A random dinosaur generator with real facts
Each pick is a real, scientifically named dinosaur with five facts: the geologic period it lived in, its diet, its group (theropod, sauropod, ceratopsian and so on), its approximate adult size and the continent where its fossils were found. The list covers 4 Triassic, 19 Jurassic and 48 Cretaceous dinosaurs, from Coelophysis and Plateosaurus to Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops.
- Carnivores / Herbivores chips for a random meat-eater or plant-eater.
- Period chips for a random Triassic, Jurassic or Cretaceous dinosaur.
- Group and location filters, for example a random sauropod or a dinosaur found in Africa.
- Matchups pair two dinosaurs for “who would win” debates and drawing battles.
- Pterosaurs and sea reptiles are kept in a separate list, because Pteranodon, Mosasaurus and Plesiosaurus were not dinosaurs.
How to use the random dinosaur generator
- Pick All dinosaurs, a diet or a period.
- Optionally choose a Group or a Found in location.
- Set How many; keep No repeats on.
- Press Generate and copy or export the list.
Dinosaur groups at a glance
| Group | What they were | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Theropod | Two-legged, mostly meat-eating dinosaurs; birds descend from them | T. rex, Velociraptor, Spinosaurus |
| Sauropod | Huge long-necked plant-eaters | Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, Argentinosaurus |
| Ceratopsian | Horned and frilled plant-eaters | Triceratops, Styracosaurus, Protoceratops |
| Ankylosaur | Armoured plant-eaters, some with tail clubs | Ankylosaurus, Borealopelta |
| Stegosaur | Plant-eaters with back plates and tail spikes | Stegosaurus, Kentrosaurus |
| Ornithopod | Beaked plant-eaters, including duck-billed hadrosaurs | Iguanodon, Parasaurolophus, Edmontosaurus |
| Pachycephalosaur | Dome-headed plant-eaters | Pachycephalosaurus |
Ideas for a random dinosaur
Kids’ dinosaur-of-the-day facts, drawing prompts, classroom research cards, party games, dinosaur-themed name ideas, and “who would win” battles with the matchup option. Sizes are approximate adult lengths from published estimates; for giant sauropods known from partial skeletons they are estimates and vary between studies.
Common questions
How many dinosaurs are in the random dinosaur generator?
71 real dinosaurs from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous, plus 10 pterosaurs, marine reptiles and other prehistoric animals in a separate list.
Can I get a random carnivore or herbivore dinosaur?
Yes. Click Carnivores or Herbivores, or open the page with ?mode=carnivores or ?mode=herbivores. A few dinosaurs, such as Oviraptor and Gallimimus, are listed as omnivores.
Why are Pteranodon and Mosasaurus in a separate list?
They were prehistoric reptiles but not dinosaurs. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles and mosasaurs and plesiosaurs were marine reptiles, so they sit under Pterosaurs and sea reptiles.
Can I get a random Jurassic dinosaur?
Click Jurassic for dinosaurs from the Early, Middle and Late Jurassic, including Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.
Is Brontosaurus a real dinosaur?
Yes. Brontosaurus was long treated as a synonym of Apatosaurus, but a 2015 study separated it again, and it is widely accepted as its own genus today. Both appear in the list.