Cretaceous Dinosaurs Herbivorous Jurassic Top 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

Unnamed (BEXHM: 2008.14.1): 17–50 cm (6.7–19.7 in)
Epidexipteryx hui: 25 cm (9.8 in)
Eosinopteryx brevipenna: 30 cm (12 in)
Nqwebasaurus thwazi: 30 cm (12 in)
“Ornithomimus” minutus: 30 cm (12 in)
Palaeopteryx thompsoni: 30 cm (12 in)
Parvicursor remotus: 30–39 cm (12–15 in)
Archaeopteryx (Archaeopteryx lithographica): 40 cm
Microraptor zhaoianus: 42–120 cm (17–47 in)
Xixianykus zhangi: 50 cm (20 in)
Alwalkeria maleriensis: 50 cm (20 in)
Jinfengopteryx elegans: 55 cm (1.80 ft)
Archaeoceratops yujingziensis: 55 cm (1.80 ft)
Albinykus baatar: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
Linhenykus monodactylus: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
Pamparaptor micros: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
Shuvuuia deserti: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
Propanoplosaurus marylandicus: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
Ligabueino andesi: 60–70 cm (2.0–2.3 ft)
Yamaceratops dorngobiensis: 50–150 cm (1.6–4.9 ft)
Microceratus gobiensis: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
Aquilops americanus: 60 cm (2.0 ft)
Chaoyangsaurus youngi: 60–100 cm (2.0–3.3 ft)
Xuanhuaceratops niei: 60–100 cm (2.0–3.3 ft)
Graciliceratops mongoliensis: 60–200 cm (2.0–6.6 ft)
Archaeoceratops oshimai: 67–150 cm (2.20–4.92 ft)
Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi: 80–90 cm (2.6–3.0 ft)
Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis: 90 cm (3.0 ft)
Ajkaceratops kozmai: 100 cm (3.3 ft)
Psittacosaurus gobiensis: 100 cm (3.3 ft)
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.

The smallest dinosaurs – Top 100
Update AD 2023

No	Name	Length [cm]	Length [in]
1	Epidendrosaurus ninchengensis	13	5
2	Scansoriopteryx heilmanni	13	5
3	Gobiceratops minutus	22	9
4	Epidexipteryx hui	25	10
5	Breviceratops kozlowskii	25	10
6	Propanoplosaurus marylandicus	26	10
7	Eosinopteryx brevipenna	30	12
8	Ambopteryx longibrachium	32	13
9	Yi qi	33	13
10	Agnosphitys cromhallensis	34	13
11	Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi	36	14
12	Ostromia crassipes	37	15
13	Aurornis xui	40	16
14	Tawasaurus minor	40	16
15	Lamaceratops tereschenkoi	40	16
16	Liaoningosaurus paradoxus	40	16
17	Caihong juji	40	16
18	Beibeilong sinensis	50	20
19	Trimucrodon cuneatus	50	20
20	Saltopus elginensis	50	20
21	Yulong mini	50	20
22	Serikornis sungei	50	20
23	Parvicursor remotus	50	20
24	Archaeornithoides deinosauriscus	50	20
25	Pedopenna daohugouensis	50	20
26	Euronychodon portucalensis	50	20
27	Natovenator polydontus	50	20
28	“Microcephale”	50	20
29	Xunmenglong yinliangis	50	20
30	Archaeopteryx lithographica	53	21
31	Scipionyx samniticus	53	21
32	Mei long	53	21
33	Jinfengopteryx elegans	55	22
34	Xiaotingia zhengi	55	22
35	Zhongjianosaurus yangi	56	22
36	Hulsanpes perlei	56	22
37	Protoavis texensis	58	23
38	Albinykus baatar	60	24
39	Aquilops americanus	60	24
40	Anchiornis huxleyi	62	24
41	Dzharaonyx eski	63	25
42	Xixianykus zhangi	65	26
43	Linhenykus monodactylus	65	26
44	Echinodon becklesii	65	26
45	Pneumatoraptor fodori	67	26
46	Qiupanykus zhangi	68	27
47	Liaoningvenator curriei	69	27
48	Asiaceratops salsopaludalis	70	28
49	Asiaceratops sulcidens	70	28
50	Alnashetri cerropoliciensis	70	28
51	Amtocephale gobiensis	70	28
52	Banji long	70	28
53	Tianyulong confuciusi	70	28
54	Fulengia youngi	70	28
55	Xingtianosaurus ganqi	70	28
56	Wulong bohaiensis	71	28
57	Sciurumimus albersdoerferi	72	28
58	Halszkaraptor escuilliei	73	29
59	Juravenator starki	74	29
60	Yixianosaurus longimanus	75	30
61	Almas ukhaa	75	30
62	Protarchaeopteryx robusta	75	30
63	Philovenator curriei	75	30
64	Archaeoceratops yujingziensis	75	30
65	Manidens condorensis	75	30
66	Ceratonykus oculatus	75	30
67	Mahakala omnogovae	77	30
68	Caudipteryx zoui	78	31
69	Ligabueino andesi	79	31
70	Pegomastax africana	80	31
71	Rahonavis ostromi	80	31
72	Caudipteryx dongi	80	31
73	Fruitadens haagarorum	80	31
74	Psittacosaurus ordosensis	85	33
75	Wannanosaurus yansiensis	85	33
76	Ondogurvel alifanovi	85	33
77	Soumyasaurus aenigmaticus	85	33
78	Pantydraco caducus	85	33
79	Elopteryx nopcsai	90	35
80	Microvenator celer	90	35
81	Abrictosaurus consors	90	35
82	Sinosauropteryx prima	90	35
83	Psittacosaurus sinensis	90	35
84	Hesperornithoides miessleri	90	35
85	Yaverlandia bitholus	90	35
86	Liaoceratops yanzigouensis	90	35
87	Sinusonasus magnodens	90	35
88	Albalophosaurus yamaguchiorum	90	35
89	Paronychodon caperatus	90	35
90	Tichosteus aequifacies	90	35
91	Ignotosaurus fragilis	93	37
92	Alocodon kuehnei	95	37
93	Microceratus gobiensis	95	37
94	Microraptor hanqingi	95	37
95	Xuanhuaceratops niei	95	37
96	Microraptor zhaoianus	95	37
97	Powellvenator podocitus	95	37
98	Xiaosaurus dashanpensis	100	39
99	Pendraig milnerae	100	39
100	Archaeoceratops oshimai	100	39