12 Dinosaurs That Start With N

6. Nigersaurus

Sixth on our list of dinosaurs that start with the letter ‘N’ is Nigersaurus. Nigersaurus, an intriguing dinosaur known for its peculiar appearance, lived approximately 121 to 90 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous period. This herbivorous dinosaur was a rebbachisaurid sauropod but differed significantly from other sauropods in structure and shape.

Similar to the Neuquensaurus, in terms of size, Nigersaurus was small compared to other sauropod relatives. Its estimated length reached about 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 meters). Its most distinctive feature was its wide, flattened snout, which housed over 500 teeth that were replaced rapidly every 14 days or so. It is compared to the modern elephant in many ways. Compared to other sauropods, they had shorter necks, longer tails, peculiarly-shaped heads, and naturally lower-lying heads.

Furthermore, Nigersaurus had a specialized diet of low-lying plants, including ferns, horsetails, and other soft plants. Its unique dental adaptation allowed it to efficiently crop vegetation close to the ground.

Remains of Nigersaurus have been discovered in Niger, Algeria, and Tunisia. These regions were once home to a diverse range of dinosaurs and plant life, including this dinosaur with its distinctive appearance.

Moreover, Nigersaurus’ unique dental adaptation stands out. Its hundreds of teeth, which were replaced frequently, enabled it to process large amounts of plant material efficiently.

7. Nipponosaurus

Nipponosaurus, which means ‘Japanese lizard,” was a herbivorous dinosaur. It inhabited the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 89 to 84  million years ago. This dinosaur was part of the Hadrosauridae family, known for their duck-bill-like mouths and complex dental battery. A dental battery is a term to describe hundreds of teeth working together during food consumption and constantly being replaced by new teeth.

Nipponosaurus was a dinosaur of moderate size. It had an estimated length of around 13 feet (4 meters). They had large oval bodies, thick tails, and short necks.

Nipponosaurus was a herbivore. It primarily fed on a diet of plants, including ferns, cycads, and other vegetation present in the Late Cretaceous. They used their dental adaptations with rows of tightly packed teeth to grind plant material.

People have discovered the remains of Nipponosaurus in Russia and Japan, particularly on Sakhalin Island, originally connected to mainland Asia during the Late Cretaceous. This region provided a suitable habitat for this herbivorous dinosaur.

8. Noasaurus

Eighth on our list of dinosaurs that start with the letter ‘N’ is Noasaurus. Noasaurus, a small yet formidable carnivorous dinosaur, existed during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 84 to 66 million years ago. This dinosaur was a theropod, a group known for its bipedal stance and carnivorous habits.

Noasaurus was very small, with an estimated length of about 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters) and roughly weighing 33 pounds (15 kilograms). Despite its modest size, it had sharp teeth and claws, making it a skilled predator. This genus had a down-turned jaw with protruding front teeth. As a carnivore, Noasaurus hunted smaller prey. Its size and agility would have allowed it to pursue and capture its prey effectively.

Fossils of Noasaurus have been discovered in South America, particularly in Argentina. Moreover, an interesting fact about Noasaurus is its name, an abbreviation of Noroeste Argentina, or “northwest Argentina.” It further pays homage to the owner of the Estancia El Brete site, Fidel Leal. This dinosaur represents a unique and lesser-known chapter in the history of theropod dinosaurs.

9. Nodosaurus

Nodosaurus, a sturdy and well-armored dinosaur, lived approximately 110 to 100 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. This herbivorous dinosaur belonged to the nodosaurid family, known for their thick, protective armor.

Nodosaurus measured around 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) in length and weighed about 3.8 tons. It had a heavily armored body with bony dermal plates called osteoderms, which provided protection from predators. They had a narrow head, pointed snout, and short, leaf-shaped teeth. Moreover, their bodies were long, they had short legs, four feet with five toes each, a short neck, and a long, clubless tail.

Nodosaurus was a herbivore. Due to the shape and size of its teeth, it is presumed to have eaten soft, low-laying plants such as ferns and cycads. Its tough beak-like mouth was well-suited for cropping vegetation close to the ground.

Remains of Nodosaurus have been discovered in North America, particularly in the Frontier Formation in Wyoming. Nodosaurus had unique armor, which likely included rows of bony nodules along its bony dermal plates that aided in self-defense against predators. Moreover, it was an ornithischian, meaning bird-hipped.

10. Nomingia

Tenth on our list of dinosaurs that start with the letter ‘N’ is Nomingia. Nomingia is a small theropod dinosaur with an intriguing appearance. It lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72 to 68 million years ago. This small, omnivorous dinosaur was a member of the Oviraptoridae family, characterized by its bird-like features such as toothless, parrot-like beaks and elaborate crests.

Back to size, Nomingia was relatively small, with an estimated length of about 5 to 5.5 feet (1.5 to 1.7 meters). They likely weighed around 44 pounds (20 kilograms). Its distinctive, long, and low body shape set it apart from many other dinosaurs. It looked similar to a present-day ostrich, except it had an elongated tail that flared like a turkey’s and arms that rested in front of their bodies rather than on the sides.

Nomingia likely fed on a diet of vegetation, including leaves and plants found in its habitat, and small prey such as amphibians, small reptiles, insects, and mammals. They had toothless beaks adapted for grasping and processing food, in addition to short faces and crests on the upper area of their snouts.

Fossils of Nomingia have been discovered in the Nemegt Formation in Mongolia. This region was once part of a diverse and dynamic ecosystem during the Late Cretaceous. Today, this area consists of the Gobi Desert.

An interesting fact about Nomingia is its unusual appearance. Its long neck, low-slung body, and showy feathers make it stand out among its dinosaur relatives. It has provided paleontologists with valuable insights into the diversity of the oviraptoridae group during the Late Cretaceous.

11. Nothronychus

Next on our detailed list of dinosaurs that start with the letter ‘N’ is Nothronychus. Nothronychus, an intriguing dinosaur with an unexpected diet, lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 94 to 89 million years ago. This theropod dinosaur belonged to the Therizinosauridae family, known for its unusual traits among theropods.

Considering size, Nothronychus was moderately large, with an estimated length of about 14 to 18 feet (4 to 5.5 meters). Their weight is estimated to have been 1,800 to 2,600 pounds (800 to 1,200 kilograms). Its most distinctive feature was its long, slender claws on its hands, used for various purposes. This also aided in its name, Nothronychus, which means “slothful claw.”

Nothronychus fed on a diet predominately of leaves, plants, and possibly fruits, but also small prey. Its teeth were lance-shaped and experienced a low replacement rate. They also had a well-developed keratinous beak suited for foraging.

Fossils of Nothronychus have been discovered in North America, particularly in New Mexico and Utah. This region had lush, forested environments during the Late Cretaceous, providing ample food sources for this theropod.

An interesting fact about Nothronychus is its place among the therizinosaurid theropod dinosaurs. Experts initially thought this group to be carnivorous. Its discovery revolutionized our understanding of theropod diversity and evolution, showcasing that some theropods adapted to herbivorous lifestyles.