Dinosaurs of Colombia

Colombia's "Dinosaur Gap" and the Paleontological Renaissance

Due to this geological background, Colombia has yielded many fossils of ammonites and marine reptiles (plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, marine turtles) rather than dinosaurs. Opportunities for terrestrial dinosaurs to remain as fossils were limited to rare cases where carcasses were washed out to sea.

However, the situation changed dramatically in recent years when the 2016 peace agreement made it possible to conduct research in areas that were once conflict zones. Now entering a "Renaissance" of paleontology, important new species such as Perijasaurus lapaz are being discovered one after another.

True Dinosaurs of Colombia (Dinosauria)

Although discoveries are few, Colombian dinosaur fossils are an important presence that fills the missing link in evolution in the northern part of the South American continent.

Symbol of Peace: Perijasaurus lapaz

Described in 2022, Perijasaurus lapaz is an iconic discovery of Colombian paleontology. It was a medium-sized sauropod from the Early to Middle Jurassic (about 175 million years ago), estimated to be about 12 meters long.
Although the fossil itself was found in 1943, it was long considered an "unidentified sauropod." After the peace agreement made it possible to identify the discovery site (Serranía del Perijá), it was formally described, and the specific name was named "lapaz" meaning peace.
It is the northernmost sauropod record in South America, suggesting that early true sauropods were distributed on a Pangaea-wide scale.

Survivor of the Cretaceous: Padillasaurus

Described in 2015, Padillasaurus leivaensis is a brachiosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (about 130 million years ago).
Until then, it was thought that brachiosaurids had disappeared from the Southern Hemisphere during the Cretaceous, but this discovery showed that the tropical region might have functioned as a "refugium" (refuge) for them.
Although originally terrestrial, it was found along with ammonites in a shallow marine stratum (Paja Formation), suggesting it was washed out to sea after death.

Other Dinosaur Traces

Numerous footprints of theropods, sauropods, and ornithopods have been discovered in the Arcabuco Formation in Chíquiza, Boyacá Department, proving that a diverse dinosaur fauna once existed.
In addition, teeth fossils of Abelisauridae and Dromaeosauridae (raptors) have been found in the Tolima Department, suggesting biological exchange between North and South America.

Rulers of the Paja Formation: Marine Reptiles

The Early Cretaceous Paja Formation is a world-class fossil site preserving the marine ecosystem of that time. Here, marine reptiles even larger and more terrifying than dinosaurs thrived.

The Ultimate Marine Predators: Pliosaurs

The giant predator once known as "Colombia's Kronosaurus" is now classified as a distinct genus called Monquirasaurus. It was about 10 meters long, with a skull alone exceeding 2 meters.
Furthermore, in 2018, the even larger Sachicasaurus, reaching an estimated weight of 17 tons, was described. These reigned at the top of the marine ecosystem pyramid of that time.

Diversity of Ichthyosaurs and Plesiosaurs

Among long-necked plesiosaurs, Callawayasaurus is well known.
Also, ichthyosaurs, which were thought to be in decline during the Cretaceous, maintained high diversity in Colombia. Kyhytysuka, with its specialized teeth, and Platypterygius elsuntuoso, described just recently in 2024, have been found, suggesting they may have evolved as "macropredators" targeting large prey.

Cenozoic Giant Reptiles: The World After Dinosaurs

Even in the Cenozoic Era after the extinction of dinosaurs (post-K-Pg boundary), reptiles became "gigantic" again in tropical Colombia and stood at the top of the ecosystem.

Largest Snake in History: Titanoboa

Discovered in the Cerrejón Formation dating back about 60 million years, Titanoboa cerrejonensis is the largest snake in history, estimated to be about 13 meters long and weigh over 1 ton.
It is also valued as a "paleothermometer" indicating that the tropical rainforest of that time was much hotter (average temperature 30-34°C) than today. From the same stratum, Carbonemys, a giant turtle with a shell reaching 1.7 meters, has also been found.

Largest Caiman: Purussaurus

In the Tatacoa Desert (La Venta fauna) of the Miocene (about 13 million years ago), lived Purussaurus, a caiman exceeding 10 meters in length.
Its bite force is said to rival that of Tyrannosaurus, making it the ruler of the massive "Pebas System" wetlands. Coexisting with it were Langstonia, a terrestrial crocodile thought to have hunted by running on land, and giant carnivorous birds (terror birds).

Museums and Tourism Guide

In Colombia, museums are often established near excavation sites, allowing visitors to enjoy paleontological tourism in cooperation with local communities.