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)



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 encountered them). 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. (DW: Mark of the Rani)

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. In an alternative timeline present day, the Silurians introduced a multitude of dinosaur species back to the Earth ecosytem. (NA: Blood Heat)


 * Though the Doctor and his companions visited the Jurassic period via time contour, they did not encounter any actual dinosaurs. (DW: Time-Flight'')

The planet Mondas, Earth's twin planet, also had dinosaur species at one stage of its development (DWM: The Cybermen)

True dinosaurs

 * 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 which are generally classed in the same group.
 * Plesiosaurus (DW: Carnival of Monsters)
 * Pterosaurs, like the Pterodactyl (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs and the Torchwood Pteranodon (TW: Everything Changes, Cyberwoman)

Altered dinosaurs
At an early point in their history, the Mondasian Cybermen partially cyber-converted dinosaurs and on some occasions, used them as mounts. (DWM: The Cybermen)

Minor references

 * The Doctor hoped to see "prehistoric monsters" (which implies dinosaurs). (DW: The Underwater Menace)


 * Following the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith meeting the dinosaurs in London, which Operation Golden Age had brough them to the present (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs) on a number of occasions. The newly regenerated fourth incarnation did so (DW: Robot), as did the Doctor later in his seventh incarnation, to Ace, to the latter's awe. (DW: The Happiness Patrol) Sarah Jane would also later boast of this incident to Rose Tyler (DW: School Reunion)