Jeholosaurus (Jehol Lizard)

Basic facts

  • 28 inc (0.71m) length

  • Early Cretaceous

  • China

  • Herbivore

Jeholosaurus, hailing from the Early Cretaceous Period, falls under the classification of a neornithischian dinosaur, and it is believed to have been a small herbivorous ornithopod. The initial discovery of Jeholosaurus took place in 2000 at the Lujiatun site near Beipiao City in Liaoning Province, China. This dinosaur was a diminutive bipedal herbivore. However, due to the juvenile nature of the specimens, accurately determining its adult size has posed challenges.

The holotype, measuring 71.1 centimeters (28.0 inches) in length, offers important insights into Jeholosaurus. Nonetheless, it's essential to note that both recovered skulls are incomplete and required partial restoration for analysis. Notably, these specimens exhibit an unusually large orbit, constituting 40% of the total skull length. Additionally, the snout is relatively short, making up 40% of the skull length as well. These characteristics strongly suggest that the specimens represent juvenile individuals.

Jeholosaurus is classified as an ornithischian dinosaur. This classification is supported by the ornithischian pelvic structure characterized by a four-pronged arrangement. In this structure, the pubis bone points downward and backward, running parallel to the ischium, while a forward-facing prepubic process supports the abdomen.