Top 10 Best Animals from the Hell Creek Formation

The Hell Creek Formation is a dig-site location in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming in the United States. The rocks found in Hell Creek date back approximately 66 million years, to the end of the Cretaceous Period. It is one of the most intensely studied and well-known dig sites in the world, with iconic fauna such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops among the numerous fossil records found within the site.

In addition to dinosaurs, a wide variety of other animals have been found at the site, including mammals, reptiles, birds, and many others. Which creature from the site stands out the most to you?

To find more information about the animals from the Hell Creek Formation, you can explore reputable articles on fauna, such as those on Wikipedia. You may also want to look into the dinosaur game "Saurian," which features animals from this formation.

The Top Ten

  1. Triceratops

    Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur that first appeared during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago in what is now North America. It is known for its large bony frill and three distinct facial horns. Triceratops was one of the last... read more

    A fan favorite for many, Triceratops remains are the most common in the formation. Alongside T. rex, a lot has been seen and learned from this dinosaur, such as living in herds and age and possibly sexual dimorphism.

  2. Tyrannosaurus

    Tyrannosaurus, whose name means "tyrant lizard" in Ancient Greek, is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. It had an extraordinary bite force estimated at up to approximately 12,800 pounds, or 5,800 kilograms of force. This is considered the strongest estimated bite of any known terrestrial animal... read more

    Aside from being the most well-known dinosaur (and my all-time favorite animal), Tyrannosaurus remains and research from the Hell Creek have been significant. For example, the remains of Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus remains discovered yet, were found there. There is also evidence of them living in groups and even engaging in cannibalism. Surprisingly, it is also the second most common dinosaur found in Hell Creek.

  3. Ankylosaurus

    Ankylosaurus is a genus of armored dinosaur known for its distinctive club-like tail and body covered in bony plates. Fossils have been found in geological formations from the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 68 to 66 million years ago, in western North America. This places it among the last non-avian... read more

    My favorite plant-eating dinosaur, but the reason why Triceratops is higher is that not much has been found from Ankylosaurus. It looks badass and unique, that's for sure, but we have more evidence from Euplocephalus, an earlier ankylosaurid from millions of years earlier. I still love this dinosaur, though.

  4. Dakotaraptor

    Dakotaraptor is a genus of large, carnivorous theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of North America that was classified as a dromaeosaurid. It was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota and formally described in 2015. Dakotaraptor is notable for being one of the largest known... read more

    I am so happy considering there is actually a decent-sized raptor in Hell Creek and it's even feathered to top it off. It could have provided competition against the juvenile and sub-adult T. rexes for food and territory.

  5. Edmontosaurus

    Edmontosaurus is a genus of hadrosaurid dinosaur. It contains two recognized species, Edmontosaurus regalis and Edmontosaurus annectens. These herbivorous dinosaurs lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now North America.

    I love hadrosaurs, and Edmontosaurus is definitely the poster boy when it comes to those without a crest. Despite not looking as imposing, it's still a pretty impressive dinosaur. One of the most well-preserved remains of a dinosaur was of an Edmontosaurus in Hell Creek. It was called the "Dinosaur Mummy" due to how well-preserved it was.

  6. Quetzalcoatlus

    Quetzalcoatlus is a genus of pterosaur that lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous in what is now North America. It is considered one of the largest known flying animals ever to have existed, with an estimated wingspan of about 10 to 11 meters, or 33 to 36 feet. Its discovery has significantly... read more

    Azhdarchidae remains have been found in Hell Creek. While they may not be of Quetzalcoatlus, the possibility of this pterosaur living in Hell Creek is quite likely as they would often come down to land to eat even small dinosaurs or remains of larger ones.

  7. Anzu

    Anzu is a genus of large oviraptorosaurian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of what are now North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana in the United States. It lived approximately 66 million years ago and is known from several well-preserved fossils. The type species, Anzu wyliei, was described in 2014... read more

    A proper Oviraptorid in the Hell Creek makes me smile. It's surprising how much diversity the formation has. There may be a second, much larger one in the area, but the only evidence of such comes from footprints only.

  8. Acheroraptor

    The first raptor to have enough fossil evidence to be formally classified in Hell Creek. Not as impressive as Dakotaraptor, but its discovery was important nonetheless.

  9. Thoracosaurus

    Thoracosaurus is an extinct genus of long-snouted eusuchian that lived during the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene. Fossil evidence of this genus has been found in North America and Europe. Its long, narrow snout was well adapted for catching fish.

  10. Pachycephalosaurus

    Pachycephalosaurus is a genus of pachycephalosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils of this genus have been found in western North America, including Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Alberta. It is best known for its thick, dome-shaped skull, which may have been used... read more

    The most well-known bonehead. Despite this, the animal is actually quite rare to find in fact. However, Pachycephalosaurus itself is a popular dinosaur and its discovery is certainly important.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Ornithomimus

  12. ?

    Avisaurus

    13. The Contenders

  13. Borealosuchus

  14. Denversaurus

  15. Brodavis

  16. Didelphodon

    A marsupial mammal. Its survival is the reason why we have kangaroos and other living marsupials, so remember that.

  17. Leptoceratops

    Leptoceratops is a genus of basal ceratopsian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils have been found in what is now western North America. These dinosaurs were herbivorous and relatively small compared to later ceratopsians like Triceratops.

  18. Struthiomimus

    A genus of ornithomimid dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, Struthiomimus resembled a large ostrich and is believed to have been omnivorous. It had long legs adapted for running and a beak-like mouth but lacked teeth. Fossil evidence suggests it inhabited what is now western North... read more

  19. Champsosaurus

    Champsosaurus was an extinct genus of reptile that lived from the Late Cretaceous to the early Paleogene periods. Although it bore a strong resemblance to modern crocodilians, it was not closely related to them. Its body was streamlined for aquatic life, and fossil evidence indicates that it primarily... read more

  20. Thescelosaurus

    Thescelosaurus was a genus of small ornithopod dinosaur that lived in North America. It appeared near the very end of the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils of Thescelosaurus have been found in the United States and Canada.

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