Lesothosaurus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lesothosaurus Temporal range: Lower Jurassic 199–189 mya
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Reptilia
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Ornithischia
Genus:	Lesothosaurus

Notice the skull shape is different from the artist's impression

Lesothosaurus was a small, early dinosaur. It lived about 199 to 189 million years ago. This dinosaur was an herbivore, meaning it ate only plants. It was also a very fast and agile runner.

Lesothosaurus was quite small, only about 3 feet (1 meter) long. It looked a bit like a lizard. It walked on two long legs and had four-toed feet. Its front limbs were shorter and had five-fingered hands. It also had a long, pointed tail and a flexible neck.

Its head was small, short, and flat. Lesothosaurus had large eyes. It had sharp, pointed teeth at the front of its mouth. Its cheek teeth were shaped like arrows. The very front of its lower jaw had no teeth at all.

Lesothosaurus belonged to a group of dinosaurs called Ornithischia. Scientists believe it was an early member of the ornithopod dinosaurs.

Images for kids

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  Skull diagram

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  Life restoration (reconstructed with filaments) of Lesothosaurus diagnosticus

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  Life restoration (reconstructed without filaments) and size compared to a human

See also

In Spanish: Lesothosaurus diagnosticus para niños