Dinosaurs That Start With P

Dinosaurs are prehistoric creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. They are classified as reptiles and lived from about 245 million years ago until around 66 million years ago when they went extinct. Dinosaurs are known for their long necks, sharp teeth, and massive sizes. These creatures were some of the largest to ever walk the Earth and captivate the imagination of people today.

Compiling this dinosaur list has been an incredible journey. Through long hours of reading and research, I was able to understand these prehistoric beasts better. With great attention to detail, I compiled a list that not only includes popular dinosaurs but also lesser-known species that are equally fascinating.

So, let’s begin exploring this list of dinosaurs starting with P!

121 Dinosaurs That Start With P

And here’s the list of dinosaurs that begin with P letter.

Pachycephalosaurus

Take a look at Pachycephalosaurus, which can be easily recognized by the dome-like structure on their head. These herbivores roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period and are believed to have been around 15 feet long. With a thick skull that could reach up to 10 inches, it is thought that these dinosaurs used head-butting as a means of combat or for recognizing dominance.

Pachyrhinosaurus

Pachyrhinosaurus, a herbivore belonging to the ceratopsid family, possessed a unique feature – a bony nasal boss. This species, which lived during the Late Cretaceous period, was known for its short frill covered in spikes and horns protruding from the side of its curved head. They roamed in large herds across North America and were an important part of the ecosystem.

Pachysauriscus

Pachysauriscus, a poorly known genus of dinosaur, lived during the Late Triassic period. There is not much evidence or information about them, but it is believed that these animals were carnivorous due to their sharply pointed teeth. With long, slender hind legs and a thick tail, they would have been agile hunters.

Pachysaurops

Pachysaurops was a large aquatic reptile that existed during the Early Jurassic period. The name ‘Pachysaurops’ means “thick-lizard-face,” which is believed to reference its robust skull and jaw. With a length of up to 9 feet, these animals were formidable predators that preyed upon fish and other aquatic creatures.

Pachyspondylus

Pachyspondylus, a genus of primitive sauropod dinosaur, lived during the Early Cretaceous period. With a small body measuring around 10 feet long, it is considered to be one of the smallest sauropods. Its most notable feature was the spines on its neck and back, which may have served for protection from predators or as a display to attract a mate.

Pachysuchus

Pachysuchus was a crocodile-like reptile that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. With a length of up to 13 feet, it was a formidable predator that hunted in the water. It had a short, broad snout and saw-like teeth that it used to catch fish, turtles, and other small prey.

Padillasaurus

Padillasaurus, a genus of sauropod dinosaur, lived during the Late Jurassic period. With a long neck and tail and a small head, these herbivores were likely grazers that roamed in herds. However, little is known about this dinosaur due to the few fossil discoveries made.

Palaeoctonus

Palaeoctonus was a species of prehistoric scorpion that lived during the Late Silurian period. With a length of up to 4 inches, these arachnids were among the largest of their kind. Known for their powerful pincers, they were skilled hunters that preyed upon other invertebrates.

Palaeocursornis

Palaeocursornis was a genus of prehistoric bird that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. With a wingspan of around 4 feet, it was a large bird that was flightless. However, it likely had good running ability, which would have helped it evade predators.

Palaeopteryx

Palaeopteryx was a genus of prehistoric bird that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. Though it likely had feathers and wings, it was not a fully capable flyer and was probably arboreal, spending most of its time in trees. It was a small bird, around the size of a sparrow, and likely subsisted on insects.

Palaeosauriscus

Palaeosauriscus was a genus of prehistoric reptile that lived during the Early Jurassic period. With a length of around 6 feet, it was a small carnivorous animal that likely hunted small prey such as lizards and insects. Little is known about this genus due to the scarcity of fossil discoveries.

Palaeosaurus

Palaeosaurus was a genus of prehistoric reptile that lived during the Early Jurassic period. It was around 15 feet long and was likely a quadrupedal herbivore that grazed on ferns and other vegetation. With a small head and long neck, it was similar in appearance to modern-day iguanas.

Palaeoscincus

Palaeoscincus was a genus of prehistoric reptile that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. With a length of up to 33 feet, it was a large herbivorous animal that likely fed on low-lying foliage. Its long, whip-like tail may have been used for defense or balance while walking or running.

Paleosaurus

Paleosaurus was a genus of prehistoric reptile that lived during the Early Permian period. A distant ancestor to modern-day lizards and snakes, it was a small, carnivorous creature that likely subsisted on insects and other small prey.

Paludititan

Paludititan was a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. With a length of up to 68 feet, it was one of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth. The only known fossils come from vertebrae and limb bones, so little is known about its appearance beyond its size.

Paluxysaurus

Paluxysaurus was a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. With a length of up to 70 feet, it was one of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth. It is known for the large number of fossils found in Texas, including an almost complete skeleton on display in the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

Pampadromaeus

Pampadromaeus was a small bipedal dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period. Measuring around 5 feet long, it was a basal dinosaur and a distant ancestor to the well-known theropods such as Tyrannosaurus rex. Its legs were long and slender, suggesting it was a fast runner.

Pamparaptor

Pamparaptor was a genus of small dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina. Measuring only around 2 feet long, it was a fast and agile hunter that subsisted on small prey such as lizards and insects. Its most notable feature was its sharp, curved teeth, which it likely used to catch and kill its prey.

Panamericansaurus

Panamericansaurus was a genus of titanosaur dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. It was a large herbivore that likely foraged on low-lying vegetation. With a length of up to 85 feet, it was one of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth.

Pandoravenator

Pandoravenator was a species of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Measuring around 6 feet long, it was a small predator that likely hunted small prey such as lizards and small mammals. It is known from only a single fossil discovery in New Mexico, USA.

Panguraptor

One of the earliest known dinosaurs possessing elongate forearms and semi-lunate carpal bones.

Panoplosaurus

A heavily-armored herbivorous dinosaur with bony plates covering most of its body.

Panphagia

A small early sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic of Argentina, known from a near-complete skeleton.

Pantydraco

A medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur, characterized by its sharp teeth, long tail, and strong legs.

Papiliovenator

A theropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, named after the Mariposa butterfly.

Paralitherizinosaurus

A giant theropod dinosaur with long arms and sharp claws, which is so far the largest known paravian dinosaur.

Paralititan

A newly discovered species of titanosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Egypt.

Paranthodon

A herbivorous dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period, known for its large, bony head crest.

Pararhabdodon

A small, duck-billed dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Europe.

Parasaurolophus

A genus of large, tubular-crested hadrosaurid dinosaur, known for its distinctive head crest.

Paraxenisaurus

A long-necked herbivorous dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period that lived in what is now Spain.

Pareiasaurus

A heavily armored herbivore from the Permian period, known for its massive size and thick skull.

Pareisactus

A small armored dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now Spain.

Parksosaurus

A small herbivorous dinosaur with a flat skull and leaf-shaped teeth; it lived during the Late Cretaceous period.

Paronychodon

A carnivorous dinosaur with serrated teeth and sharp claws, that lived during the Late Cretaceous period.

Parrosaurus

An early theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, known for its long tail and sharp teeth.

Parvicursor

A small theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous period.

Patagonykus

A small, agile theropod dinosaur that roamed what is now Patagonia during the Late Cretaceous period.

Patagopelta

A heavily-armored ankylosaurian dinosaur, known for its strange mixture of traits from different groups of ankylosaurs.

Patagosaurus

A long-necked herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, known for its massive size.

Patagotitan

One of the largest titanosaurs ever discovered, found in what is now Patagonia during the Late Cretaceous period.

Pawpawsaurus

A small armored dinosaur characterized by the bony armor on its back and its spiky tail.

Pectinodon

A small herbivorous dinosaur, known for its ridged teeth that were perfect for grinding plants.

Pedopenna

A feathered dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, known for its bird-like features.

Pegomastax

A small, bipedal herbivorous dinosaur, with sharp teeth and quills on its neck.

Peishansaurus

An early ceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now China.

Pekinosaurus

An early stegosaurian dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period in what is now China.

Pelecanimimus

An early coelurosaurian dinosaur with an elongated snout, used for catching small fish and insects.

Pellegrinisaurus

A small theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina.

Peloroplites

A herbivorous dinosaur with a heavily armored head, known for its distinctive appearance.

Pelorosaurus

Discover more about the massive, long-necked Pelorosaurus, one of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the Earth.

Pendraig

Legend has it that Pendraig could breathe fire, but in reality, this dinosaur was a small carnivorous theropod.

Penelopognathus

Meet Penelopognathus, a recently discovered herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic.

Pentaceratops

With five horns on its head, Pentaceratops was a unique and impressive member of the ceratopsian family.

Petrobrasaurus

Named after the Brazilian oil company Petrobras, this sauropod was one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered.

Phaedrolosaurus

The strange and elusive Phaedrolosaurus is known only from a single partial skeleton, making it a mystery to paleontologists.

Philovenator

This small, feathered dinosaur was named after Phil Currie and was found in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.

Phuwiangosaurus

Phuwiangosaurus was a long-necked sauropod that lived during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now Thailand.

Phuwiangvenator

This carnivorous dinosaur was discovered in the same area of Thailand as Phuwiangosaurus, and likely preyed upon smaller herbivorous dinosaurs.

Phyllodon

Phyllodon was a bipedal carnivorous dinosaur with sharp teeth and claws, and likely moved quickly to catch its prey.

Piatnitzkysaurus

This South American theropod was one of the earliest-known members of the Allosauridae family, and had long, sharp claws.

Picrodon

Picrodon was a small, bipedal dinosaur with a long tail and sharp teeth, and likely preyed upon small animals and insects.

Pinacosaurus

Pinacosaurus was a heavily armored dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, and likely used its armor for defense against predators.

Pisanosaurus

This small herbivorous dinosaur is known from just a single specimen, and is one of the earliest known ornithischian dinosaurs.

Pitekunsaurus

Pitekunsaurus was a small, bipedal dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina.

Piveteausaurus

This sauropod was named after the French paleontologist Jean Piveteau, who led several expeditions to Madagascar in the early 20th century.

Planicoxa

Planicoxa was a small herbivorous dinosaur with a short snout and large eyes, and likely used its sense of smell and vision to navigate its environment.

Plateosauravus

Plateosauravus was a small bipedal dinosaur that likely preyed upon insects and other small animals in what is now Germany.

Plateosaurus

One of the most common dinosaurs in the Late Triassic period, Plateosaurus was a long-necked herbivore that could grow up to 30 feet in length.

Platyceratops

This ceratopsian dinosaur is known for its unique frill and two small horns on its head, and likely used its frill for display and defense.

Platytholus

Platytholus was a small ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Mongolia.

Plesiohadros

This duck-billed dinosaur was recently discovered in what is now Japan, and likely lived alongside other herbivorous dinosaurs in its ecosystem.

Pleurocoelus

Pleurocoelus was one of the largest dinosaurs of the Early Cretaceous period, and likely traveled in herds to find food and defend against predators.

Pleuropeltus

Pleuropeltus was a heavily armored ankylosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, and likely used its clubbed tail for defense.

Pneumatoarthrus

This enigmatic dinosaur is known only from a single vertebra, making it difficult for paleontologists to determine its relationship to other dinosaurs.

Pneumatoraptor

Pneumatoraptor was a small carnivorous dinosaur that likely preyed upon small mammals and reptiles in what is now China.

Podokesaurus

This small theropod dinosaur lived during the Early Jurassic period in what is now North America, and is known for its sharp teeth and claws.

Poekilopleuron

Fierce and agile, Poekilopleuron was a top predator of the Late Jurassic.

Polacanthoides

Covered in bony plates for defense, Polacanthoides roamed the Earth during the Early Cretaceous.

Polacanthus

A heavily armored dinosaur, Polacanthus used its spiky defenses to fend off predators.

Polyodontosaurus

With its long, curved teeth, Polyodontosaurus was well-suited for catching fish.

Polyonax

A massive herbivore, Polyonax had a unique tooth structure for grinding tough plant matter.

Ponerosteus

A lesser-known dinosaur, Ponerosteus was a small, bipedal herbivore.

Poposaurus

Poposaurus was a large, carnivorous reptile that lived during the Late Triassic.

Portellsaurus

A medium-sized predator, Portellsaurus hunted in packs during the Early Cretaceous.

Postosuchus

A reptile that resembled a dinosaur, Postosuchus had powerful jaws and sharp teeth.

Powellvenator

Known from only partial remains, Powellvenator was a small but fierce theropod.

Pradhania

A plant-eating dinosaur, Pradhania had a distinctive beak and long neck.

Prenocephale

A dome-headed dinosaur, Prenocephale likely used its skull for head-butting contests.

Prenoceratops

Like its larger relative Triceratops, Prenoceratops had a bony frill and three horns.

Priconodon

A toothless dinosaur, Priconodon used its beak to pluck vegetation.

Priodontognathus

A small, carnivorous dinosaur, Priodontognathus had sharp teeth and short arms.

Probactrosaurus

A primitive duck-billed dinosaur, Probactrosaurus had a narrow beak and small teeth.

Probrachylophosaurus

A species of hadrosaur, Probrachylophosaurus had a broad, duck-like muzzle.

Proceratops

A horned dinosaur, Proceratops was roughly the size of a bighorn sheep.

Proceratosaurus

A small, agile predator, Proceratosaurus had two distinctive crests on its skull.

Procerosaurus

A tiny herbivore, Procerosaurus was about the size of a turkey.

Procheneosaurus

A duck-billed dinosaur, Procheneosaurus had hundreds of teeth and a unique tooth battery.

Procompsognathus

A small, fast-moving dinosaur, Procompsognathus may have been warm-blooded.

Prodeinodon

A large carnivore, Prodeinodon had razor-sharp teeth and a powerful bite.

Propanoplosaurus

A heavily armored dinosaur, Propanoplosaurus had huge spikes on its back and tail.

Proplanicoxa

A fast-running predator, Proplanicoxa had long legs and sharp claws.

Prosaurolophus

A duck-billed dinosaur, Prosaurolophus had a distinctive crest on its head.

Protarchaeopteryx

A small, feathered dinosaur, Protarchaeopteryx may have been part of the transition from dinosaurs to birds.

Protathlitis

A primitive dinosaur, Protathlitis had long, sharp teeth and walked on two legs.

Protiguanodon

The Protiguanodon is a large, herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period and is believed to have used its beak-like mouth to strip leaves and branches off of trees.

Protoavis

Protoavis is a controversial dinosaur species that some paleontologists believe to be the earliest bird, while others see it as a primitive dinosaur.

Protoceratops

The Protoceratops is a small, frilled dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is known for its distinctive beak-like mouth and long horns.

Protognathosaurus

The Protognathosaurus is a carnivorous dinosaur that lived in China during the Late Jurassic period and is known for its sharp teeth and long, slender body.

Protohadros

The Protohadros is a genus of duck-billed dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is known for its broad, flat snout and long, powerful tail.

Psittacosaurus

Psittacosaurus is a small, bipedal dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period and is known for its parrot-like beak and colorful markings.

Pteropelyx

Pteropelyx is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is known for its long, slender tail and bird-like legs.

Pterospondylus

Pterospondylus is a genus of pterosaurs that lived during the Late Jurassic period and is known for its long, slender wings and sharp beak.

Puertasaurus

Puertasaurus is a genus of giant, herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is known for its massive size and long neck.

Pukyongosaurus

Pukyongosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period and is known for its long, whip-like tail and massive size.

Pulanesaura

Pulanesaura is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period and is known for its long, slender neck and tail.

Punatitan

Punatitan is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is known for its massive size and long, broad tail.

Pycnonemosaurus

Pycnonemosaurus is a genus of carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is known for its sharp teeth and muscular build.

Pyroraptor

Pyroraptor is a genus of small, feathered dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is known for its narrow jaws and sharp claws.

Wrapping Up

And that’s our list of P dinosaurs.

I spent countless hours researching, reading, and watching documentaries on dinosaurs. The amount of knowledge I gained about these creatures and their habitats was enormous. As I began compiling the list, it became clear that I needed to include all types of dinosaurs. And I was able to do just that, creating an all-encompassing list that covers the spectrum of these magnificent creatures.

In conclusion, dinosaurs have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on our planet’s history. Their colossal size, unique physical characteristics, and diverse habitats are a testament to their impressive evolution over millions of years. Although they have been extinct for over 65 million years, their legacy lives on through fossils, scientific discoveries, and popular culture. As we continue to explore and learn more about these prehistoric creatures, we gain a deeper understanding of our evolutionary past and the complex ecosystems that existed millions of years ago. We must continue to preserve and protect these incredible fossils and the knowledge they provide for future generations to come.

Hope this post on dinosaur names beginning with P alphabet has been useful to you!