Dinosaur fossils in Lesotho
The Paleobiology Database records 42 non-avian dinosaur finds in Lesotho, from 10 genera. The oldest is Kholumolumo ellenbergerorum from the Norian age, about 227.3 million years old. The youngest is Lycorhinus from the Pliensbachian age, as young as about 184.2 million years. Ages are the range the database gives for the rocks, so a find can be tens of millions of years across.
- 42finds
- 10genera
- 227.3oldest, million years ago
- 184.2youngest, million years ago
It ranks 36th of 93 countries on the map by number of finds. The most recorded dinosaurs are Lesothosaurus (6), Melanorosaurus (5) and Massospondylus (4). The rock formation with the most finds is called Elliot, with 37.
Which dinosaurs were found in Lesotho?
The genera with the most finds here:
| Dinosaur | Finds |
|---|---|
| Lesothosaurus | 6 |
| Melanorosaurus | 5 |
| Massospondylus | 4 |
| Ignavusaurus | 2 |
| Abrictosaurus | 1 |
| Kholumolumo | 1 |
| Lycorhinus | 1 |
| Meroktenos | 1 |
| Thecodontosaurus | 1 |
| Trisauropodiscus | 1 |
Rock formations with dinosaur finds in Lesotho
| Formation | Finds |
|---|---|
| Elliot | 37 |
| Clarens | 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.