Lesothosaurus (Lizard from Lesotho)
Basic facts
6.6 feet (2m) length
Early Jurassic
Africa
Omnivore
Lesothosaurus is a genus of dinosaur belonging to the family Fabrosauridae. It lived approximately 200 to 195 million years ago, during the Early Jurassic, in what is now southern Africa. The first fossils of Lesothosaurus were discovered in the 1960s and 1970s in Lesotho, providing paleontologists with valuable insights into this intriguing dinosaur.
Lesothosaurus was a small-sized dinosaur, measuring around 1.5 to 2 meters in length. It had a slender body with long hind limbs, indicating its agility and adaptability for swift movement. Its hands had five fingers with sharp claws, suggesting the ability to grasp and manipulate objects. The shape and arrangement of its teeth suggest a herbivorous diet that may have left room for omnivore eating habits also.
Lesothosaurus is believed to have been an agile, bipedal dinosaur capable of both running and walking on its hind limbs. Its herbivorous diet likely consisted of a variety of plant materials, including leaves, fruits, and possibly seeds. Its grasping hands may have aided in gathering food and manipulating objects within its environment.