Dinosaurs and other fossils found in South Dakota
The Paleobiology Database records 5,730 fossil occurrences of 559 genera in South Dakota, United States, including 38 dinosaur genera. Every fossil site is shown on the map; colours show the main group found there. States 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 Dakota?
The Paleobiology Database records 38 dinosaur genera from South Dakota. Those with the most fossil records there are Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, Camarasaurus, Allosaurus.
Dinosaurs found in South Dakota (38 genera)
Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, Camarasaurus, Allosaurus, Ornithomimus, Hesperornis, Troodon, Apatosaurus, Barosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Dromaeosaurus, Brodavis, Edmontonia, Torosaurus, Diplodocus, Ankylosaurus, Leptoceratops, Saurornitholestes, Eoneophron and 17 more genera without a page here: Acheroraptor, Albertonykus, Anzu, Caenagnathus, Camptosaurus, Chirostenotes, Claosaurus, Dakotadon, Dakotaraptor, Hoplitosaurus, Nanotyrannus, Osmakasaurus, Paronychodon, Pectinodon, Richardoestesia, Saurornithoides, Wakinyantanka.
Prehistoric birds (16 genera)
Bathornis, Paracrax, Buteo, Strix, Tympanuchus, Megapaloelodus, Badistornis · 9 more genera recorded.
Pterosaurs (2 genera)
Pteranodon · 1 more genera recorded.
Plesiosaurs & kin (7 genera)
Brachauchenius, Polycotylus, Pahasapasaurus, Martinectes, Unktaheela · 2 more genera recorded.
Mosasaurs (8 genera)
Platecarpus, Mosasaurus, Prognathodon, Tylosaurus · 4 more genera recorded.
Crocodile relatives (5 genera)
Alligator, Leidyosuchus · 3 more genera recorded.
Ice Age & later mammals (335 genera)
Merycoidodon, Palaeolagus, Palaeocastor, Leptauchenia, Miohippus, Hyracodon, Pseudhipparion, Miniochoerus, Hyaenodon, Daphoenus, Proscalops, Ischyromys, Archaeotherium, Nanotragulus, Hesperocyon, Leptomeryx, Mesohippus, Hoplophoneus, Diceratherium, Promerycochoerus, Subhyracodon, Archaeocyon, Cosoryx, Megacerops, Herpetotherium, Merychyus, Dinictis, Mesocyon, Hypertragulus, Hippotherium, Cynarctoides, Palaeogale, Agriochoerus, Poebrotherium, Mesoreodon, Leptocyon, Cynodesmus, Mesodma, Enhydrocyon, Perchoerus, Calippus, Proterix, Pliohippus, Agnotocastor, Hypisodus, Parahippus, Trigonias, Neohipparion, Ekgmowechashala, Heptacodon, Promartes, Equus, Aelurodon, Leptictis, Ischyrocyon, Longirostromeryx, Spermophilus, Gomphotherium, Camelops, Nimravus, Elomeryx, Protapirus, Aphelops, Protoceras, Meniscoessus, Cormohipparion, Sespia, Cranioceras, Eucastor, Desmatochoerus, Monosaulax, Ustatochoerus, Didelphodon, Epicyon, Hemiauchenia, Otarocyon, Paratomarctus, Nototamias, Perognathus, Merychippus, Titanotylopus, Metamynodon, Hypohippus, Phlaocyon, Amphechinus, Cormocyon, Gypsonictops, Hypolagus, Protohippus, Mylagaulus, Parictis, Peraceras, Osbornodon, Oxetocyon, Pediomys, Brachyrhynchocyon, Desmocyon, Mammacyon, Merycodus, Pseudoprotoceras, Amynodontopsis, Leptalestes, Oreodontoides, Lepus, Mammuthus, Castor, Bison, Cynomys, Hipparion, Thomomys, Castoroides, Eusmilus, Megalonyx, Alphadon, Amebelodon, Platygonus, Pseudaelurus, Stegomastodon, Pogonodon, Oxydactylus, Archaeohippus, Cimolodon, Megalictis, Merycochoerus, Carpocyon, Cimolomys, Duchesneodus, Protolabis, Desmatippus, Paradaphoenus, Paratylopus, Heteromeryx, Megaleptictis, Merycoides, Nexuotapirus, Mustela, Mammut, Sorex, Sylvilagus, Homotherium, Arctodus, Blarina, Geomys, Reithrodontomys, Zapus, Barbourofelis, Daeodon, Moropus, Menoceras, Anchitherium, Antilocapra, Bolodon, Eubelodon, Cynarctus, Ectopocynus, Arctonasua, Lambdoceras, Trigenicus, Aenocyon, Brachypsalis, Dipoides, Mesogaulus, Alilepus, Cimexomys, Michenia, Paraenhydrocyon, Prosciurus, Protalphadon, Bubodens, Procastoroides, Pterogaulus · 164 more genera recorded.
Ancient fish & sharks (45 genera)
Johnlongia · 44 more genera recorded.
Ammonites & nautiloids (32 genera)
Baculites · 31 more genera recorded.
Ediacaran & Cambrian life (71 genera)
71 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).