Dinosaur fossils in Japan
The Paleobiology Database records 129 non-avian dinosaur finds in Japan, from 21 genera. The oldest is Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis from the Late Hauterivian age, about 132.6 million years old. The youngest is Kamuysaurus japonicus from the Early Maastrichtian age, as young as about 66 million years. Ages are the range the database gives for the rocks, so a find can be tens of millions of years across.
- 129finds
- 21genera
- 132.6oldest, million years ago
- 66youngest, million years ago
It ranks 26th of 93 countries on the map by number of finds. The most recorded dinosaurs are Fukuiraptor (2), Segnosaurus (2) and Subtiliolithus (2). The rock formation with the most finds is called Kuwajima, with 17.
Which dinosaurs were found in Japan?
The genera with the most finds here:
| Dinosaur | Finds |
|---|---|
| Fukuiraptor | 2 |
| Segnosaurus | 2 |
| Subtiliolithus | 2 |
| Albalophosaurus | 1 |
| Fukuisaurus | 1 |
| Fukuititan | 1 |
| Fukuivenator | 1 |
| Himeoolithus | 1 |
| Hypnovenator | 1 |
| Hypsilophodon | 1 |
Rock formations with dinosaur finds in Japan
| Formation | Finds |
|---|---|
| Kuwajima | 17 |
| Kitadani | 15 |
| Ohyamashimo | 12 |
| Itsuki | 8 |
| Jobu | 7 |
| Okurodani | 6 |
| Sebayashi | 5 |
| Tamagawa | 5 |
| Akaiwa | 4 |
| Ashizawa | 4 |
Other countries to explore
See the sea floor where marine reptiles swam: oceanfloormap.com →
Before you go fossil hunting. A dot shows where a find was recorded, not where you may dig. Many fossil sites are on private or protected land and collecting rules differ by country. Check the rules before collecting and never dig on protected sites.