The team at Gage Beasley Prehistoric is constantly engaged in researching and discovering interesting information about extinct animals.
In doing so, we often find ourselves captivated by the mesmerizing names attributed to these extraordinary creatures.
Whether it’s their given name or the meaning behind it, there’s no denying the sheer awesomeness that some of these names possess.
With this in mind, we pondered upon the idea of compiling a list of our favorite names and arranging them in a captivating countdown from 20 to 1.
And here we are!
Why We Made The List
Initially, our team built a list of 100 species that were considered to be the best candidates.
This was based on what they found to be some of the meanest, funniest, or most creative names.
As we mentioned earlier, this is based on either their given name or the name’s meaning.
We looked for names that stood out from the crowd, were unique to the species, and showed a bit of personality.
We then further narrowed our list down to 20 species that best represented what we thought were the greatest names of all.
We hope you enjoy it. Surely, you will encounter some species you’ve never heard of before.
Let us know your favorite in the comments below!
Who will take the crown?
Let’s find out:
20. Seismosaurus: The Earth Shaking Lizard
| Name | Seismosaurus |
| Name Meaning | “Bulky lizard” |
| Pronunciation | SIZE-moe-SORE-us |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Jurassic |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropoda |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Height | 84 feet (25.6 meters) |
| Length | 150 feet (45.7 meters) |
| Weight | 100 short tons (90.72 tonnes) |
| Location | New Mexico |
Let’s start with the Earth Shaking Lizard, Seismosaurus.
Seismosaurus was a colossal giant that inhabited Western North America.
Considered one of the longest species that roamed around the planet, Seismosaurus existed to be 150 feet (46 meters) long.
Its Earth-shaking name comes from its heavy weight, which can be approximately around 100 tons.
Seismosaurus had a long neck and tail, with a delicate skull, and roamed around the vast lands with its four legs.
19. Tyrannotitan: The Tyrant Giant
| Name | Tyrannotitan |
| Name Meaning | “Tyrant Titan” |
| Pronunciation | Tie-ran-oh-ty-tan |
| Era | Mesozoic – Early Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 3.2 meters (10.4 feet) |
| Length | 12–13 meters (40–43 feet) |
| Weight | 7 tons (15400 lbs) |
| Location | Argentina (South America) |
Tyrannotitan was one of the ferocious predators that roamed in the ancient landscape of Argentina.
Although it is not related to the Tyrannosaurus, it was still an apex predator ruling for millions of years, hence its Tyrant Giant name.
Tryannotitan was bipedal and had a robust and muscular build, with a long muscular tail for balance and agility.
As a hungry carnivore, it has eaten lots of dinosaur species and was heavily built to take down any prey.
With its massive size, speed, and running prowess, it can quickly catch any prey with pursuit and ambush.
18. Tarbosaurus: The Alarming Lizard
| Name | Tarbosaurus |
| Name Meaning | “Alarming Lizard” |
| Pronunciation | tar-boh-SAW-rus |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 4 meters (13 feet) |
| Length | 10.57 meters (34.7 feet) |
| Weight | 4.5-5 tons (9,900–11023 lbs) |
| Location | Mongolia & China (Asia) |
Don’t get alarmed with this alarming lizard because you will have a knack for it once you do.
Tarbosaurus was a close cousin of the famous Tyrannosaurus that ruled the landscape of East Asia.
Closely similar to that of the Tyrannosaurus, Tarbosaurus was a massive creature and one of the largest tyrannosaurids ever found.
This ferocious dinosaur measured about 10.57 meters (34.7 feet in length and stood at about 3.2 meters (20 feet tall).
Tarbosaurus used its turbo speed to alarm prey when hunting or pursuing prey, hence its name as the alarming lizard.
It is clear, to some degree, that Tarbosaurus is one dinosaur that you won’t even like to meet because of its moody behavior.
17. Pyroraptor: The Fire Thief
| Name | Pyroraptor |
| Name Meaning | “Fire thief” |
| Pronunciation | Pai-roe-rap-tore |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 1.5-2.07 meters (4.9-6.7 feet) long |
| Length | 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) tall at the hips |
| Weight | 181.4 kilograms (400 lbs) |
| Location | Provence, France, Europe |
Let’s welcome the fire thief dinosaur to the list.
Pyroraptor’s origin started when it was first discovered after a forest fire, hence its fire designation.
Quite small in size, its bird-like appearance isn’t just for a show.
When hunting, Pyroraptor uses their enlarged curved claws to kill their prey, day in and day out.
Apparently, Pyroraptor relied on a “puncture and pull” technique to feed themselves and preferred to hunt larger prey.
Undoubtedly, Pyroraptor is an amazing dinosaur with fast hunting speeds and a strategist like no other.
16. Dracorex: The Dragon King
| Name | Dracorex |
| Name Meaning | “Dragon King” |
| Pronunciation | DRAY-co-rex |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Ornithischia & Pachycephalosauridae |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Height | 1.5 meters (5 feet) |
| Length | 3.9–4.8 meters (13-16 feet) |
| Weight | 200-300 kilograms (440-660 lbs) |
| Location | South Dakota, USA (North America) |
Hear ye the Dragon King Dracorex.
Dracorex is an extraordinary creature that defies the stereotypical appearance of dinosaurs.
Their skull was more elongated and had many knobs and spikes.
Measured to be around 13 to 15 feet long, it was a relatively small dinosaur compared to some of its contemporaries.
Noticeably, Dracorex’s forelimbs were quite shorter and relied on its hindlimbs for movement, enabling Dracorex to move quickly and efficiently with its two legs.
Studying its teeth, it was revealed that it was herbivorous and depended on plant life for survival.
15. Cryolophosaurus: Frozen Crested Lizard
| Name | Cryolophosaurus |
| Name Meaning | “Frozen crested lizard” |
| Pronunciation | Kry-oh-low-foh-sore-us |
| Era | Mesozoic – Early Jurassic |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) |
| Length | 6-7 meters (19.6-22.9 feet) |
| Weight | 350-465 kilograms (772-1,025 lbs) |
| Location | Antarctica |
Discovered in Antarctica, Cryolophosaurus was revealed to be a bipedal theropod that roamed during the Early Jurassic.
Upon its discovery, Cryolophosaurus was first the first officially named non-avian dinosaur.
Known as the frozen-crested lizard, Cryolophosaurus had been an apex predator during its time.
Cryolophosaurus was 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) tall and had a robust build, with short forelimbs and strong hind limbs.
As an apex predator, this frozen-crested lizard is thought to have fed on local prosauropods.
Cryolophosaurus can also run at high speeds, proving that Cryolophosaurus was an ex excellent predator.
14. Deinonychus: The Terrible Claw
| Name | Deinonychus |
| Name Meaning | “Terrible claw” |
| Pronunciation | Di-non-ih-kus |
| Era | Mesozoic – Early Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 0.87 meters (2.9 feet) |
| Length | 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) |
| Weight | 60-73 kilograms (132-161 pounds) |
| Location | Wyoming, Montana, Utah; North America |
Named as Terrible Claw, Deinonychus opened the doors to the possibility that birds evolved from theropods.
Deinonychus is renowned for its sickle-shaped talons and was a relatively large dinosaur that grew longer than 2.07 meters (6.7 feet).
Deinonychus is considered to be an active and agile creature with an unusual body posture compared to other theropods.
Known to be a good runner because of its strong hind limbs, Deinonychus as a carnivore, was well-adapted for grasping and holding prey.
Moreover, its bite force is commendable, which was estimated to be at 4,100 to 8,200 Newtons, greater than any biting force of any living mammal.
13. Beelzebufo: Lord of The Toads
| Name | Beelzebufo |
| Name Meaning | “Lord of the Toads” |
| Pronunciation | Beel-ze-boo-fo |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Salientia, Anura, & Neobatrachia |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 41 cm (16 in.) |
| Length | 23.2 cm (9.1 in.) |
| Weight | 4.5 kg (10 lbs.) |
| Location | Madagascar |
Beelzebufo was an extinct amphibian and is considered to be the largest among its species.
Studies show that Beelzebufo had a length of around 23.2 cm (9.1 in.) and had a similar structure to today’s modern Pac-Man frogs.
Beelzebufo had horns on their heads and were blanketed with shell-like armor for defense.
As one of the largest frogs before, Beelzebufo had a big appetite, preying on a large range of food.
This Lord of Toads had very large mouths and a strong bite force, estimated to be at 2,200 Newtons, crushing their prey to pieces.
12. Deinotherium: The Terrible Beast
| Name | Deinotherium |
| Name Meaning | “Terrible Beast” |
| Pronunciation | Dy-noe-fee-ree-um. |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Mammalia, Proboscidea, Deinotheriidae |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Height | 3.63–4.0 m (11.9–13.1 ft) |
| Length | 120–130 cm (47–51 in) |
| Weight | 8.8–12 tonnes (8800-12000 kgs) |
| Location | Africa, Asia, Europe |
Deinotherium was one of the largest prehistoric elephants roamed around Africa and a part of Eurasia.
Having longer legs, a short trunk, and tusks in their lower jaws, the appearance of Deinotherium’s is somewhat different from modern elephants today.
Deinotherium was a massive creature with a body mass of 13200 kg (29100 lbs) and a height of 4.01 m (13.2 feet).
Compared to other elephants, the Deinotherium skull is also different, comprising a flat forehead and a large nasal opening.
Lastly, its tusks were positioned downward, probably used to remove branches to feed themselves.
11. Stygimoloch: The Styx Demon
| Name | Stygimoloch |
| Name Meaning | “The Styx Demon” |
| Pronunciation | STIH-jih-MOE-lock |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Ornithischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Height | 1 meter (3 feet) |
| Length | 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) |
| Weight | 200 to 400 kg (440 to 880 lbs) |
| Location | USA (North America) |
Stygimoloch was a plant-eating dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period.
This terrifying dinosaur got its nickname because of its heavily ornamental skull, covered with spikes and knobs, resembling that of the devil.
Considered to be a small dinosaur, Stygimoloch had a compact and robust body structure, suggesting that it was capable of hunting prey quickly and easily.
One peculiar behavior of male Stygimoloch is that they head-butt each other to get the right to mate with the females.
Aside from that, Stygimoloch had large bony plates, which added to their striking appearance.
10. Carnotaurus: The Meat-Eating Bull
| Name | Carnotaurus |
| Name Meaning | Meat-eating Bull |
| Pronunciation | Car-no-tore-us |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 3-3.6 meters (10-12 feet) |
| Length | 5.8-9 meters (19.2-30 feet) |
| Weight | One metric ton (2,000 lbs) |
| Location | Argentina (South America |
Carnotaurus was an enormous dinosaur that was first discovered in Argentina.
Boasting its muscular build and bull-like horns, it was nicknamed the meat-eating bull.
Carnotaurus was known for its unique physical features and striking hunting methods.
This meat-eating bull dinosaur has tiny arms that were only about a third of the size of its hind legs.
The legs of the Carnotaurus were long and powerful, primarily designed for running and hunting prey of all sizes.
Ultimately, the bite of this ferocious creature was massive enough to crush bones.
9. Nanuqsaurus: The Polar Bear Lizard
| Name | Nanuqsaurus |
| Name Meaning | “Polar Bear Lizard” |
| Pronunciation | Nah-nuk-sore-us |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) |
| Length | 5 to 9 meters (16 to 30 feet) |
| Weight | 500 to 900 kg (1,100 to 2,000 lbs) |
| Location | Alaska, USA (North America) |
Now let us talk about the massive hypercarnivore of the North Pole, the Nanuqsaurus.
Nicknamed the Polar Bear Lizard, Nanuqsaurus was related to the famous Tyrannosaurus rex.
Smaller than the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, Nanuqsaurus still has a resemblance to other tyrannosaurid dinosaurs.
Nanuqsaurus was a bipedal dinosaur with a robust build and a large head supported by its muscular neck.
Like other tyrannosaurids, Nanuqsaurus was fast and agile and even solitary in terms of behavior.
8. Deinocheirus: The Terrible Hand
| Name | Deinocheirus |
| Name Meaning | “Terrible Hand” |
| Pronunciation | DINE-oh-KIRE-us |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia & Theropoda |
| Diet | Omnivorous |
| Height | 5 meters (16 feet) |
| Length | 11.0 m (36.0 ft) |
| Weight | 6.5 t (7.2 short tons) |
| Location | Mongolia |
Deinocheirus was a theropod dinosaur that lived in Mongolia 70 million years ago.
With a massive neck and the gigantic size of the Terrible Hand’s fossil remains, the magnitude of this dinosaur is still now known.
Its weight was estimated to be roughly 20,000 lbs (9,000 kgs), and its arms are unusually longer and actually the longest of any known theropod.
That is how the dinosaur got its nickname, “Terrible Hand.”
Deinocheirus was mostly an omnivore because plants and fish scales were found in its stomach.
Deinocheirus was a slow-moving animal due to its robust hind limbs and large size.
7. Irritator: The Annoyed Dinosaur
| Name | Irritator |
| Name Meaning | Annoyed Dinosaur |
| Pronunciation | I-ruh-tay-tuh |
| Era | Mesozoic – Early Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia, & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 3 meters (9 feet) |
| Length | 7-9 meters (23-30 feet) |
| Weight | 1-2 short tons (2,000-4,000 lbs) |
| Location | Brazil (South America) |
You might be annoyed at this one, but next on the list is the Irritator.
Known as the annoying dinosaur, Irritator was named because of the frustrations of its excavator.
Irritator was a bipedal dinosaur, with powerful hindlimbs and lightweight forelimbs, for running at high speeds.
With that, Irritator was efficient and agile when hunting prey.
Studies show that Irritator had scales that protected the dinosaur from external elements and injuries.
6. Brontoscorpio: The Thunderous Scorpion
| Name | Brontoscorpio |
| Name Meaning | Thunderous Scorpion |
| Pronunciation | BRON-toh-SKOR-pee-oh |
| Era | Paleozoic – Late Silurian |
| Classification | Arachnida, Scorpiones, Incertae sedis |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | N/A |
| Length | 86.2–94 cm (2.8–3.1 ft)- |
| Weight | N/A |
| Location | England (Europe) |
Brontoscorpio is making it into the list, proving its existence as the Thunderous Scorpion.
Brontoscorpio was an extinct genus of scorpions that lived during the late Silurian period.
It had a stinger that was comparable to that of a light bulb and two pairs of pincers for grasping prey.
Brontoscorpio’s diet can range from hunting small marine animals and other insects alike.
With its strong jaws, it can tear any prey and can hunt on both land and water.
5. Teratophoneus: The Monster Killer
| Name | Tetratophoneus |
| Name Meaning | “Monster Killer |
| Pronunciation | TEH-ruh-toh-FOH-nee-us. |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia, & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 2.6 meters (8.5 feet) |
| Length | 6 meters (20 ft) |
| Weight | 667 kg (1,470 lb) |
| Location | Utah |
Teratophenus was a theropod dinosaur, estimated to be about 6 meters (20 ft) long and carrying a weight of 667 kg (1,470 lb).
First discovered in Utah, Teratophenus was an interesting find because of the dinosaur’s blunt skull.
Its skull is also deeper compared to other theropods, speculating that it had stronger jaw muscles for biting.
Due to its gregarious behavior, Teratophenus was called a monster killer and has been attributed to be a social pack-hunter.
4. Lythronax: The Gore King
| Name | Lythronax |
| Name Meaning | “Gore King” |
| Pronunciation | LITH-roe-nax. |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia, & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 2.3 m (7.5 ft) |
| Length | 5 and 8 m (16 and 26 ft) |
| Weight | 0.5 and 2.5 ton (1,100 and 5,500 lb) |
| Location | 0.5 and 2.5 tons (1,100 and 5,500 lb) |
Let us welcome a royalty on the list, the Gore King, Lythronax.
Lythronax was a large-sized theropod dinosaur that was built to chase prey.
Being a bipedal carnivore, Lythronax can grow to 9 meters (30 feet) and weigh 2.0 tons (5,500 lbs.)
Its skull is somewhat the same as that of the Tyrannosaurus, with both eyes facing front.
As a tyrannosaur, Lythronax has lived its way out to become a widely known predator, using its robust teeth and powerful jaws.
3. Quetzalcoatlus: Feathered Serpent God
| Name | Quetzalcoatlus |
| Name Meaning | “Serpent God” |
| Pronunciation | Koo-eht-zahl-ko-at-lus. |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea, & Azhdarchidae |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 5 meters (16.5 feet) |
| Length | 10 to 11 meters (33 to 36 feet) |
| Weight | 200 to 250 kilograms (440 to 550 lbs) |
| Location | USA (North America) |
In ancient times, there were gods and goddesses, and in the prehistoric realm, there was Quetzalcoatlus.
Quetzalcoatlus was a flying reptile and nicknamed to be the feathered serpent god, paying homage to the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl.
Often called the giant pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus reached a height of 16.5 feet and weighed approximately 440 to 550 pounds.
Its wingspan was one of its outstanding features, estimated to reach between 33 and 36 feet.
Because of its impressive wingspan, it enables Quetzalcoatlus to fly around for extended periods searching for food and shelter.
2. Dreadnoughtus: Lord of the Fearsome
| Name | Dreadnoughtus |
| Name Meaning | “Lord of the Fearsome” |
| Pronunciation | DRED-naw-tus. |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropoda |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Height | 9 metres (30 feet) |
| Length | 26 meters (about 85 feet) |
| Weight | 48–49 metric tons (53–54 short tons) |
| Location | Argentina- |
Have no fear because Dreadnoughtus is here!
Meet the Lord of the Fearsome, one of the largest vertebrates ever known to walk the Earth.
Dreadnoughtus measured to have a body length of 26 meters (85 ft) and weighed 48-49 metric tons (53-54 short tons).
Being the largest dinosaur, it doesn’t fear anything even though it has an unusually long neck for its body size.
1. Moros Intrepidus: Harbinger of Doom
| Name | Moros intrepidus |
| Name Meaning | “Harbinger of Doom” |
| Pronunciation | Moor-is In-tre-pih-dus |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia, & Theropoda |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Height | 1.5 meters (5 feet) |
| Length | 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) |
| Weight | 78 kgs (172 lbs) |
| Location | United States (North America) |
Now for the top on the list, the Harbinger of Doom, Moros Intrepidus.
Moros Intrepidus was one of the earliest members of Tyrannosaurids that lived in North America.
Considered one of the smallest types of Tyrannosaurids, Moros Intrepidus had a different appearance.
It stood only around 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) tall and had a length of 1.2 meters (3.9 ft).
Moros Intrepidus had a scaly body, and its overall body structure was built to be nimble and speedy.
As a carnivorous dinosaur, Moros Intrepedis fed on large and small prey.
Its sleek muscular build allowed the Harbinger of Doom to be quick, enabling Moros Intrepidus to take down other dinosaurs, too.
Conclusion
There you have it! All of the mentioned species have awesome names, to begin with.
Each of which has its own unique behavior and physical structure.
Which one do you like best and rings a bell?
Do you have other awesome names in mind?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Sources:
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/whatever-happened-to-seismosaurus-78770907/
- https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Seismosaurus/390691
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannotitan
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarbosaurus
- https://australian.museum/learn/dinosaurs/fact-sheets/tarbosaurus-bataar/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyroraptor
- https://fossil.fandom.com/wiki/Dracorex
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryolophosaurus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychus
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/facts/devil-frog
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinotherium
- https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/stygimoloch.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnotaurus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanuqsaurus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritator
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontoscorpio
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratophoneus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lythronax
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzalcoatlus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnoughtus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moros_intrepidus
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