Dinosaur genus
Massospondylus
Massospondylus is a dinosaur genus known from bones, found in rocks 227.3–174.7 million years old, in 4 countries, most often South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Confidence labels are switched off. Facts with low confidence, or where sources disagree, still carry a small dot: tap it for the reason.
At a glance
Data as of 10 October 2026- Named by
- Owen 1854
high
high: PBDB and Wikidata agree.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Described in
- R. Owen (1854). Descriptive catalogue of the Fossil organic remains of Reptilia and Pisces contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. London: 1–184.
high
high: PBDB gives this publication for the name; its author and year match the naming authority (Owen 1854), on which PBDB and Wikidata agree.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. The publication the Paleobiology Database gives as the authority for this genus name, usually the one that first named and described it.
- Type species
- Massospondylus carinatus
medium
medium: Only PBDB gives this; nothing contradicts it.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Lived
- Carnian to Toarcian, 237–174.7 million years ago
high
high: PBDB and NHM agree.Omnisaura calculation227.3–174.7 million years ago, from its dated fossil recordsmedium
medium: Omnisaura's calculation from 35 confirmed PBDB records.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Fossils found in
- LesothoSouth Africa
high
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Zimbabwehigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Namibiamedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (13 records).low
low: Only one PBDB record.mixed
mixed: Levels differ between entries; each has its own.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database; Natural History Museum Data Portal. How it was chosen: Union of all sources (ISO 3166).
- Rock formations
- Elliot FormationClarens
high
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Forest Sandstonemedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (4 records).Mpandimedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (3 records).Etjomedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (8 records).Pebbly Arkoselow
low: Only one PBDB record.Red Bedslow
low: Only one PBDB record.Upper Elliott Formationdisputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.Upper Karroo Sandstonedisputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.low
low: Only one PBDB record.mixed
mixed: Levels differ between entries; each has its own.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database; Natural History Museum Data Portal. How it was chosen: Canonical names, automatic and editor-approved matches applied.
- Family
- Massospondylidae
medium
medium: Only PBDB gives this; nothing contradicts it.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Parent group
- Massospondylidae
medium
medium: Only PBDB gives this; nothing contradicts it.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Order
- Saurischia
medium
medium: Only NHM gives this; nothing contradicts it.Sources
Given by: Natural History Museum Data Portal. How it was chosen: Gap filled from NHM.
- Species named in its records
- Massospondylus carinatus, Massospondylus kaalae
Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database (the species its fossil records are identified as).
- Known from
- Bones
Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database (what the name was based on).
Gaps are answers
What isn't known yet
- Diet: no source we use gives it yet.
- Way of life: no source we use gives it yet.
- Common names: no source we use gives it yet.
- What it was named after: no source we use gives it yet.
- Held back: 44 fossil records left out: identified only tentatively (for example "cf.", "?" or the name in quotation marks).
- Held back: 1 fossil record left out: identified only to a broader group, not to this genus.
- Resting on one source: 4 facts come from a single source with nothing against them (rated medium): type species (PBDB); parent group (PBDB); family (PBDB); order (NHM).
Size and appearance aren't covered yet, and diet and way of life only as PBDB infers them for the wider group. Omnisaura leaves the rest out rather than guess.
Where sources disagree
2 openFormations
- records nothing herePBDB
- Red BedsNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Formations
- records nothing herePBDB
- Upper Elliott FormationNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Did it meet…?
No. Massospondylus had gone at least 91.1 million years before Tyrannosaurus appears in the fossil record, a longer gap than the 66 million years between Tyrannosaurus and today.
Going by the ages and rock formations of their dated fossils, as on the map. Compare their fossil sites on the map.
Connections
Genera linked to Massospondylus by where and when their fossils were found, by classification and by who named them. Select a name to open its page.
Same rocks, same time 23
Genera found in the same rock units, from rocks of overlapping age, the most shared fossil sites first.
Same family: Massospondylidae 5
Other genera in Massospondylidae with a full profile.
Named by Owen 4
Genera whose naming authority includes the same surname. The authority has no initials, so different people who share a surname can appear together.
Found in South Africa 15
Other genera found in South Africa, from rocks of overlapping age, the most fossil sites there first.
Credits
Where this page comes from
- Paleobiology DatabaseCC BY 4.0 · fossil records, ages, classification
- Natural History Museum Data PortalCC0 1.0 · catalogued specimens
- WikidataCC0 1.0 · names and identifiers
- OmnisauraOmnisaura editorial · confidence levels and gaps
- PaleoMAP PaleoCoastlines (Kocsis and Scotese 2021)CC BY 4.0 · ancient coastlines on the small map
- Natural EarthPublic domain · today's coastlines
Pictures linked from this page are credited beside each one, with their own licences; the full list is in the JSON download.