Stay Curious

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND UNLOCK ONE MORE ARTICLE FOR FREE.

Sign Up

VIEW OUR Privacy Policy


Discover Magazine Logo

WANT MORE? KEEP READING FOR AS LOW AS $1.99!

Subscribe

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

FIND MY SUBSCRIPTION
Advertisement

The Megalosaurus: When Was the First Dinosaur Discovered?

When was the first dinosaur discovered? Megalosaurus marked our introduction to the “terrible lizards” that continue to fascinate us, even centuries later.

Sara Novak
BySara Novak
Credit: Daniel K. Driskill/Shutterstock

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news

Sign Up

In 2024, we commemorate a milestone in the field of paleontology: the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Megalosaurus. This landmark event marked the beginning of an era of wonder and exploration into the age of dinosaurs. It was a turning point in our understanding of the natural world, revealing the existence of creatures beyond our wildest imagination.

The discovery of the Megalosaurus not only introduced us to these prehistoric giants but also paved the way for numerous subsequent discoveries that have enriched our knowledge of the Earth's distant past. And today, scientists know a lot about the age of dinosaurs.

We know that dinosaurs ruled the Earth for 165 million years, before going extinct some 66 million years ago. We’ve discovered over 1,000 species of dinosaurs to date — large and small, warm- and cold-blooded. We know that birds are a type of dinosaur, and that many dino ...

  • Sara Novak

    Sara Novak

    Sara Novak is a science journalist and contributing writer for Discover Magazine, who covers new scientific research on the climate, mental health, and paleontology.

Stay Curious

JoinOur List

Sign up for our weekly science updates

View our Privacy Policy

SubscribeTo The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Subscribe
Advertisement

0 Free Articles