Dinosaurs comprise a complex and diverse group of animals, which became extinct due to a massive event that affected the planet some 66 million years ago. However, the investigations showed that they left a direct lineage on earth, the birds, which are diversified in more than 10,000 species. The dinosaurs were the dominant vertebrates on the planet, with very varied characteristics among the different groups, and over time the data on their origin and evolution show how complex they were.
As we say, they inhabited the entire planet, and we know this thanks to the fossil remains found. Do you want to meet the dinosaurs of Mexico? We invite you to continue reading this article on our site, where we introduce you to the dinosaurs that lived in Mexico
Syntarsus
Corresponded to a genus of dinosaurs that has had some taxonomic controversy over time, which has generated changes in the designation of the name. The remains of these dinosaurs have been found in Mexico, the United States and South Africa.
This type of dinosaur was a predator weighing about 40 kg, with a height between approximately 2 and 3 meters, bipedal and carnivorous. It had a slim build, lower extremities, neck and tail characterized by being long. The remains found are among the oldest in Mexico and were found in the Huizachal Canyon of Tamaulipas
Gorgosaurus
His name means "fierce lizard" or "terrible", which was related to the tyrannosaur family. It was about 8 meters tall and weighed around 3 tons. It was a large and active bipedal predator, with powerful lower extremities equipped with claws, while the upper ones were small with two fingers.
It was the largest carnivore found in Mexico, on which it is estimated that it could run up to 40 km per hour. The fossil location has corresponded to Baja California, Sonora and Coahuila, in addition to the United States and Canada.
Discover all the carnivorous dinosaurs that existed in this other article: "Types of carnivorous dinosaurs".
Saurornitholestes
Another of the dinosaurs discovered in Mexico is the sauronitholestes. This was a small carnivore, 1.8 meters tall and between 20 and 35 kilos in weight. Its body was thin, equipped with claws on its lower extremities, which it is believed was used very agilely to hunt its prey.
In Mexico only remains of teeth have been found, the largest fossils have been located in Canada.
Kritosaurus
It has been indicated that the name means "noble lizard", although it is said that this is a mistake and actually means "separated lizard" because of the bony shape of the head. It has been described as a huge herbivorous dinosaur that reached 9 meters in height and weighed about 4 tons.
The remains of this dinosaur in Mexico were specifically found in Sabinas, Coahuila and also in New Mexico It belongs to a group of known dinosaurs like duckbill and was characterized by living in groups with a constant mobilization in search of food.
Alamosaurus
Its name means "alamo eye" from the ancient name of the place where it was found. Its remains in Mexico correspond to the regions of Chihuahua, Coahuila and Puebla It was an enormous dinosaur, 21 meters long and weighing about 33 tons, which is why it is considered one of the giant dinosaurs of Mexico. Its mobilization was quadrupedal and it was a herbivore. It is included in the titanosaurids, which had large necks to match their large dimensions and spread across all continents.
Labocania
The name of this dinosaur found in Mexico is due to the Bocana Roja formation in Baja California. It had a Tyrannosaurus-like appearance, possibly indicating its relationship to the latter. It was characterized by being a carnivore, estimated at 1.5 tons in weight and approximately 6 meters long, since precise estimates have been made difficult in its case. It was the first Mexican carnivorous dinosaur found
Centrosaurus
The name of this dinosaur that lived in Mexico means "pointed lizard" or "sharp point", and was part of a group known as ceratopsids, which were dinosaurs With hornsIt had a series of bony protrusions that made it peculiar. It was of strong build, with a size of about 5 meters and an estimated weight of 3 tons. It was a large herbivore, with a well-developed and quite vascularized tail, with teeth adapted to the type of food that, furthermore, once worn could be replaced.
The remains were found in the Coahuila region, as well as in Canada and the United States.
Lambeosaurus
The name refers to "Lambe lizard" in honor of its discoverer. It was a type of hadrosaur, that is, with a duck beak. Estimates indicate that its size ranged between 9 and 16 meters in length and its weight between 6 and 23 tons, which undoubtedly indicates that it was a great herbivorous dinosaur, on which it is considered to inhabit low-lying areas of bodies of water.
The remains of this dinosaur from Mexico were found both in Baja California and Coahuila.
Gryposaurus
The name of this genus means "hook-nosed lizard" and an important diversity of remains has been found in Coahuila, being from made one of the most abundant dinosaurs in Mexico. It also belonged to the duck-billed group, with a large dimension that was around 11 meters long and a mass of about 5 tons. An important aspect of this Mexican dinosaur is that impressions of its skin have been identified.
Euoplocephalus
This is another genus of dinosaurs that lived in Mexico, grouped within the ankylosaurids, characterized by having armored armorAnother characteristic of this dinosaur was the presence of a kind of club at the tip of its tail, which it must have used to defend itself. In addition, it had a series of protuberances or spines of different shapes that were part of the protective armor.
In addition to countries such as Canada and the United States, in the case of Mexico, the remains were found in Baja California and Coahuila. Its size ranged from 6 meters long and the weight was around 2 tons.
Other dinosaurs that lived in Mexico
In addition to the above, fossils of other types of dinosaurs have been found in Mexico, which we mention below:
- Heterodontosaurus
- Edmontonia
- Struthiomimus
- Chasmosaurus
- Velafrons
- Aublysodon
- Troodon
