3 Dinosaurs That Lived in South Carolina (And Where To See Fossils Today)

Several million years ago, dinosaurs walked the earth. Many of them lived in parts of what is now the United States, and in some places, their fossils were well preserved enough for paleontologists to study. Studying these ancient bones gave scientists a good idea of what these locations might have looked like in prehistoric times. However, modern-day South Carolina was largely underwater during the Triassic and Jurassic periods, which is why very few dinosaur fossils have been found from that time. The first evidence of dinosaurs appearing on land dates back to the Cretaceous period, which shows evidence of both marine life and land dinosaurs whose remains ended up in the sea. Continue reading to learn about the three types of dinosaurs that lived in South Carolina and where to see their fossils.

Dinosaurs In South Carolina

The fossils that have been recovered in South Carolina are believed to be from three types of dinosaurs: hadrosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs), tyrannosaurs (large carnivorous dinosaurs), and dromaeosaurids (raptors). The fossils are fragmentary, consisting of teeth and toe bones, not complete skeletons. 

No intact dinosaur skeletons have been discovered in the state; the finds primarily consist of isolated pieces. South Carolina is better known for its extensive marine vertebrate fossils, such as those of sharks (including the Megalodon), whales, and crocodiles, as well as Ice Age mammals like the Columbian Mammoth and saber-toothed cats.

South Carolina’s fossil record is not abundant because the state was underwater for most of the Triassic and Jurassic Periods. The region was partially dry throughout the Cretaceous Period, and experts believe dinosaurs probably inhabited this area during this period. 

The conditions required for fossils to form are rare in nature. South Carolina is one such place where prehistoric terrestrial animals left little evidence behind.

Dinosaurs That Lived in South Carolina 

In the late 20th century, paleontologists unearthed the first dinosaur fossil in South Carolina. They found the bone fragment at a location near Kingstree in Williamsburg County. This was just the beginning of many fossil finds in the state. Paleontologists have not found any complete dinosaur fossils so far, but they have found bone fragments such as two hadrosaur teeth and a raptor toe bone. Paleontologists have also found fragments of other unidentifiable dinosaur bones that may have belonged to dinosaurs living in South Carolina. Based on these bones, we now know that the following groups of dinosaurs may have inhabited the state.

Hadrosaur

In 1986, paleontologists found two hadrosaur teeth fossils in South Carolina. They were a group of herbivorous dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous Period (between 75 and 65 million years ago). This family of dinosaurs, often known as duck-billed dinosaurs, were abundant in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Hadrosaurs were massive, gentle giants. They weighed between 1.5 and three tons and were nearly 30 feet long. Yet, these dinosaurs were herbivores that fed on vegetation. Their duck-like bills and toothless beaks were used to crop and grind plant materials. Many species had crests on their skulls.

Hadrosaurids lived in herds and used their strong hind legs and tails for movement and balance while feeding. Scientists believe they lived near bodies of water where food was abundant, but they were entirely terrestrial. Scientists know a lot about the anatomy and possible habits of this family of dinosaurs because they are often well-preserved in fossil records, though not from South Carolina.

Tyrannosaurs

Tyrannosaurs lived from the late Jurassic to the end of the Cretaceous period, around 150 to 66 million years ago. They are a group of dinosaurs known for their large size and carnivorous diet. The most well-known tyrannosaur, Tyrannosaurus rex, appeared later. The size of tyrannosaurs varied greatly, but they were a group of large predators. For example, the earliest ancestors were human-sized, while some later members, including T. rex, grew to lengths of about 40 to 46 feet and weighed several tons. 

Dromaeosauridae

Paleontologists unearthed parts of a meat-eating dinosaur in Quinby, Florence County, between 1992 and 1994. It was a 1.5-inch tooth which they later identified as the tooth of a dromaeosaurid dinosaur. A claw core, toe bone, and serrated teeth were also discovered in the Pee Dee River near Florence in 1994. 

Dinosaurs in the family Dromaeosauridae lived from the mid-Jurassic Period through the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. Velociraptors, Deinonychus, and dromaeosaurs were all members of the dromaeosaurid family. Some dromaeosaurids, such as Deinonychus and Utahraptor, were among the largest members of the group, while others, such as Microraptor, were among the smallest. 

These dinosaurs were small, fast runners known to be very intelligent and deadly. Dromaeosaurid dinosaurs were small to medium-sized, with some growing up to 20 feet in length. However, most of them were between 4.9 and 6.8 feet in length. Dromaeosaurids, like other theropods, were bipedal (walking on their hind limbs). Their forelimbs were modified to form slashing talons, while a stiffened tail helped to balance their weight.

Where To Find Fossils of Dinosaurs That Lived in South Carolina

The largest museum in South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum, offers visitors a unique, engaging educational experience. It contains an extensive paleontology collection, including 70-million-year-old bones of prehistoric dinosaurs that lived in South Carolina.

The Bob Campbell Geology Museum at Clemson University in South Carolina houses a collection of fossil specimens from South Carolina and other regions of the world. The museum features educational exhibits about dinosaur fossils. The museum houses a complete skull of Tyrannosaurus rex, the most well-known and terrifying of all dinosaurs. The Calhoun Critical Zone Observatory at Clemson University has also produced several dinosaur fossils displayed in the Bob Campbell Geology Museum. 

The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College houses a collection of dinosaur fossil specimens open to the public. The Paleontology Museum at the College of Charleston’s Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences also houses almost 1,000 fossils, including some dinosaur bones.