
Camarillasaurus
Camarillasaurus is the first carnivore dinosaur names beginning with C, but we have some very famous ones coming up. This was a Spinosaurus family member that lived in what is now Spain. it was discovered in 2014.
Camarillasaurus Name Meaning: “Camarilla’s Lizard”.
Camelotia
Camelotia is only known from fragments, but is thought to be an early sauropod dinosaur that lived in the late Triassic and Early jurassic periods (so very early).
Although only estimates it is thought to have grown to about 30 feet long ( 10 Metres) and weigh up to 6000 lbs (27500 kg) Although sauropods usually have long necks it is likely that Camelotia had a shorter neck than most.
Camelotia Name Meaning: “From Camelot”
Camptosaurus
Camptosaurus is an iguanodon type dinosaur from North America. it was about 26 feet long ( 8 metres) at its maximum size. it was discovered in 1879. it would have lived abot 156-146 million years ago.
Camptosaurus Name Meaning: “flexible (bent) lizard”
Canardia
Canardia was a duckbilled hadrosaur from France and Spain. ( though it was an island at the time!) it was discovered in 1999 – when france was not an island and would have lived 67-66 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous.
Canardia Name Meaning: “for / from Duck”
Capitalsaurus
Capitalsaurus is currently an informal named dinosaur named as it would found in Washington DC – The US Capital City. It was found in 1898. Despite only being known by a single back bone ( vertebra) it has been taken as the official dinosaur or DC ( District of Columbia)
What ever it may be it was a theropod old carnivorous dinosaur, so may have fitted right in on capital hill.
Capitalsaurus NAme Meaning: “Capital Lizard”
Carcharodontosaurus
Carcharodontosaurus is one of the most famous dinosaur names beginning with C. It is a challenger for largest carnivore of all time, with Spinosaurus, t-Rex and giganotosaurus. ti lived around 100-94 million years ago in North Africa around the same time as spinosaurus.
It was discovered in 1924, although just two teeth at that time. However later discoveries allowed size estimates to be researched. Carcharodontosaurus could be between 39-45 feet long and weigh up between (these vary dramatically) 6000-15000 kg (13000 – 33,000 lbs) However, these estimated are constantly changing.
Carcharodontosaurus Name Meaning: “Great White Shark Tooth Lizard”
Carnotaurus.
Carnotaurus is a relatively famous dinosaur as it is. However In 2022 it featured both in the Jurassic World Dominion Movie, and in the BBC Prehistoric Planet Documentary doing a dance to impress a lady Carnotaurus. We don’t often put videos in our Dinosaur A to Z pages but this one is to hard to pass up.
Carnotaurus. was a large predator with very very short arms, vestigial ( unused) it was discovered in 1984 and lived about 71 million years ago. It is famous for having two horns on its head, which is unusual for carnivorous dinosaurs and it is thought it was used to fight other males or as display to females.
it was about 7-8 metres long and thought to be quite agile and fast. it would have weighed about 2600 lbs, 1300 kg You can watch the clip of it dancing below. We have no idea if the arms were blue by the way.
Carnotaurus Name meaning: “Meat Eating Bull”
Caseosaurus
This dinosaur lived 221 -212 million years ago. However it is not 100% certain it is a definite species. it was bipedal that would have been 2 metres long ( 6.5 feet) and a carnivore.
In 2018 it was also considered to potentially not be a dinosaur at all.
Caseosaurus Name meaning: “Cases Lizard”
Cathartesaura
Cathartesaura was a sauropod dinosaur living in Argentina 97 to 93 million years ago. it was discovered in 2005.
Cathartesaura Name Meaning: ” vulture lizard ( feminine) “
Caudipteryx
Caudipteryx was a theropod dinosaur that was feathered and lived 124 million years ago . It was found in China in 1997. It is thought to be an omnivore.
it as a small dinosaur that was about 2.5 feet long ( 80 cm) and weighed about 4-5 lbs or 2.2 kg.
Caudipteryx Name Meaning: “Tail Feather”
Cedarosaurus
Cedarosaurus was a sauropod dinosaur ( long necked) that lived in Utah 139-134 million years ago. It had a maximum length of 50 feet ( 15 metres) and is thought t weigh up to 22, 000 lbs. ( 10000 kg)
Cedarosaurus Name Meaning: “Cedar Lizard”
Cedarpelta
Cedarpelta was an ankylosaur family member form 116-109 million years ago during the early Cretaceous Period. It was also discovered in utah. it was discovered in 1990.
it may have grown to 7 metes and 10000 lbs, or even 9 metres which would have been a similar size to ankylosaurus.
Cedarpelta Name Meaning: “Cedar Shield”
Cedrorestes
Cedrorestes was an iguanodon type dinosaur from the same formation as the previous two dinosaurs. In the Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah.
Cedrorestes Name Meaning: “Cedar Mountain Dweller”
Centrosaurus
Centrosaurus was a member of the ceratopsian dinosaur family ( horned face) it had a large frill and a large nose horn on its face, but not above its eyes like other ceratopsians)
it lived about 76 million years ago and was discovered in 1904. It was about 18 feet long ( 5.5 metres)
Centrosaurus Name Meaning: “Pointed Lizard”
Cerasinops
Was another horned face dinosaur but very different to Centrosaurus. This small dinosaur had no horns like other ceratopsians, it did have a small frill and beak like mouth though.
It lived in North America and Asia during the Late cretaceous period.
Cerasinops Name Meaning: “Cherry Face”
Ceratonykus
Ceratonykus was a mongolian Alvarezsaur dinosaur that lived in the late cretaceous period about 72 million years ago.
It was about 2-2.5 feet long and only 700 plus grams ( 1.68 lbs)
Ceratonykus Name Meaning: “horned Claw”
Ceratops
Ceratops is only known from very fragmented fossils. It is however the basics of all ceratopsians. It may be a species or it may be an Avaceratops. it was discovered in 1888 In montana, USA.
One thing for sure it was a member of the Horned Dinosaur family, we are just not sure which one! It lived about 77.5 million years ago.
Ceratops Name Meaning: “horned Face”
Ceratosaurus
Ceratosaurus was a carnivore dinosaur that lived 161-145 million year ago in the USA. it was discovered in 1884.
It was a meat eating dinosaur with a horn on its forehead, quite unlike many other carnivores. It was thought to be abou 5-6 metres long ( 17-19 feet) and weighed about 1500 lbs. ( 700 kg)
Ceratosaurus Name Meaning: “Horn Lizard”
Cetiosauriscus
Was a sauropod from the middle jurassic that lived in what is now England, about 168 to 163 million years ago. it was estimated to be about 49 fee tlong ( 15 metres) and weigh over 21,000 lbs ( 10,000kg) It was discovered in 1842.
Cetiosauriscus Name Meaning: “like celtiosaurus”
Cetiosaurus
Cetiosaurus actually means sea monster and was discovered in 1842. It was a sauropod from England. It was first thought to be a very large crocodile. It lived about 170 -16 6 million years ago . It was thought to be about 16 metres long of 53 feet.
Cetiosaurus Name Meaning: “Whale Lizard”
Changchunsaurus
Changchunsaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur that lived in the mid cretaceous period in China. It is known mainly for a skull so size estimates are difficult. it would likely have been bideal ( two legged) and was discovered in 2005.
Changchunsaurus Name Meaning: “ChangChun Lizard”
Changyuraptor
Changyuraptor was a microraptor type of dinosaur with four wings ( including the back wings on its back legs) it was about 4 feet long, and weighed up to 9 lbs. ( 4 kg) This means it is the largest member of the microraptor family.
it was feathered and may have been able to fly, though not particular well and may have glided more than flapped its way around. It lived in the Early Cretaceous about 120 million years ago and was discovered in 2014.
Changyuraptor Name Meaning: “Chang Yu Thief”
Chaoyangsaurus
Was an early member of the ceratopsian family that lived 148 million years ago in China. It had no horns, and not much of a frill. though it did have something like a frill on its tail.
it would have been small at about 1 metre long and 13 lbs in weight ( 6kg)
Chaoyangsaurus Name Meaning: “Chaoyang Lizard”
Charonosaurus
Charonosaurus was a duckbilled hadrosaur from China. It was discovered in 1975 near the Amur river. it lived during the late cretaceous Period and is thought to be about 33 feet long.
Charonosaurus Name Meaning: “Charon’s Lizard”
Chasmosaurus
Chasmosaurus was a ceratopsian dinosaur that lived 77-76 million years ago in north America, It had large openings in its frill which is where its name comes from .
it was about 14-16 feet long and about 4400 lbs in weight. ( 2200 kg) it was discovered in 1898.
Chasmosaurus Name Meaning: “Opening Lizard”
Chassternbergia
Chassternbergia has now been reclassified as a synominym of Edmontonia an ankylosaur type dinosaur.
Chassternbergia Name Meaning: “for Chasternberg”
Chebsaurus
Chebsaurus was a sauropod from Algerian. It lived about 165 to 163 million years ago. it is thought to have been about 26-30 feet long.
Chebsaurus Name Meaning: “Young Man Lizard”
Chenanisaurus
Chenanisaurus was a predatory carnivorous dinosaur than lived 68 -66 million years ago in North Africa. it was alive at the end of the age of the dinosaurs. It would have been about 23-26 feet long ( 7-8 metres)
Chenanisaurus Name Meaning: “Chenan Lizard”
Chialingosaurus
Chialingosaurus was a stegosaurian dinosaur that lived in the middle jurassic 160 million years ago. this makes it a very early stegosaurus. It was discovered it was 1957. It was small, as expected for an early stegosaur, at about 4 metres long.
Chialingosaurus Name Meaning: “Chialing Lizard”
Chilantaisaurus
Chilantaisaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur that lived in China. it lived 92 million years ago. and would have been about 36 feet long, possibly up to 43 feet. It is thought to be a member of the carnosaur family and was discovered in 1964.
Chilantaisaurus Name Meaning: “Chi lan Tai Lizard“
Chilesaurus
Chilesaurus This lived in the late Jurassic Period about 145 million year ago. It was a herbivore theropod growing up to 3 metres ( 10 feet long)
Chilesaurus Name Meaning: “Chile Lizard”
Chindesaurus
Is another early dinosaur that lived during the late triassic 221 -210 million years ago. it was discovered in 1984 in Arizona ans was a bided ( two legged) dinosaur. It is though to be a carnivore of about 2-4 metres ( estimates vary)
Chindesaurus Name Meaning: “Ghost Lizard”
Chinshakiangosaurus
Chinshakiangosaurus IS a very early sauropod, possibly the earliest know. it lived during the early Jurassic It was 12-13 metres long and was discovered in 1970.
Chinshakiangosaurus Name Meaning: “Chinshakiang Lizard:
Chirostenotes
Chirostenotes is an oviraptor family member from Canada. it lived 76 million years ago it was discovered in 1914 and has had a very different names since then. it was about 8 feet long, and would weigh 220 lbs ( 100 kg) However the weight has also been estimated at 88 lbs as well.
Chirostenotes Name Meaning: “Narrow Hands”
Choyrodon
Choyrodon was a mongolian hadrosaur it is only know form two partial skulls so is difficult to know its size. however it lived about 100 million years ago and was named in 2018.
Choyrodon Name Meaning: ” Choyr Tooth”
Chromogisaurus
Chromogisaurus was a very early dinosaur. it lived 232 million years ago in argentina and was about 2 metres (6.5 feet) long. it was named in 2010 and would have been two legged possible herbivore or omnivore.
Chromogisaurus Name Meaning: “Earth Color Lizard”
Chuanjiesaurus
Chuanjiesaurus was a large sauropod from china growing up to 25 metres 9 82 feet) long and was discovered in 2000. It lived in the middle Jurassic about 168 million years ago.
Chuanjiesaurus Name Meaning: “Chuanjie lizard”
Chuanqilong
Chuanqilong was a member of the ankylosaur family. It lived in China 125 -112 million years ago. it was about 14-15 feet long ( 4-5 metres) and would have weighed 450 kg ( 990 lbs)
Chuanqilong Name Meaning: “Legendary Dragon”
Chubutisaurus
Chubutisaurus is a Sauropod from SOuth America, It lived 110 million years ago. It as discovered in 1975. It was about 60 feet long and 13000 kg ( 28,000 lbs)
Chubutisaurus Name Meaning: “Chubut Lizard”.
Chungkingosaurus
Chungkingosaurus, as the name suggests, was an early stegosaur from China. living about 160 million years ago during the late Jurassic period. it was quite small compared to its later family members at 4 metres long
Chungkingosaurus Name Meaning: “Chongqing Lizard”
Citipati
Citipati Was a gobi desert living overpator. It was discovered in the 1990s and named in 2001. it was a big oviraptor and could be 9.5 feet long and about 160-190 lbs. It has been discovered nesting as well It lived in the Late cretaceous about 75 million years ago.
Citipati Name Meaning: “Funeral Pyre Lord”
Claosaurus
Claosaurus was a hadrosaur from the Late Cretaceous period ( 87-82 million years ago. i i thought to have been about 12 feet long.
Claosaurus Name Meaning: “Broken lizard”
Coahuilaceratops
Coahuilaceratops was a horned dinosaur ( ceratopsian) with long horns, possibly the longest, about its eyes. it was thought to be about 26 feet long and lived in Mexico 72 million years ago. It was discovered in 2008 and named in 2010.
Coahuilaceratops Name Meaning: “Coahuila horned Face”
Coelophysis
Coelophysis is a Late triassic dinosaur that lived 204-201 million years ago. In what is now the USA. It has also been found in Africa. It was small and a theropod, and was about 10 feet long – 3 metres, and quite thin. it would have weighed up to 33 lbs (15kg)
it was discovered in 1887 an was thought to be a carnivore.
Coelophysis Name Meaning: “Hollow form”
Coelurus
Coelurus is only know from one fossil discovered in 1879. it was a bipedal carnivorous dinosaur that lived in the LAte jurassic 155-152 million years ago. it was 2.4 metres long (8 feet) and weighed about 13-20 kg ( 29-44 lbs)
Coelurus name Meaning: “Hollow Tail”
Colepiocephale
Colepiocephale was a pachycephalosaurus family member from canada. it lived 80 -77 million years ago and was discovered in 1945. There are a few insulting dinosaur names and this clearly is one of them !
Colepiocephale Name meaning: “knuckle head”
Coloradisaurus
Coloradisaurus was an early Sauropod dinosaur ( long necked) from Argentina. It lived 213 million years ago and was small. It would have been about 3 metes long ( 9 -10 feet0 and about 150 lbs in weight. ( 70 kg) It was discovered in 1978.
Coloradisaurus Name Meaning: “Los Colorados Lizard”
Comahuesaurus
Comahuesaurus was another sauropod from argentina. this one lived in the Early Cretaceous about 125 to 100 million years ago. It was discovered in 2012
Comahuesaurus Name Meaning: “Comahue lizard”
Compsognathus
Compsognathus was a same biped dinosaur that lived in Europe. It lived about 150 million years ago during the late jurassic, and is famous for being in the Jurassic Park movies. it was a carnivore and was discovered in 1859.
It was a little larger than first thought as the first fossils were a juvenile but still was not a large dinosaur. it likely grew to a maximum of about 1.4 metres and weighed about 7-8 lbs ( 3 -4 kg) You can read more about it in the article linked here and above
Compsognathus Name Meaning: “Elegant Jaw”
Concavenator
Concavenator had a strange hump or spike on its back. Scientists are currently unaware of what it would be for. it lived 130 million years ago in Spain during the Early Cretaceous. and would have grown to 19ft ( 6 metres) long. It was a theropod carnivore.
Concavenator Name Meaning: “Hump Hunter”
Conchoraptor
Conchoraptor was a member of the oviraptor family that lived, like many others in Asia. It was small at 1-2 meters in length (3-6 feet) and had no head crest like some other oviraptors. it is named as it thought its powerful beak may have evolved to have a shellfish diet. it lived 70-66 million years ago and was discovered in 1971.
Conchoraptor Name Meaning: “Conch thief”
Condorraptor
Condorraptor even though having raptor in its name was not a member of the raptor family ( dromaeosaur) it was a megalosaurus dinosaur. a larger carnivore. it lived in Argentina 179 million years ago and would have been about 8-9 metres long (24 feet) and 3000 lbs or more. it lived 179 million years ago and was discovered / named in 2005.
Condorraptor Name Meaning: “Condor thief”
Coronosaurus
Coronosaurus was a ceratopsian dinosaur from canada. it lived 77 million years ago and was discovered in 2005. it had both the frills and horns on its head like other horned dinosaurs. it was about 5 metres ( 16 feet long) and 4-5000 lbs in weight. ( 2000kg)
Coronosaurus Name Meaning: “Crowned Lizard”
Corythoraptor
Corythoraptor was a oviraptor from …. Asia 9 no surprise there) it had a crest on its head and was relatively small at about 5 feet long ( 1.6 metres) it lived 66 million years ago right at the end of the age of the dinosaurs and was discovered in 2017
Corythoraptor Name Meaning: ” Corinthian / helmet Thief”
Corythosaurus
Corythosaurus is a crested hadrosaur ( duck billed) dinosaur that could grow to 30 feet long. The head and crest could be almost 2.5 feet tall. It was a herbivore and has appeared in the Jurassic park and world movies. it lived about 77 to 75 million years ago and was discovered in 1914.
Corythosaurus Name Meaning: “helmet lizard”
Craspedodon
Craspedodon is not known from many fossils. In fact only teeth have been found. So it is considered a nomen Dubium at the moment. It would have lived in Europe 85 million years ago and is thought likely to be a horned face dinosaur ( ceratopsian) It was discovered in 1883
Craspedodon Name Meaning: “Edge tooth”
Crichtonsaurus
Crichtonsaurus is a member of the Ankylosaurus family named after the author of Jurassic Park. it was discovered in 1999 in China and lived about 80 million years ago.
We really think the movie makers of the last three Jurassic World movies missed a trick by not including it in the movies, even just for a little fun!
Crichtonsaurus Name Meaning: “Crichton’s lizard”
Cruxicheiros
Cruxicheiros was a theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now England 167 million years ago ( during the mid jurassic) It is named for its location rather than any hand crossing it was doing!
It was a large theropod but due to a lack of fossils not a lot else is known about it.
Cruxicheiros Name meaning: “Cross Hand”
Cryolophosaurus
Cryolophosaurus is a meat eating Dinosaur that has been discovered in Antarctica! It was about 20-22 feet long ( 6-7 metres) and lived 186 -182 million years ago. As its name suggest it has a crest on its head,
Cryolophosaurus Name Meaning: “cold crested lizard”
Cryptovolans
Is now thought to be a Microraptor ( and nothing to do with Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency) Either way it was a small four winged dinosaur that lived 150 million years ago.
Cryptovolans Name Meaning: “Hidden Flyer”
Cumnoria
Cumnoria is a iguanodon type dinosaur from England (they had a lot there!) it was small at 12 feet long though it may have bee a young fossil. it was a herbivore like other iguanodons. and lived about 153 million years ago
Cumnoria Name Meaning: “For cumnor”
Conclusion
there you have all the dinosaurs we know of beginning with C so far. As we mentioned there are about 50 dinosaurs named each year so this page will keep growing as paleontologists keep digging!
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnotaurus
- https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/chasmosaurus.html
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.
