Fun Yaverlandia Facts For Kids

Hailing from the Yaverland in Isle of Wight, England, the discovery of the Yaverlandia fossil was a conflict for many paleontologists as the history of finding its exact genus and family. Yaverlandia bitholus existed in the Early Cretaceous period and is famously known for its dome-shaped head.

Unfortunately, the excavation in the Isle of Wight from the Yaverland village only offered a single specimen; hence, unlocking its history was a hassle for paleontologists, but they managed to offer great insights into the dinosaur history and various assumptions revolving around it.

From being recognized as the earliest member of pachycephalosaurid to being referred to as iguanodontid in 1936, the species went through many changes to find its actual unique genus and family.

Of course, despite some of the assumptions, we must remember that they are only assumptions. If more fossil remains of this species can be discovered, we could confirm more details about Yaverlandia.

Yaverlandia Interesting Facts

How do you pronounce 'Yaverlandia'?

Yaverlandia is pronounced as 'Yav-er-lan-dee-uh'.

What type of dinosaur was a Yaverlandia?

Yaverlandia belonged to the genus of a maniraptoran theropod dinosaur that existed through the Lower Cretaceous epoch of the Mesozoic era. The species was identified solely through its partial skull. Paleontologists kept changing its conflicting genus and family for a while before assigning it to the maniraptoran theropod family.

In which geological period did the Yaverlandia roam the Earth?

Known from a partial skull, Yaverlandia roamed the Earth in the Lower Cretaceous period from 145 million years to 100.5 million years ago.

When did Yaverlandia become extinct?

Yaverlandia supposedly became extinct during the decline of the Lower Cretaceous period across various other dinosaur species.

Where did a Yaverlandia live?

Yaverlandia skull remains were found in the Wessex Formation located on the Isle of Wight, and its town called Yaverland is present in England; therefore, it is believed that the species roamed around the same place.

What was a Yaverlandia's habitat?

Yaevrlandia's preferred habitat was terrestrial, composed of various natural elements like drylands, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, marshes, and flood plains.

Who did a Yaverlandia live with?

Information about the exact species living along with Yaverlandia is still unknown. However, species such as Valdosaurus, Iguanodon, and Polacanthus were also found in the Wessex Formation from Lower Cretaceous. Although it is not known, the possibilities are that these species may have lived along with Yaverlandia.

How long did a Yaverlandia live?

The life span of Yaverlandia species is still beings searched by paleontologists.

How did they reproduce?

 Like various other maniraptoran theropods, Yaverlandia laid eggs to reproduce.

Yaverlandia Fun Facts

What did a Yaverlandia look like?

Yaverlandia was a maniraptoran theropod, which meant it had the qualities of both an avian and a land occupying dinosaur species. Similarly, Yaverlandia closely appeared like a bird with its long arms full of feathers and short stature with pink color.

The dinosaur from Great Britain was dome-headed and had beady eyes.

The partial skull fossil offered very little insight into the life of the dinosaur, but progression led to unlocking more clues to find its familial name.

After extensive studies on the skull remain, it also suggested the species used sense of sight instead of smell more to catch prey as the part of the brain which dealt with the smell was smaller.

*We've been unable to source an image of Yaverlandia and have used an image of Pterosaur instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Yaverlandia, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.

How many bones did a Yaverlandia have?

Yaverlandia bitholus was known as a partial skull fossil from the excavation site of Yaverland. The retrieved two partial skull roofs comprised both frontal and right postorbital and left orbitosphenoid parts. The thickened frontals of the skull give it a dome-headed shape for which the creature is prominently known.

How did they communicate?

Yaverlandia communication modes and mediums are yet to be found and recognized by paleontologists.

How big was a Yaverlandia?

According to the estimations made from Yaverlandia fossil and other belonging species of the same family, the dinosaur was 8 ft (2.4 m) long and weighed around 110 lb (50 kg).

Compared to the other theropod dinosaurs, Yaverlandia bitholus carried an average theropod size most of the dinosaurs were under; for example, Deinonychus from the same family had a length of 11 ft (3.4 m) and weighed around 161 lb (73 kg).

How fast could a Yaverlandia move?

Yaverlandia was a maniraptor species which composed of both avian and non-avian species. Although it is unclear how fast a Yaverlandia could move, it is certain that the speed must be among the fast-moving dinosaurs due to the presence of feathers in its arm.

How much did a Yaverlandia weigh?

Yaverlandia bitholus weighed around 110 lb (50 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

The dome-headed creature lacked enough fossils for paleontologists to differentiate between male and female Yaverlandia dinosaurs; therefore, the names for these two species are yet to be created.

What would you call a baby Yaverlandia?

There is no particular term created for baby Yaverlandia, but experts usually refer to dinosaur babies as hatchlings or nestlings, which might have been the case for the Yaverlandia species too.

What did they eat?

The dome-headed species from Great Britain is known to have an omnivorous diet. The diet included all types of available vegetation and the creatures it hid, such as insects, lizards, small mammals, and other animals.

How aggressive were they?

Known from a partial discovery, studying the dinosaur's behavioral pattern was more tricky than usual, though assumptions can be made from their eating habits. Yaverlandia, a predator for small animals, must have been slightly aggressive to catch prey.

Did You Know...

The discovery of Yaverlandia was marked in 1930, and by 1936 experts recognized the species as iguanodontid with genus Vectisaurus.

Yaverlandia bitholus was named by Peter Malcolm Galton in 1971, as the American vertebrate paleontologists claimed Yaverlandia's dome-headed skull to be different than the ones owned by Vectisaurus.

Research by the British vertebrate paleontologist Darren Naish seemingly clarified assumptions about the dinosaur species and concluded it to be a part of theropod dinosaurs, mainly a maniraptoran.

What does Yaverlandia mean?

The dome-headed dinosaur from Great Britain received its name from its original roots. Yaverlandia bitholus fossil was found in the Wessex Formation, now known as Isle of Wights, located in England. The excavation point was located in a village on the Isle known as Yaverland Point/ Yaverland Battery, where the species received its name from.

Was Yaverlandia theropod?

The Lower Cretaceous species from England was initially thought to be a pachycephalosaurid, but after the compilation of further studies, the discovery projected features related to theropods. Not just theropods, Yaverlandia dinosaurs also reported maniraptoran-like features with feathers and long limbs; therefore, its classification as maniraptoran is also widely accepted.

*We've been unable to source an image of Yaverlandia and have used an image of Deinonychus instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Yaverlandia, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.