Micropachycephalosaurus facts for kids

An artist's idea of what Micropachycephalosaurus looked like.

Micropachycephalosaurus (say: My-kroh-pak-ee-sef-uh-LOH-saw-rus) means 'tiny thick-headed lizard'. It was a type of dinosaur that lived during the Upper Cretaceous period. This dinosaur was a herbivore, meaning it ate only plants. It lived in a place that is now called Shandong, China.

This amazing dinosaur was one of the smallest ever found. It was only a little over a meter (about 3 feet) long. Even though it was tiny, it had one of the longest names of any dinosaur! Before Micropachycephalosaurus was discovered, another dinosaur called Compsognathus was known as the smallest.

What We Know About This Dinosaur

Scientists study fossils to learn about dinosaurs. The fossil of Micropachycephalosaurus did not have a complete skull. This made it hard for scientists to figure out exactly which dinosaur family it belonged to.

Its Place in the Dinosaur Family Tree

At first, some scientists thought Micropachycephalosaurus might be a pachycephalosaur. These dinosaurs are known for their thick, bony skulls. However, because the skull was missing, it was hard to be sure.

Later, in 2011, scientists used a method called cladistic analysis. This helps them understand how different animals are related. This study showed that Micropachycephalosaurus is a very early type of Ceratopsia. Ceratopsia is a group of dinosaurs that includes famous ones like Triceratops.

When scientists say Micropachycephalosaurus is "basal," it means it's an early, less specialized member of its group. It doesn't mean it's an ancestor to later dinosaurs. It just means it didn't have all the special features that later, more developed members of the group had.

Related pages

• Wannanosaurus

See also

In Spanish: Micropachycephalosaurus hongtuyanensis para niños