CretaceousDinosaursHerbivorousJurassicTop 10

The smallest dinosaurs – Top 10

The shortest dinosaurs – Top 30

Dinosaurs are some of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring creatures to have ever lived on Earth. From the towering sauropods to the fierce and nimble theropods, dinosaurs come in all shapes and sizes, captivating us with their incredible adaptations and unique characteristics. While many dinosaurs were giants, some were surprisingly small, measuring only a few inches in length.

Not all dinosaurs were huge, although they primarily stimulate our imagination. Not all predatory dinosaurs were as big as Tyrannosaurus. Many dinosaurs were small. The smallest dinosaurs were less than two feet long, and certainly not scary.

In this article, we will explore the world of the smallest dinosaurs, examining the top 100 species of these incredible creatures that have captured our imagination and inspired our curiosity. From the tiny Procompsognathus to the pint-sized Microraptor, we will delve into the anatomy, habitat, and behavior of these incredible creatures, uncovering the secrets behind their incredible adaptations and exploring the fascinating world of miniaturization in the dinosaur kingdom. So get ready to embark on an incredible journey into the world of the smallest dinosaurs, and discover what makes these creatures so remarkable and captivating despite their diminutive size. Below is a list of the shortest dinosaurs.

The smallest dinosaurs – Top 30

  1. Unnamed (BEXHM: 2008.14.1): 17–50 cm (6.7–19.7 in)
  2. Epidexipteryx hui: 25 cm (9.8 in)
  3. Eosinopteryx brevipenna: 30 cm (12 in)
  4. Nqwebasaurus thwazi: 30 cm (12 in)
  5. “Ornithomimus” minutus: 30 cm (12 in)
  6. Palaeopteryx thompsoni: 30 cm (12 in)
  7. Parvicursor remotus: 30–39 cm (12–15 in)
  8. Archaeopteryx (Archaeopteryx lithographica): 40 cm
  9. Microraptor zhaoianus: 42–120 cm (17–47 in)
  10. Xixianykus zhangi: 50 cm (20 in)
  11. Alwalkeria maleriensis: 50 cm (20 in)
  12. Jinfengopteryx elegans: 55 cm (1.80 ft)
  13. Archaeoceratops yujingziensis: 55 cm (1.80 ft)
  14. Albinykus baatar: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
  15. Linhenykus monodactylus: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
  16. Pamparaptor micros: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
  17. Shuvuuia deserti: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
  18. Propanoplosaurus marylandicus: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
  19. Ligabueino andesi: 60–70 cm (2.0–2.3 ft)
  20. Yamaceratops dorngobiensis: 50–150 cm (1.6–4.9 ft)
  21. Microceratus gobiensis: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
  22. Aquilops americanus: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
  23. Chaoyangsaurus youngi: 60–100 cm (2.0–3.3 ft)
  24. Xuanhuaceratops niei: 60–100 cm (2.0–3.3 ft)
  25. Graciliceratops mongoliensis: 60–200 cm (2.0–6.6 ft)
  26. Archaeoceratops oshimai: 67–150 cm (2.20–4.92 ft)
  27. Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi: 80–90 cm (2.6–3.0 ft)
  28. Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis: 90 cm (3.0 ft)
  29. Ajkaceratops kozmai: 100 cm (3.3 ft)
  30. Psittacosaurus gobiensis: 100 cm (3.3 ft)
  31. Micropachycephalosaurus hongtuyanensis: 100 cm (3.3 ft)

The above list presents the state of knowledge as of 2016. Below is a list of the Top 100 smallest dinosaurs, prepared according to the state of paleontological knowledge as of February 2023.

Smallest dinosaurs
Young tiny dinosaur skeleton.

 

The smallest dinosaurs – Top 100
Update AD 2023

 

NoNameLength [cm]Length [in]
1Epidendrosaurus ninchengensis135
2Scansoriopteryx heilmanni 135
3Gobiceratops minutus229
4Epidexipteryx hui2510
5Breviceratops kozlowskii2510
6Propanoplosaurus marylandicus 2610
7Eosinopteryx brevipenna3012
8Ambopteryx longibrachium3213
9Yi qi3313
10Agnosphitys cromhallensis3413
11Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi3614
12Ostromia crassipes3715
13Aurornis xui4016
14Tawasaurus minor 4016
15Lamaceratops tereschenkoi 4016
16Liaoningosaurus paradoxus4016
17Caihong juji4016
18Beibeilong sinensis5020
19Trimucrodon cuneatus5020
20Saltopus elginensis5020
21Yulong mini5020
22Serikornis sungei5020
23Parvicursor remotus 5020
24Archaeornithoides deinosauriscus5020
25Pedopenna daohugouensis5020
26Euronychodon portucalensis5020
27Natovenator polydontus5020
28“Microcephale”5020
29Xunmenglong yinliangis5020
30Archaeopteryx lithographica5321
31Scipionyx samniticus5321
32Mei long5321
33Jinfengopteryx elegans5522
34Xiaotingia zhengi 5522
35Zhongjianosaurus yangi5622
36Hulsanpes perlei5622
37Protoavis texensis5823
38Albinykus baatar6024
39Aquilops americanus6024
40Anchiornis huxleyi6224
41Dzharaonyx eski6325
42Xixianykus zhangi  6526
43Linhenykus monodactylus6526
44Echinodon becklesii 6526
45Pneumatoraptor fodori 6726
46Qiupanykus zhangi6827
47Liaoningvenator curriei6927
48Asiaceratops salsopaludalis7028
49Asiaceratops sulcidens7028
50Alnashetri cerropoliciensis7028
51Amtocephale gobiensis7028
52Banji long7028
53Tianyulong confuciusi 7028
54Fulengia youngi7028
55Xingtianosaurus ganqi7028
56Wulong bohaiensis7128
57Sciurumimus albersdoerferi7228
58Halszkaraptor escuilliei7329
59Juravenator starki7429
60Yixianosaurus longimanus7530
61Almas ukhaa7530
62Protarchaeopteryx robusta7530
63Philovenator curriei7530
64Archaeoceratops yujingziensis7530
65Manidens condorensis  7530
66Ceratonykus oculatus7530
67Mahakala omnogovae  7730
68Caudipteryx zoui7831
69Ligabueino andesi7931
70Pegomastax africana8031
71Rahonavis ostromi8031
72Caudipteryx dongi  8031
73Fruitadens haagarorum8031
74Psittacosaurus ordosensis8533
75Wannanosaurus yansiensis8533
76Ondogurvel alifanovi8533
77Soumyasaurus aenigmaticus8533
78Pantydraco caducus8533
79Elopteryx nopcsai9035
80Microvenator celer 9035
81Abrictosaurus consors9035
82Sinosauropteryx prima9035
83Psittacosaurus sinensis 9035
84Hesperornithoides miessleri9035
85Yaverlandia bitholus 9035
86Liaoceratops yanzigouensis 9035
87Sinusonasus magnodens 9035
88Albalophosaurus yamaguchiorum9035
89Paronychodon caperatus9035
90Tichosteus aequifacies9035
91Ignotosaurus fragilis9337
92Alocodon kuehnei9537
93Microceratus gobiensis9537
94Microraptor hanqingi 9537
95Xuanhuaceratops niei 9537
96Microraptor zhaoianus 9537
97Powellvenator podocitus9537
98Xiaosaurus dashanpensis 10039
99Pendraig milnerae10039
100Archaeoceratops oshimai10039

 

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