Majungasaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Majungasaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 66 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 66 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Theropods |
|---|---|
| Lived | 72.2–66 million years ago (Maastrichtian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Family | Abelisauridae |
| Named by | Lavocat 1955 |
| Fossil records | 25 occurrences at 8 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Madagascar |
| Rock formations | Maevarano |
About Majungasaurus
Majungasaurus (; lit. 'Mahajanga lizard') is a genus of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in Madagascar from 70 to 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period, making it one of the last-known, non-avian dinosaurs that went extinct during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. The genus contains a single species, Majungasaurus crenatissimus. This dinosaur was also called Majungatholus, which is considered a junior synonym of Majungasaurus.
Like other abelisaurids, Majungasaurus was a bipedal predator with a short snout. Although the fore limbs are not completely known, they were very short, while the hind limbs were longer and very stocky. Measuring around 7 m (23 ft) long and weighing more than 1 t (1.1 short tons), it can be distinguished from other abelisaurids by its wider skull, the very rough texture and thickened bone on the top of its snout, and the single rounded horn on the roof of its skull, which was originally mistaken for the dome of a pachycephalosaur. It also had more teeth in both its upper and lower jaws than most abelisaurids.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Majungasaurus (revision 1377518864), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q18511009.
