Hypsilophodon
Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Ornithopoda · Family: Hypsilophodontidae
Hypsilophodon was the fastest of the ornithischians that lived in central United States, England, Spain and Portugal. Its snout ended in a beak, but it had teeth at the rear of its mouth. Hypsilophodon was once thought to have lived in trees, though this has since been disproven.
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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 Hypsilophodon mean?
The name Hypsilophodon means “High-Ridge Tooth”. It is pronounced hip-sih-LO-fuh-don.
When did Hypsilophodon live?
Hypsilophodon lived during the Early Cretaceous.
Was Hypsilophodon a carnivore or a herbivore?
Hypsilophodon was a herbivore.
How big was Hypsilophodon?
Hypsilophodon was about 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) long, around 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall, weighing up to 140 pounds (64 kg).
Related dinosaurs
Other dinosaurs from the Hypsilophodontidae family.
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