Rhabdodontids facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rhabdodontids |
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| Rhabdodon priscus | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | †Ornithischia |
| Suborder: | †Ornithopoda |
| Clade: | †Rhabdodontomorpha |
| Family: | †Rhabdodontidae Weishampel, 2003 |
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Rhabdodontids were a group of plant-eating (herbivorous) dinosaurs. They were a type of ornithopod, which means "bird-footed" dinosaur. These dinosaurs lived during the Cretaceous period, a long time ago.
Rhabdodontids looked a bit like large, strong hypsilophodonts. They had deep skulls and powerful jaws, which helped them chew plants. Scientists group these dinosaurs into a family called Rhabdodontidae. This family includes well-known genera like Rhabdodon, Zalmoxes, and Mochlodon.
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Where Rhabdodontids Lived
Fossils of Rhabdodontids have been found in different parts of the world. Most of their remains have been discovered in Europe. However, some fossils have also been found as far away as Australia.
These dinosaurs lived from about 100 million years ago to 65 million years ago. This means they were around during the later part of the Cretaceous period, right up until the time dinosaurs went extinct.
What Rhabdodontids Looked Like
Rhabdodontids were medium-sized dinosaurs. They were not as huge as some of the long-necked sauropods, but they were still quite big. Their bodies were strong and sturdy.
They had special teeth that were good for grinding plants. Their deep jaws helped them to process tough plant material. Scientists study these teeth and jaws to understand what these dinosaurs ate and how they lived.
Rhabdodontid Family Members
The Rhabdodontidae family includes several interesting dinosaurs. Here are some of the main ones:
- Rhabdodon: This is the dinosaur the family is named after. Its fossils have been found in Europe.
- Zalmoxes: This Rhabdodontid was found in what is now Romania. It was a smaller member of the family.
- Mochlodon: Another European Rhabdodontid, Mochlodon was also on the smaller side.
Scientists are always learning more about these dinosaurs. They study new fossils to understand how these different species are related to each other and how they fit into the larger dinosaur family tree.
Images for kids
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Comparison of rhabdodontid dentaries
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Adult body sizes of Mochlodon, Zalmoxes and Rhabdodon.
See also
In Spanish: Rabdodóntidos para niños
