Echinodon
Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Thyreophora? · Family: Scelidosauridae?
Discovered in England and described by Sir Richard Owen in 1861, Echinodon was once considered to be a fabrosaurid, a family name that has now been abandoned. It may have been related to Scutellosaurus, a plant-eater with small bony armor plates on its back. Evidence suggests that armor found in England in 1879 and thought to belong to a lizard, may belong to Echinodon, thus moving it into the mostly quadrupedal Thyreophora suborder of ornithischians.
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Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Echinodon mean?
The name Echinodon means “Spiny Tooth”. It is pronounced eck-EYE-nuh-don.
When did Echinodon live?
Echinodon lived during the Late Jurassic.
Was Echinodon a carnivore or a herbivore?
Echinodon was a herbivore.
How big was Echinodon?
Echinodon was about 2 feet (0.6 meters) long, around 1 foot (0.3 meters) tall.
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