Wannanosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WannanosaurusTemporal range: Upper Cretaceous 80 mya
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Wannanosaurus
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Wannanosaurus was a small dinosaur that lived a long, long time ago. It was one of the smallest dinosaurs in a group called ornithischians. These dinosaurs had hips shaped a bit like a bird's. Wannanosaurus lived during the Upper Cretaceous period, which was about 80 million years ago. It was found in China.
Contents
Discovering Wannanosaurus
A Small Dinosaur
Wannanosaurus was a very tiny dinosaur. It was only about one metre (or about three feet) long. This makes it the smallest known dinosaur from the ornithischian group. Imagine a dinosaur no bigger than a small dog!
Where It Lived
This little dinosaur lived in what is now China. Its fossils were found in a place called Anhui. Scientists believe it lived in this area during the Late Cretaceous period. This was a time when many different dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
What We Know From Fossils
Scientists know about Wannanosaurus from only a few fossil pieces. These pieces include part of its skull and lower jaw. They also found parts of its leg bones and a piece of a rib. These small clues help experts learn about this ancient animal.
What Wannanosaurus Was Like
Its Diet
Wannanosaurus was mainly a plant-eater. This means it ate plants, leaves, and other vegetation. However, some scientists think it might have also eaten insects. This would make it an omnivore, eating both plants and small animals.
Its Name
The name Wannanosaurus means "Wanno lizard." This name comes from the region in China where its fossils were discovered. It helps us remember where this unique dinosaur once lived.
Its Skull
Wannanosaurus is part of a dinosaur family called pachycephalosaurs. Many pachycephalosaurs are known for their thick, dome-shaped skulls. However, Wannanosaurus had a flatter skull top. It was still a pachycephalosaur, but with a less rounded head.
