Dinosaurs and other fossils found in South Africa
The Paleobiology Database records 6,999 fossil occurrences of 744 genera in South Africa, including 23 dinosaur genera. Every fossil site is shown on the map; colours show the main group found there. Countries are as recorded by the Paleobiology Database for each fossil collection.
Dots are fossil collections in the Paleobiology Database on today’s map, merged where closer than about 5 km. See them on the ancient Earth →
What dinosaurs have been found in South Africa?
The Paleobiology Database records 23 dinosaur genera from South Africa. Those with the most fossil records there are Massospondylus, Iyuku, Plateosaurus.
Dinosaurs found in South Africa (23 genera)
Massospondylus, Iyuku, Plateosaurus and 20 more genera without a page here: Aardonyx, Antetonitrus, Arcusaurus, Blikanasaurus, Dracovenator, Eucnemesaurus, Grallator, Kangnasaurus, Ledumahadi, Lesothosaurus, Megapnosaurus, Melanorosaurus, Ngwevu, Nqwebasaurus, Paranthodon, Plateosauravus, Pulanesaura, Rotodactylopus, Sefapanosaurus, Syntarsus.
Prehistoric birds (51 genera)
Phalacrocorax, Pachyptila, Spheniscus, Oceanites, Larus, Francolinus, Morus, Microcarbo, Colius, Tyto, Puffinus, Thalasseus, Pternistis, Scopus, Palaeospheniscus, Corvus, Phoenicopterus, Columba, Bubo, Ciconia, Coturnix, Haematopus, Sterna, Sula, Diomedea, Geronticus, Pelecanoides, Crex, Burhinus, Calonectris, Procellaria, Rostratula, Scleroptila · 18 more genera recorded.
Plesiosaurs & kin (2 genera)
Mosasaurs (3 genera)
Mosasaurus, Prognathodon · 1 more genera recorded.
Crocodile relatives (9 genera)
Crocodylus · 8 more genera recorded.
Early tetrapods & amphibians (26 genera)
Micropholis, Xenotosuchus, Rhinesuchus, Kestrosaurus, Rhinesuchoides, Batrachosuchus, Broomistega, Microposaurus, Trematosuchus, Watsonisuchus, Pneumatostega, Paracyclotosaurus, Siderops, Laidleria, Uranocentrodon, Jammerbergia, Eolydekkerina, Rhytidosteus, Laccosaurus, Thabanchuia, Vanastega, Trematosuchoides · 4 more genera recorded.
Pre-mammals (synapsids) (203 genera)
Lystrosaurus, Thrinaxodon, Kannemeyeria, Cynognathus, Moschops, Alopecognathus, Mirotenthes, Thliptosaurus · 195 more genera recorded.
Early mammals (1 genera)
Ice Age & later mammals (242 genera)
Equus, Raphicerus, Procavia, Tragelaphus, Antidorcas, Damaliscus, Homo, Papio, Taurotragus, Hippotragus, Syncerus, Alcelaphus, Felis, Arctocephalus, Mellivora, Lepus, Vulpes, Gazella, Orycteropus, Elephantulus, Otomys, Diceros, Loxodonta, Dinofelis, Bathyergus, Megalotragus, Genetta, Lutra, Parapapio, Pelorovis, Ovis, Mus, Crocidura, Chasmaporthetes, Giraffa, Hipparion, Dendromus, Megantereon, Metridiochoerus, Homiphoca, Suncus, Eptesicus, Rhinolophus, Chrysochloris, Eurygnathohippus, Libytherium, Australopithecus, Kobus, Homotherium, Proteles, Cercopithecoides, Paranthropus, Graphiurus, Rhabdomys, Suricata, Mammuthus, Ictonyx, Anancus, Manis, Cephalophus, Myosorex, Amblysomus, Enhydriodon, Parmularius, Fragilicetus, Erinaceus, Acinonyx, Sivatherium, Theropithecus, Aepyceros, Beatragus, Lemniscomys, Machairodus, Pedetes, Yoshi, Ugandax, Makapania, Plesiobalaenoptera, Oryx, Elephas, Balaenoptera, Myotis, Mesoplodon, Kogia, Palaeoloxodon, Nycteris, Macroscelides, Saccostomus, Stegolophodon, Diplomesodon, Nyanzachoerus, Hyaenictis, Izikoziphius, Ikelohyaena, Capra, Eubalaena, Hyperoodon, Berardius, Atelerix, Gerbillus, Paraxerus, Scotophilus, Pachycrocuta, Chlorotalpa, Livyatan, Adcrocuta, Ictitherium, Antilope, Percrocuta, Nenga, Plesiogulo, Gorgopithecus, Diunatans, Kenyasus, Pterocetus, Simatherium, Stegodon, Thryonomys, Crossarchus, Chlorocebus, Galago, Mungos, Tadarida, Orcinus, Pelomys, Chrysospalax, Gerbillurus, Neophocaena, Kenyapithecus, Palaeotragus, Dinopithecus, Eschrichtius, Smutsia, Prodeinotherium, Lokotunjailurus, Hippotherium, Petromus, Tragoportax, Metaschizotherium, Numidocapra, Africanacetus, Prototocyon, Microberardius, Nguruwe, Potamochoeroides, Xhosacetus, Myacyon · 95 more genera recorded.
Ancient fish & sharks (32 genera)
Carcharodon, Otodus · 30 more genera recorded.
Ammonites & nautiloids (130 genera)
Baculites, Orthoceras · 128 more genera recorded.
Trilobites & sea scorpions (18 genera)
18 more genera recorded.
Ediacaran & Cambrian life (4 genera)
Cloudina · 3 more genera recorded.
Fossil occurrences: Paleobiology Database (CC0 as reported by the API; CC BY 4.0 policy), downloaded 23 October 2026. Genus pages quote Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).