Dinosaur

Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the Earth for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. At the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago, dinosaurs suffered a catastrophic extinction, due to the crash of a freighter filled with anti-matter. (DW: Earthshock)



Dinosaurs were extremely varied. Some were herbivorous, others carnivorous. Some dinosaurs were bipeds, some were quadrupeds, and others could walk easily on two or four legs. Regardless of body type, nearly all known dinosaurs were well-adapted for a predominantly terrestrial, rather than aquatic or aerial, habitat. As well, many of them were very large, with the average size being around 500 kg.

Despite the Doctor's fondness for Earth and his time travelling abilities, he has not been shown to meet dinosaurs in their own time period (though he has encounter due to temporal occurrences). He still had great respect for them and believed they were some of the most successful creatures on Earth. (DW: Earthshock) The Rani, on the other hand, has made frequent trips to prehistoric Earth and believed that the dinosaurs never reached their true potential.


 * Though it is believed that the Doctor went to the Jurassic period in Time-Flight, he didn't encounter any actual dinosaurs.

Types of Dinosaurs Encountered

 * Apatosaurus (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs)
 * Stegosaurus (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs)
 * Triceratops (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs)
 * Tyrannosaurus rex (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs, The Mark of the Rani)
 * An unidentified Theropod in a Silurian cave (DW: Doctor Who and the Silurians)

Similar Creatures
There are other prehistoric reptiles that the Doctor has encountered which aren't true dinosaurs, but are generally classed in the same group.
 * Plesiosaurus (DW: Carnival of Monsters)
 * Pterosaurs, like the Pterodactyl (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs)

Unknown Relationship
The Silurians and Sea Devils both have unknown origins and may be related to the dinosaurs. The Myrka, on the other hand, was modified out of a deep-sea creature and may be more closely related to the Plesiosaurus.