Dinosaurs were a diverse group of reptiles that dominated the Earth for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period to the end of the Cretaceous period. Among their many remarkable features, dinosaur teeth provide key insights into their diets, behaviors, and evolutionary adaptations. The shape, number, and arrangement of teeth varied greatly between species, reflecting a wide range of feeding habits. Some dinosaurs were ferocious carnivores with sharp, serrated teeth for slicing through flesh, while others were herbivores with specialized teeth for grinding tough plants. There were even species that had unique adaptations like dental batteries or toothless beaks.
In this guide, we will explore 50 different dinosaurs, focusing on their teeth and the role these dental adaptations played in their survival and dominance during the Mesozoic era. This overview highlights how these prehistoric creatures used their teeth as specialized tools, helping them become some of the most successful and varied animals in Earth’s history.
1. Tyrannosaurus rex
- Teeth: 50-60 large, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Its teeth were designed for crushing bone and tearing flesh.
2. Triceratops
- Teeth: Up to 800 teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Used its dental batteries to grind tough plants.
3. Velociraptor
- Teeth: 26-28 recurved teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Sharp teeth for tearing into prey.
4. Iguanodon
- Teeth: About 100 teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Large, ridged teeth for grinding plants.
5. Stegosaurus
- Teeth: Around 40-50 teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Small teeth for eating soft vegetation.
6. Allosaurus
- Teeth: 32-64 sharp, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Used for tearing meat.
7. Spinosaurus
- Teeth: 60-64 conical teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore (mainly piscivore). Ideal for catching fish.
8. Diplodocus
- Teeth: About 40-60 peg-like teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Used to strip leaves from branches.
9. Apatosaurus
- Teeth: 60-80 blunt teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Stripped vegetation, mostly from trees.
10. Nigersaurus
- Teeth: 500-600 teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Specialized for grazing low-lying plants.
11. Hadrosaurus
- Teeth: Up to 1,400 teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Thousands of teeth for grinding tough plant material.
12. Carcharodontosaurus
- Teeth: 60-70 long, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Teeth used for slicing flesh.
13. Camarasaurus
- Teeth: 54 large, spoon-shaped teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Used for chewing tough plants.
14. Ankylosaurus
- Teeth: 70-100 small, leaf-shaped teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Used for grinding tough vegetation.
15. Baryonyx
- Teeth: 96 sharp, conical teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore (mainly piscivore). Specialized for eating fish.
16. Euoplocephalus
- Teeth: 30-40 leaf-shaped teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Ground tough plants.
17. Giganotosaurus
- Teeth: 60-62 long, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Specialized for tearing into large prey.
18. Oviraptor
- Teeth: Likely toothless, used beak.
- Diet: Omnivore. Used its beak to crush food.
19. Ceratosaurus
- Teeth: 50-60 large, blade-like teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Sharp teeth for cutting through flesh.
20. Coelophysis
- Teeth: Around 50 sharp teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Used for eating small prey.
21. Pachycephalosaurus
- Teeth: 30-40 small, leaf-shaped teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore or omnivore. Used for processing tough plants.
22. Albertosaurus
- Teeth: 60 large, sharp teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Serrated teeth for cutting meat.
23. Carnotaurus
- Teeth: 40-50 sharp, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Teeth designed for a flesh-based diet.
24. Gallimimus
- Teeth: Toothless, used a beak.
- Diet: Omnivore. Likely used beak to eat plants and small animals.
25. Deinonychus
- Teeth: 60-70 sharp, recurved teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Perfect for slashing and tearing prey.
26. Megalosaurus
- Teeth: Around 50 sharp, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Used for tearing meat.
27. Utahraptor
- Teeth: 50-60 sharp, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Powerful teeth for hunting.
28. Therizinosaurus
- Teeth: Small, leaf-shaped teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Used to eat soft plants.
29. Majungasaurus
- Teeth: 40-60 blade-like teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Teeth adapted for slicing flesh.
30. Protoceratops
- Teeth: 100-200 teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Teeth used for grinding tough plants.
31. Troodon
- Teeth: Small, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Omnivore. Sharp teeth for eating both plants and small animals.
32. Cryolophosaurus
- Teeth: 40-50 sharp, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Designed for a flesh-based diet.
33. Saurophaganax
- Teeth: 60-70 sharp, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Large, powerful teeth for hunting.
34. Ouranosaurus
- Teeth: Hundreds of teeth arranged in rows.
- Diet: Herbivore. Dental batteries for grinding tough plants.
35. Mapusaurus
- Teeth: 60 sharp, serrated teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Used for cutting through meat.
36. Corythosaurus
- Teeth: 200-300 teeth in rows.
- Diet: Herbivore. Used for grinding plants.
37. Struthiomimus
- Teeth: Toothless, used a beak.
- Diet: Omnivore. Likely used beak to feed on plants and small animals.
38. Einiosaurus
- Teeth: Hundreds of teeth in dental batteries.
- Diet: Herbivore. Designed for processing tough vegetation.
39. Masiakasaurus
- Teeth: 60-70 sharp, forward-facing teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Adapted for eating small prey.
40. Edmontosaurus
- Teeth: Up to 1,000 teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Dental batteries for grinding tough plants.
41. Ornitholestes
- Teeth: 50-60 sharp teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Small teeth for hunting small prey.
42. Sinornithosaurus
- Teeth: Sharp, recurved teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Likely fed on small animals.
43. Tuojiangosaurus
- Teeth: Small, leaf-shaped teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Adapted for eating soft plants.
44. Suchomimus
- Teeth: 122 conical teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore (piscivore). Specialized for catching fish.
45. Shunosaurus
- Teeth: 40-50 blunt teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Used for eating vegetation.
46. Plateosaurus
- Teeth: 30-40 serrated teeth.
- Diet: Herbivore. Teeth for eating plants.
47. Rugops
- Teeth: 40-50 sharp teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Sharp teeth for eating small animals.
48. Microraptor
- Teeth: Small, sharp teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Adapted for catching small prey.
49. Buitreraptor
- Teeth: Small, sharp teeth.
- Diet: Carnivore. Likely fed on small animals and insects.
