This is a list of dinosaurs whose remains have been recovered from India 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 145 million years ago) and Cretaceous period (from 145 million years ago to 66 million years ago), when globally all non-avian dinosaurs and 65 per cent of all life became extinct. Madagascar also preserves various unique dinosaurs from the Jurassic and Cretaceous.
Name | Year | Formation | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alwalkeria | 1987 | Lower Maleri Formation (Late Triassic, Carnian) | ![]() |
Possessed different types of teeth in its upper jaw | ![]() |
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[1] | ![]() |
Bruhathkayosaurus | 1987 | Kallamedu Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Reportedly exceptionally large but its fossils have been lost;[2] its "bones" may have in fact been misidentified tree trunks[3][4][5] | |
Dahalokely | 2013 | Ambolafotsy Formation (Late Cretaceous, Turonian) | ![]() |
Shares features of both abelisaurids and noasaurids | ![]() |
Dandakosaurus | 1982 | Kota Formation (Early Jurassic, Toarcian) | ![]() |
Poorly known but large for an early theropod | |
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[6] | |
Kotasaurus | 1988 | Kota Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian to Pliensbachian) | ![]() |
The neural spines of its vertebrae were massively constructed, a basal trait | |
Laevisuchus | 1933 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Only known from three vertebrae but can confidently be assigned to Noasauridae[7] | |
Lamplughsaura | 2007 | Dharmaram Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | ![]() |
Large and robustly built | ![]() |
Lapparentosaurus | 1986 | Isalo III Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian to Bathonian) | ![]() |
Relatively fast-growing as evidenced by the preservation of a large amount of fibrolamellar bone[8] | |
Majungasaurus | 1955 | Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Bite marks on several specimens have been found that perfectly match the teeth of this genus, suggesting cannibalistic tendencies[9] | ![]() |
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 | |
Pradhania | 2007 | Upper Dharmaram Formation (Early Jurassic, Sinemurian) | ![]() |
Closely related to Massospondylus[10] | ![]() |
Rahiolisaurus | 2010 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Remains of multiple growth stages are known | ![]() |
Rahonavis | 1998 | Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
A small feathered maniraptoran. It has been variously suggested to be a dromaeosaurid (possibly a unenlagiine), an avialan, or outside both groups. | ![]() |
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[11] | ![]() |
Rapetosaurus | 2001 | Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Known from almost the entire skeleton, including the skull | ![]() |
Vahiny | 2014 | Maevarano Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
May have been a rare component of its habitat due to the paucity of its remains | |
Name | Year | Formation | Location | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brachypodosaurus | 1934 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Has been suggested to be a thyreophoran; but such an identification is unlikely | |
Coeluroides | 1933 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Potentially synonymous with Ornithomimoides[12] | ![]() |
Compsosuchus | 1933 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Has been suggested to be both an abelisaurid[13] and a noasaurid[14] | ![]() |
Dravidosaurus | 1979 | Trichinopoly Group (Late Cretaceous, Coniacian) | ![]() |
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. | |
Dryptosauroides | 1933 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
A dubious abelisaur based on six caudal vertebrae. | ![]() |
Jubbulpuria | 1933 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Poorly known; Originally classified as a Coelurid. | ![]() |
Lametasaurus | 1923 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Described based on now-lost remains, it is currently seen as a chimera and a nomen dubium. | |
Ornithomimoides | 1933 | 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 | |
Titanosaurus | 1877 | Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) | ![]() |
Although only known from a few bones, this genus is the namesake of the Titanosauria and the Titanosauriformes | ![]() |
This is a timeline of selected dinosaurs from the list above. Time is measured in Ma, megaannum, along the x-axis.
Lists of dinosaurs by continent | ||
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Non-avian dinosaurs |
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Birds |