Fun Hypsilophodon Facts For Kids

The Hypsilophodon dinosaur classification is genus Hypsilophodon and clade Dinosauria. The Hypsilophodon model stands in numerous museums across the globe. Ever wondered where to possibly find fossils of Hypsilophodon dinosaurs?

The UK! The Hypsilophodon prehistoric wildlife is very rich and interesting!

You must have heard about this ferocious dinosaur after it gained popularity through the Hypsilophodon 'Jurassic Park' movie if not anything else! The Hypsilophodon is a genus of extinct, unquestionably herbaceous (non-lepidopteran) dinosaurs that lived in what's now North America, and London during the Early Cretaceous period.

It has been classified by many paleontologists as a member of the Nematostomidae ornithopods bipedal family along with its closely related birds and reptiles, Hylaeosaurus.

This dinosaur had sharp teeth, a round skull, and was first described in 1877 by Yale paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh and later named by Huxley after his favorite Greek river god, Hymalophas (Himalayan).

Later, studies suggested that while most herbivores had flat teeth designed for grinding up plants into pulp, the bipedal Hypsilophodon had a strong middle canine tooth that helped it chew through tough vegetation-like roots and stems.

It has been said to have preferred hot, arid environments and mostly lived off vegetation!

The coolest fact about this dinosaur?

Its scientific name means 'half wing'. This name was given not just because it walks on both legs and wings at once when running but also its head looks as if there's only half an upper jaw connected with the lower jaw extending backward into pockets where food sat during digestion so they didn't get eaten themselves.

Read on to find more interesting facts about this dinosaur! Find more exciting and thrilling facts about the Chungkingosaurus and Ostafrikasaurus for kids!

Hypsilophodon Interesting Facts

How do you pronounce 'Hypsilophodon'?

The correct Hypsilophodon pronunciation is 'hip-sy-lo-fo-dawn'. The word 'Hypsilophodon' has a unique pronunciation. To say it correctly, you should enunciate each letter individually and then put them together as if they're all chanting in unison: 'hip-sy-lo-fo--dawn'.

Crazy how these words sound different depending on what country or region of Earth they come from!

What type of dinosaur was a Hypsilophodon?

The dinosaur Hypsilophodon was an ornithopod dinosaur. The most interesting thing about the dinosaur Hypsilophodon is that it was an ornithopod. These creatures typically walked on their toes and weren't as large or powerful jaw-wise as other types of dinosaurs we've seen so far.

In which geological period did the Hypsilophodon roam the Earth?

The Early Cretaceous period was one of the most interesting periods in Earth's history.

The fossils from this time are some of our best examples for understanding how life evolved and what creatures roamed ancient lands, like ours today! For example, many Hypsilophodon fossils have been found after extensive research that dates back to around 150 million years old.

This makes them a great resource when studying evolution as well as paleobiology because they offer context not only on plant relatives but also on dinosaur species that inhabited early Warth back then!

When did the Hypsilophodon become extinct?

The Hypsilophodon was a herbivore that used to live in the Cretaceous period, but sadly it became extinct around 90 million years ago. Fortunately for us, they left behind clear evidence of what this animal looked like and how much we miss them.

These fantastic creatures had large eyes with eyelashes which gave off an appearance similar to tears as if crying out when injured or afraid. Their duckbill mouths meant eating plants wasn't very difficult.

Where did a Hypsilophodon live?

A Hypsilophodon lived in a variety of habitats, from wide-open grasslands and mountains to forests. The species was found everywhere that offered it enough room for grazing herbivores or browsing on fruit trees with its long snout.

What was a Hypsilophodon's habitat?

Scientists are not exactly sure about the habitats of Hypsilophodon dinosaurs, but they may have lived in swamps and other wetland areas of North America.

Who did a Hypsilophodon live with?

The best way to find out about a Hypsilophodon's lifestyle is by looking at the fossil record. There are many sites that have amazing examples of this species living with other dinosaurs, some even being eaten!

How long did a Hypsilophodon live?

It's hard to believe, but the Hypsilophodon lived for 40 years. How long did you think it survived?

A recent study shows that many animals can actually live much longer than expected if they're in good enough condition and have access to food or water every day.

How did they reproduce?

There is some debate on how these herbivores reproduced. Some experts think they are oviparous while others believe that Hypsilophodon dinosaurs laid eggs that hatched in the water because there have been no fossil records found of their reproductive process so far.

Hypsilophodon Fun Facts

What did a Hypsilophodon look like?

These bipedal Hypsilophodon dinosaurs were a group of animals that were discovered way back in time and were a relatively small ornithopod animal species that were closely related to reptiles. Hypsilophodon toes were self-sharpening, pointed, and sharp.

The Hypsilophodon skull was roundish and strong. These animals had pointed cheek teeth, pointed beak, a strong upper jaw that was connected to the lower jaw, a stiff tail, and a peculiar fifth finger.

The front teeth had a conical shape. They had two legs and their long legs made them swift and agile.

How many bones did a Hypsilophodon have?

The completely evolved and discovered Hypsilophodon skeleton specimen forms preserved in the Natural History Museum suggest that this dinosaur had around 230-240 bones!

How did they communicate?

The world of ancient dinosaurs will never be the same! Did they communicate with one another through snorts or grunts? It's hard to say for sure, but it looks like these primitive creatures had some type of sophisticated language of their own. We wonder what happened when two Hypsilophodons met upon an old battlefield...

How big was a Hypsilophodon?

The Hypsilophodon size was moderate. The Hypsilophodon height was estimated to be around 5 ft (1.5 m) and the length was believed to be around 7.5 ft (2.3 m)!

How fast could a Hypsilophodon move?

The Hypsilophodon speed was cool! The Hypsilophodon dinosaur is believed to have been one of the fastest dinosaurs. It could reach speeds 23 mph (37 kph), making them a threat even for larger predators like the Tyrannosaurus rex!

How much did a Hypsilophodon weigh?

The small, slender Hypsilophodon may seem like a delicate species but it could easily weigh around 44 lb (20 kg). It's not just about the size of their bodies though.

This animal species was known for having an extremely powerful bite and some scientists think their advanced teeth specimens discovered way back by Huxley were actually used by ancient Egyptians as anti-Semitism symbols during wartime!

What were the male and female names of the species?

Both males and females of this species of dinosaurs have the same name and are referred to as Hypsilophodon foxii! The specimen fossils and remains of both ornithopod groups had two legs and were proportionately long legs in length, a round strong skull, and sharp feet bones.

What would you call a baby Hypsilophodon?

Their cute little adorable babies go by the name Hypsilophoodn dinosaur babies. The baby fossil group also had sharp teeth and dated back to the Early Cretaceous period! The fossilized skeletal remains of these little dinos are an absolute must-have for any paleontologist, collector, or even just someone who loves adorable babies.

What did they eat?

The plant-eating Hypsilophodon foxii had a hearty appetite with its typical cheek teeth. It chewed on plant material like cones, vegetation, and seeds to satisfy its cravings for green food.

How aggressive were they?

The ornithischian dinosaur Hypsilophodon could have been a vicious type of dinosaur. It had hard-clawed feet, sharp teeth, and was likely to bite anyone that came too close or touched its eggs which were often found in nests near rivers with other herbivores like Diplodocus.

Did you know...

One might think that Hypsilophodon is a place in the Greek islands, or even just an English word and not really anything special. However, its meaning can be translated as 'highborn', which certainly paints a different picture than what your typical seven-letter name would offer.

Did the Hypsilophodon have feathers?

A fossilized footprint remains of what could've been an extinct animal has recently come to light and been discovered after extensive research. It is believed that these creatures were feathery!

The Hypsilophodon seems like a perfect match, with their large heads and streamlined bodies. It would have been just the kind of creature you would expect to see flying through the trees somewhere in Wyoming or Tennessee on this day 100 million years ago...

Did the Hypsilophodon climb trees?

It has been a subject of discussion for years now! Scientists debate whether or not the Hypsilophodon could climb trees.

Some say that it's possible because these ornithopods had a sharp beak and long, thin fingers on the feet specimens that were discovered way back.

These would have allowed them to grip onto branches tightly enough for support while other experts argue against this theory on the grounds of their size and strength advantage given by some animals in preying upon these herbivores during their early days!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Utahraptor facts, or Yunnanosaurus facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Hypsilophodon coloring pages.