Echinodon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Echinodon |
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| Specimen NHMUK 48215b | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Echinodon
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| Species: |
becklesii
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| Synonyms | |
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Saurechinodon |
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Echinodon (pronounced Eh-KEE-noh-don) is a type of small dinosaur that lived about 140 million years ago. This was during the Lower Cretaceous period. Its name means "hedgehog tooth," which describes its unique teeth.
Fossils of Echinodon have been found in Europe, specifically in England. It belongs to a group of dinosaurs called Heterodontosaurs. Another name, Saurechinodon, was once used for this dinosaur, but scientists now know it's the same as Echinodon.
Contents
Meet Echinodon
Echinodon was a small dinosaur, likely no bigger than a house cat. It was part of the ornithischian group, which means it had hips similar to a bird's. This group includes many plant-eating dinosaurs.
What Was a Heterodontosaur?
Echinodon was a Heterodontosaur. These were generally small, plant-eating (herbivorous) dinosaurs. They are known for having different kinds of teeth in their mouths. Most dinosaurs had teeth that were all very similar. But Heterodontosaurs had teeth that looked different, like incisors, canines, and molars in mammals. This helped them chew their food very well.
When and Where Did It Live?
Echinodon lived during the Lower Cretaceous period. This was about 140 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in the Purbeck Group rock formations in southern England.
The Purbeck Environment
The area where Echinodon lived was once a warm, shallow lagoon. It was a mix of freshwater and saltwater environments. This area was home to many different animals. These included early mammals, other dinosaurs, and various plants.
Discovery and Fossils
The first fossils of Echinodon were found in the 1800s. They were described by a famous scientist named Richard Owen in 1861.
What We Know from Fossils
Most of what we know about Echinodon comes from its teeth and jaw bones. These fossils show that it had very special teeth. Some teeth were sharp and pointed, like fangs. Others were flatter, good for grinding plants. This mix of teeth is a key feature of Heterodontosaurs.
Skull Reconstruction
Scientists have used the fossilized jaw and skull fragments to create a picture of what Echinodon's head might have looked like. These reconstructions help us understand how it ate and lived.
Related Dinosaurs
Echinodon is related to other small, early ornithischian dinosaurs.
Fabrosauridae Connection
Some scientists think Echinodon might be related to dinosaurs like Lesothosaurus. Lesothosaurus was another small, plant-eating dinosaur from southern Africa. Both are considered very early members of the ornithischian family tree.
Other Dinosaurs in Its Habitat
Echinodon shared its home with other interesting creatures. One was Nuthetes, a small meat-eating dinosaur. There were also early mammals like Durlstodon and Durlstotherium.
Images for kids
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Teeth and jaw fragments referred to Echinodon, NHMUK 48209 to 48215
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Life restoration of Fruitadens, originally Echinodon sp.
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Reconstruction of the known skull of Echinodon from Sereno (2012)
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Left dentary of Echinodon NHMUK 48213 in medial view showing the anatomy of the tooth crowns
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Partial skull of Lesothosaurus, a proposed relative of Echinodon within Fabrosauridae
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Echinodon being attacked by a Nuthetes, hypothetically restored as a dromaeosaur
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Locality (red dot) for Echinodon on the southern coast of England
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Environment of the Purbeck beds including the mammals Durlstodon (left), Durlstotherium (center and right) and the theropod Nuthetes
See also
In Spanish: Echinodon becklesii para niños
