Scientist reveals how dinosaurs had sex – and claims the ancient beasts even had ‘prehistoric foreplay’
Although they lived more than 60 million years ago, scientists know what dinosaurs ate, what they looked like and even how they died.
Exactly how these extinct creatures had sex has remained a mystery – but now an expert is shedding light on this most prehistoric form of sexual intercourse.
American paleontologist Riley Black says dinosaurs probably had penises and mated in a similar way to today’s mammals, with the male mounting the female.
However, dinosaur species with large spiky tails, such as Stegosaurus, may have had to get “creative” to avoid injuring themselves.
“For more than a century, paleontologists have wondered how dinosaurs mated,” Ms. Black says in a piece for Smithsonian Magazine.
‘Comparisons with living birds and crocodiles indicate that individual dinosaurs commonly had a phallus or clitoris, although no hard evidence for such structures has yet been found.’
Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for about 165 million years, but died out 66 million years ago when our planet was hit by a huge asteroid.
All non-avian dinosaurs, pterosaurs, ammonites and most marine reptiles perished, while birds, crocodiles and turtles survived, as well as some mammals – from which humans evolved.
American paleontologist Riley Black says dinosaurs probably had penises and mated in a similar way to today’s mammals, with the male mounting the female

Large dinosaurs may have simply fallen over on land and needed water to provide support. Artistic depiction of male (top) and female (bottom) Triceratops dinosaurs mating in a lake
The details of dinosaur sex have remained a mystery, largely because reproductive organs remain unfossilized.
Furthermore, fossils of dinosaurs caught in the act have never been found – but researchers can make some educated guesses.
The process began with some kind of courtship ritual, probably involving scratching the ground and coordinated movements that looked a bit like a ‘dance’.
In 2016, paleontologists revealed evidence of dinosaur “mating grounds” in what is now western Colorado.
At the site, large, carnivorous dinosaurs gathered to scratch the ground with their feet – a display of courtship to attract mates.
This form of ‘prehistoric foreplay’ – as evidenced by scrape marks in the dusty ground – was similar to that of some modern birds.
It is believed that some dinosaur species evolved elaborate horns of different colors and shapes to attract the attention of potential suitors.
Once the dinosaurs mated, the male would likely have mounted the female from behind, just like dogs and other mammals do today.


The details of dinosaur sex have remained a mystery, largely because reproductive organs remain unfossilized. Moreover, no fossils of dinosaurs caught in the act have ever been found

University of Colorado Denver researcher Martin Lockley (right) and Ken Cart pose next to a large dinosaur scrape they discovered in western Colorado
“All dinosaurs used the same basic position for mating,” says Dr. Beverly Halstead, a legendary English paleontologist who was one of the first to study the subject.
‘Climbing from behind, he placed his front paws on her shoulders, lifted a hind paw over her back and twisted his tail under hers.’
Luis Villazon, a zoologist and science lecturer for the BBC, said dinosaurs would have mated “a bit like giraffes.”
Due to the enormous weight, the male dinosaurs – which in some cases weighed as much as 80 tons – would have climbed and dismounted the female as quickly as possible.
“The actual moment of copulation was probably very short, to minimize mechanical stresses for both partners,” Villazon said Science focus.
‘The male may have wrapped one leg over the female’s tail and used a relatively long, extensible penis to reach the female’s genitals.’
The really big dinosaurs could have simply fallen over on land and thus needed water to provide support.
Overall, the Stegosaurs – which had plates and spines on their backs and tails – should have used the most “creative” positions, Ms Black said.

Some of the smaller dinosaur species would have had easier physical encounters. Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for about 165 million years, but became extinct 66 million years ago when our planet was hit by a huge asteroid

Comparisons with living birds and crocodilians indicate that individual dinosaurs usually had a phallus or a clitoris
The spikes on the tail may have proved a dangerous obstacle for the Stegosaurs on top – unless they were both “lying on the ground and going belly to belly.”
“The spinier Stegosaurs should have been the most creative of them all,” Ms. Black said. IFL Science.
The academic hopes that palaeontologists will make new discoveries about the sex lives of dinosaurs in the coming years – such as evidence from two dinosaurs that died during mating.
“The courtship and mating of dinosaurs could have left their distinctive footprints on an ancient surface, showing how they moved and positioned themselves in relation to each other,” Ms Black added.
“Although many mysteries remain about dinosaur sex, the fossil record likely still contains a wealth of surprises about how dinosaurs shook the Earth.”