Kukufeldia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kukufeldia |
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| Illustration of the type specimen | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | †Ornithischia |
| Suborder: | †Ornithopoda |
| Clade: | †Styracosterna |
| Genus: | †Kukufeldia McDonald et al., 2010 |
| Type species | |
| Kukufeldia tilgatensis McDonald et al., 2010
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Kukufeldia is a fascinating dinosaur that lived a long, long time ago during the Early Cretaceous period. Its name means 'Cuckoo's field', which is a nod to where its fossil was found near Cuckfield in England. For many years, scientists thought this dinosaur was a type of Iguanodon, but in 2010, they realized it was unique enough to get its very own name! The official name for this dinosaur is Kukufeldia tilgatensis.
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Discovering Kukufeldia
The first important fossil of Kukufeldia was a nearly complete lower jawbone, called a dentary. This special bone (known as NHMUK 28660) was found close to a place called Cuckfield. A famous scientist named Gideon Mantell first described this fossil way back in 1848.
From Iguanodon to Its Own Name
For a long time, this fossil was believed to belong to a dinosaur called Iguanodon anglicus. Imagine finding a fossil and thinking it's one type of animal, only to discover much later it's a completely new one! That's exactly what happened with Kukufeldia. In 2010, after careful study, scientists decided it was different enough to be its own unique dinosaur. This is how Kukufeldia got its official name.
What Was Kukufeldia Like?
Kukufeldia was a type of dinosaur known as an iguanodont. These dinosaurs were plant-eaters, meaning they munched on plants and leaves. They walked on two legs, but could also use all four. We know a lot about these dinosaurs from their strong teeth and jaws, which were perfect for grinding tough plants.
Images for kids
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Middle dorsal vertebra
See also
In Spanish: Barilium dawsoni para niños
