Dinosaur fossils in Texas
The Paleobiology Database records 448 non-avian dinosaur finds in Texas, from 39 genera. The oldest is Technosaurus smalli from the Norian age, about 227.3 million years old. The youngest is Alamosaurus sanjuanensis from the Late 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.
- 448finds
- 39genera
- 227.3oldest, million years ago
- 66youngest, million years ago
It ranks 6th of 36 US states on the map by number of finds, with 8% of the finds in the United States. The most recorded dinosaurs are Saurornitholestes (19), Agujaceratops (14) and Richardoestesia (13). The rock formation with the most finds is called Aguja, with 211.
Texas has dinosaur finds from more than one period, so use the age slider on the map to separate the older rocks from the younger ones.
Which dinosaurs were found in Texas?
The genera with the most finds here:
| Dinosaur | Finds |
|---|---|
| Saurornitholestes | 19 |
| Agujaceratops | 14 |
| Richardoestesia | 13 |
| Alamosaurus | 11 |
| Kritosaurus | 5 |
| Tenontosaurus | 5 |
| Coelophysis | 4 |
| Protohadros | 4 |
| Chirostenotes | 3 |
| Edmontonia | 3 |
Rock formations with dinosaur finds in Texas
| Formation | Finds |
|---|---|
| Aguja | 211 |
| Glen Rose Limestone | 72 |
| Javelina | 37 |
| Lewisville | 28 |
| Cooper Canyon | 17 |
| Paluxy | 15 |
| Twin Mountains | 15 |
| Antlers | 11 |
| Tecovas | 8 |
| Edwards Limestone | 6 |
Other US states to explore
- Wyoming (1,040)
- Montana (985)
- New Mexico (832)
- Utah (602)
- Colorado (484)
- North Dakota (237)
- Arizona (167)
- South Dakota (167)
- New Jersey (70)
- Oklahoma (62)
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.