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Thescelosaurus facts for kids

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Thescelosaurus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous
Burpee - Thescelosaurus.JPG
Thescelosaurus at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois
Scientific classification
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Thescelosaurus

Gilmore, 1913
Species
  • T. neglectus Gilmore, 1913 (type)
  • T. garbanii Morris, 1976
Synonyms
  • Bugenasaura Galton, 1995

Thescelosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur that lived in forests. It roamed North America during the late Cretaceous period. This was about 77 to 65 million years ago.

Scientists have found one complete skeleton and eight other partial Thescelosaurus skeletons. These fossils were discovered in Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota in the USA. They were also found in Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. Some fossils even show skin impressions!

What Was Thescelosaurus Like?

Thescelosaurus was a type of ornithopod dinosaur. This means it was a plant-eater that walked on two legs. It was not a very large dinosaur, usually growing to about 10 to 13 feet (3 to 4 meters) long. It likely weighed around 400 to 700 pounds (180 to 320 kg).

Where Did Thescelosaurus Live?

This dinosaur lived in areas that were once lush forests. These forests had many different types of plants for it to eat. Its home was in what is now North America.

When Did Thescelosaurus Live?

Thescelosaurus lived during the very end of the Cretaceous period. This time is known as the Maastrichtian age. It was one of the last dinosaurs to live before the big extinction event. That event happened about 66 million years ago.

Fossil Discoveries

Many fossils of Thescelosaurus have been found. These discoveries help us learn about its life. Scientists have found bones, teeth, and even some skin impressions.

The Famous "Willo" Specimen

One very special Thescelosaurus fossil is nicknamed "Willo." It was found near Buffalo, South Dakota. What makes Willo so special is that scientists found something inside its chest. They thought it might be a fossilized four-chambered heart.

If it truly is a heart, it would be the first dinosaur heart ever found! This discovery helps us understand how dinosaurs might have lived. It suggests they had strong hearts, like birds and mammals today. However, some scientists still debate if it is truly a heart or just a rock formation.

Skin Impressions

Some Thescelosaurus fossils show impressions of its skin. These impressions tell us that its skin was covered in small, bumpy scales. This is similar to what we see on many reptiles today.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Thescelosaurus para niños

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