Dinosaurs Found in Japan
Since a sauropodomorph fossil was discovered in Iwate Prefecture in 1978, dinosaur fossils have been discovered one after another in Japan. Recently, Yamatosaurus (Hyogo Prefecture) was described in 2021, Paralitherizinosaurus (Hokkaido) in 2022, Tyrannomimus (Fukui Prefecture) in 2023, and Hypnovenator (Hyogo Prefecture) and Sasayamagnomus (Hyogo Prefecture) in 2024.
Among the dinosaurs found in Japan, those given scientific names are as follows.
Dinosaurs Found in Japan
| Scientific Name (Genus) | Excavation Site | Year described | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nipponosaurus | Sakhalin (formerly Japan, currently Russia) | 1936 | Ornithopoda |
| Wakinosaurus | Fukuoka Pref. (Sengoku Fm.) | 1992 | Theropoda |
| Fukuiraptor | Fukui Pref. (Tetori Gr.) | 2000 | Theropoda |
| Fukuisaurus | Fukui Pref. (Tetori Gr.) | 2003 | Ornithopoda |
| Albalophosaurus | Ishikawa Pref. (Tetori Gr.) | 2009 | Marginocephalia |
| Fukuititan | Fukui Pref. (Tetori Gr.) | 2010 | Sauropodomorpha |
| Tambatitanis | Hyogo Pref. (Sasayama Gr.) | 2014 | Sauropodomorpha |
| Koshisaurus | Fukui Pref. (Tetori Gr.) | 2015 | Ornithopoda |
| Fukuivenator | Fukui Pref. (Tetori Gr.) | 2016 | Theropoda |
| Kamuysaurus | Hokkaido (Yezo Gr. Hakobuchi Fm.) | 2019 | Ornithopoda |
| Yamatosaurus | Hyogo Pref. (Kita-Ama Fm.) | 2021 | Ornithopoda |
| Paralitherizinosaurus | Hokkaido (Yezo Gr. Osoushinai Fm.) | 2022 | Theropoda |
| Tyrannomimus | Fukui Pref. (Tetori Gr.) | 2023 | Theropoda |
| Hypnovenator | Hyogo Pref. (Sasayama Gr.) | 2024 | Theropoda |
| Sasayamagnomus | Hyogo Pref. (Sasayama Gr.) | 2024 | Marginocephalia |
| Nipponopelta | Hokkaido (Yezo Gr.) | 2026 | Thyreophora |
Since Sakhalin, where Nipponosaurus was discovered, is now Russian territory, there are 16 genera of dinosaurs given scientific names within current Japan. (However, Wakinosaurus is considered a "nomen dubium" as of 2020.)
Dinosaurs of Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture
Katsuyama City in Fukui Prefecture is home to the Mesozoic strata called the Tetori Group. Fossils such as the femur of the theropod Fukuiraptor, the skull of the ornithopod Fukuisaurus, the humerus and femur of the sauropodomorph Fukuititan, the maxilla, dorsal vertebra, and femur of the iguanodontian Koshisaurus, the theropod Tyrannomimus belonging to the family Deinocheiridae, and various other dinosaur fossils have been excavated here. It is one of the most prominent dinosaur excavation sites in Japan.
The city also hosts the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (opened in 2000, new wing opened in 2023), which specializes in paleontology. Over 50 complete dinosaur skeletons are on display, making it a facility where the general public can experience fossil research.
Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus, Fukuititan, Koshisaurus
A unique dinosaur that has both primitive and advanced theropod features.
Tambatitanis (Tamba Dragon)
In 2006, a fossil of a large sauropodomorph titanosaur (Early Cretaceous = approx. 110 million years ago) was discovered in Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture. Its total length is about 15m. It is affectionately nicknamed "Tamba Dragon".
In 2014, it was found to be a new genus and species, and was given the scientific name "Tambatitanis amicitiae".
The generic name "Tamba" comes from the excavation site, and "titanis" comes from a giantess in Greek mythology.
In 2024, a troodontid theropod fossil found in the same stratum was identified as a new genus and species, named "Hypnovenator matsubaraetoheorum". The generic name "Hypno" means "to sleep" in Greek, derived from the fact that the fossil was found curled up sleeping in a bird-like posture.
Also in 2024, fossils discovered from 2007 to 2008 in the same stratum were identified as a new genus and species of early ceratopsian with a total length of about 80 cm, and named "Sasayamagnomus saegusai".
Dinosaurs Found Across Japan
It was in 1981 that part of the humerus of a sauropod nicknamed Moshi Dragon, discovered in Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, was unveiled. Since then, many dinosaur fossils whose scientific names have not been identified have been found all over Japan. Dinosaur claw and tooth fossils have been discovered in Mifune Town in Kumamoto Prefecture, Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture, Kanna Town in Gunma Prefecture, etc., but they have not been given scientific names.
A therizinosaur braincase fossil found in Mifune Town, Kumamoto Prefecture in 1998 has become valuable for studying dinosaur brains.
In 2011, ceratopsian fossils were discovered from a Late Cretaceous (about 80 million years ago) stratum in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture, and in 2015, tyrannosaurid tooth fossils were found in Nagasaki Prefecture, drawing public attention.
An ankylosaur (Thyreophora-Ankylosauria-Nodosauridae) discovered in Yubari City, Hokkaido in 1995 was confirmed as a new genus and species in 2026, and named "Nipponopelta yezoensis".
It is a spinosaurid (theropod) tooth.
Dinosaur Egg Fossils Too
In 1965, 12 pieces of egg fossils were collected from the Early Cretaceous (about 120-100 million years ago) Shimonoseki Subgroup of the Kanmon Group spreading across Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Thickness is 3.7mm. The egg's diameter is estimated to be about 10 cm. Similar egg fossils have been discovered in Zhejiang Province, China, and Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, suggesting that the same kind of dinosaurs lived in a wide area of East Asia. In 2020, they were judged to be a new species due to slit-like cavities inside the eggshell and a thicker eggshell compared to Chinese ones.
This egg has been given the scientific name "Multifissoolithus shimonosekiensis," meaning "multi-cleft egg stone of Shimonoseki."
Slideshow of Dinosaur Fossils Excavated in Japan
We made a slideshow (4 minutes and 51 seconds) of pictures of dinosaur fossils excavated in Japan.
<Included Dinosaurs>
Nipponosaurus, Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus, Tambatitanis, Koshisaurus, Fukuivenator, Kamuysaurus, Moshi Dragon (no scientific name), Toba Dragon (no scientific name)