Lesothosaurus
Order: Ornithischia
Discovered in Africa, Lesothosaurus was one of the earliest and most primitive ornithischians, the bird-hipped, plant-eating dinosaurs. Small and lightly built, with a head about four inches long, it had large eyes and a long snout. A horn-covered beak was probably used as a bill to crop vegetation. Lesothosaurus was probably an agile, two-legged runner based on slender, hollow, thin walled bones, a light skull with many openings, a short neck and forelimbs and the absence of armor.
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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 Lesothosaurus mean?
The name Lesothosaurus means “Lesotho Lizard”. It is pronounced leh-SOTH-uh-SAWR-us.
When did Lesothosaurus live?
Lesothosaurus lived during the Early Jurassic.
Was Lesothosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?
Lesothosaurus was a herbivore.
How big was Lesothosaurus?
Lesothosaurus was about 39 inches (1.0 meters) long, around 18 inches (0.45 meters) tall, weighing up to 8 pounds (3.6 kg).
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