This is a list of non-avian dinosaurs whose remains have been recovered from the Indian subcontinent or Madagascar. Though widely separated today, the Indian subcontinent and Madagascar were connected throughout much of the Mesozoic and shared similar dinosaur faunas, distinct from what has been found on other modern African and Asian landmasses.
The Indian fossil record of dinosaurs is good, with fossils coming from the entire Mesozoic era – starting with the Triassic period (a geological period that started 251.9 million years ago and continued till 201.3 million years ago), to the Jurassic period (201 million years ago to 143 million years ago) and Cretaceous period (from 143 million years ago to 66 million years ago), when globally all non-avian dinosaurs and 75 per cent of all life on Earth together became extinct. Madagascar also preserves various unique dinosaurs from the Triassic, the Jurassic and the Cretaceous.
Criteria for inclusion The genus must appear on the List of dinosaur genera. At least one named species of the creature must have been found in the Indian subcontinent or Madagascar.
List of Indian and Madagascan dinosaurs
Valid genera
Name Year Formation Location Notes Images Archaeodontosaurus 2005 Isalo III Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian to Bathonian) Retained "prosauropod"-like teeth despite its late age Barapasaurus 1975 Kota Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian to Pliensbachian) Several individuals have been found associated with tree trunks, which may represent the aftermath of a flood Brachypodosaurus 1934 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Has been suggested to be a thyreophoran, but such an identification is unlikely Bruhathkayosaurus 1987 Kallamedu Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Reportedly exceptionally large but its fossils have been lost. Its bones have been informally speculated to be misidentified tree trunksHoltz, T. (1995), "Re: Biggest predators" , discussion group, The Dinosaur Mailing List, 22 September 1995. Accessed 24 February 2019.Mortimer, M. (2006), "Re:" , discussion group, The Dinosaur Mailing List, 17 November 2006. Accessed 24 February 2019.Brusatte, S. (2001), "Re: Bruhathkayosaurus" , discussion group, The Dinosaur Mailing List, 18 June 2001. Accessed 24 February 2019. but later research suggests at least the tibia is real Ceratocaudia 2026 Kaladongar Formation (Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic, Pliensbachian to Bajocian) One of the oldest macronarians. May represent a dwarf taxon Coeluroides 1933 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Potentially synonymous with OrnithomimoidesWilson. (2012). Small theropod dinosaurs from the Latest Cretaceous of India. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Program and Abstracts 2012, 194. Compsosuchus 1933 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Has been suggested to be both an abelisauridF. E. Novas, F. L. Agnolin, and S. Bandyopadhyay, 2004, "Cretaceous theropods from India: a review of specimens described by Huene and Matley (1933)", Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, nuevo serie 6(1): 67-103 and a noasauridNew materials of Masiakasaurus knopfleri Sampson, Carrano, and Forster, 2001, and implications for the morphology of the Noasauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) / Matthew T. Carrano, Mark A. Loewen, and Joseph J. W. Sertich. Dahalokely 2013 Ambolafotsy Formation (Late Cretaceous, Turonian) Shares features of both abelisaurids and noasaurids Dandakosaurus 1982 Kota Formation (Early Jurassic, Pliensbachian to Toarcian) Poorly known but large for an early theropod Dryptosauroides 1932 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Only known from six caudal vertebrae Indosaurus 1933 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Had a characteristically thickened skull Indosuchus 1933 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Its skull was flattened and topped by a short crest Isisaurus 2003 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Unusually proportioned with a short, robust neck and long limbs Jainosaurus 1995 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Originally named as a species of Antarctosaurus Jaklapallisaurus 2011 Upper Maleri Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) May have been closely related to South American sauropodomorphs Kotasaurus 1988 Kota Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian to Pliensbachian) The neural spines of its vertebrae were massively constructed, which is a basal trait Laevisuchus 1933 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Only known from three vertebrae but can confidently be assigned to the Noasauridae Lametasaurus 1923 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Described based on now lost remains, it is currently seen as a possible chimera including theropod material and osteoderms of uncertain origin Lamplughsaura 2007 Upper Dharmaram Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) Large and robustly built Lapparentosaurus 1986 Isalo III Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) Relatively fast-growing as evidenced by the preservation of a large amount of fibrolamellar bone Majungasaurus 1955 Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Bite marks on several specimens have been found to perfectly match the teeth of this genus, suggesting cannibalistic tendencies Maleriraptor 2025 Upper Maleri Formation (Late Triassic, Norian) This genus fills a temporal gap between older South American herrerasaurs and younger North American taxa Masiakasaurus 2001 Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Possessed procumbent teeth at the tips of its jaws which may indicate a feeding specialization Nambalia 2011 Upper Maleri Formation (Late Triassic, Norian to Rhaetian) Known from the remains of two individuals Narindasaurus 2020 Isalo III Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian to Callovian) The oldest known turiasaur Ornithomimoides 1932 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Two species have been named, both from isolated vertebrae Orthogoniosaurus 1931 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Only known from a single, fragmentary tooth Pradhania 2007 Upper Dharmaram Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) Closely related to Massospondylus Rahiolisaurus 2010 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Remains of multiple growth stages are known Rajasaurus 2003 Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Possessed a single, short horn on its forehead that may have been used for display and head-butting Rapetosaurus 2001 Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Known from almost the entire skeleton, including the skull Tharosaurus 2023 Jaisalmer Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bathonian) Described as an early diplodocoid, but it was later reinterpreted as an indeterminate eusauropod Titanosaurus 1877 Kallakurichi Formation, Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) Although only known from a few bones, this genus is the namesake of the Titanosauria and the Titanosauriformes Vahiny 2014 Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) May have been a rare component of its habitat due to the paucity of its remains
Invalid and potentially valid genera
Alwalkeria maleriensis: Described based on a chimeric specimen. The exact holotypic bone cannot be identified any further than Avemetatarsalia. Dravidosaurus blanfordi: Described as a stegosaur but has been suggested to be a plesiosaur. However, it has been reported that stegosaur remains from its time and place are being described. Jubbulpuria tenuis: Potentially synonymous with Laevisuchus. Rahonavis ostromi: A small feathered maniraptoran. It has been variously suggested to be a dromaeosaurid (possibly an unenlagiine), an avialan or outside both groups.
Timeline This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in a megaannum, which is a year when multiplied by a million times (i.e. a million years), along the x-axis.
See also
List of birds of India List of birds of Madagascar
References