Dinosaur fossils in North Dakota
The Paleobiology Database records 237 non-avian dinosaur finds in North Dakota, from 11 genera. The oldest is Triceratops prorsus from the Late Maastrichtian age, about 72.2 million years old. The youngest is Triceratops prorsus from the Late Maastrichtian age, as young as about 66 million years. Ages are the range the database gives for the rocks, so a find can be tens of millions of years across.
- 237finds
- 11genera
- 72.2oldest, million years ago
- 66youngest, million years ago
It ranks 7th of 36 US states on the map by number of finds, with 4% of the finds in the United States. The most recorded dinosaurs are Tyrannosaurus (23), Richardoestesia (17) and Paronychodon (12). The rock formation with the most finds is called Hell Creek, with 235.
Which dinosaurs were found in North Dakota?
The genera with the most finds here:
| Dinosaur | Finds |
|---|---|
| Tyrannosaurus | 23 |
| Richardoestesia | 17 |
| Paronychodon | 12 |
| Saurornitholestes | 9 |
| Thescelosaurus | 9 |
| Triceratops | 7 |
| Edmontosaurus | 3 |
| Troodon | 2 |
| Anzu | 1 |
| Pachycephalosaurus | 1 |
Rock formations with dinosaur finds in North Dakota
| Formation | Finds |
|---|---|
| Hell Creek | 235 |
| Fox Hills | 2 |
Other US states to explore
- Wyoming (1,040)
- Montana (985)
- New Mexico (832)
- Utah (602)
- Colorado (484)
- Texas (448)
- Arizona (167)
- South Dakota (167)
- New Jersey (70)
- Oklahoma (62)
See the sea floor where marine reptiles swam: oceanfloormap.com →
Before you go fossil hunting. A dot shows where a find was recorded, not where you may dig. Many fossil sites are on private or protected land and collecting rules differ by country. Check the rules before collecting and never dig on protected sites.