Zalmoxes (Zalmoxes)

Basic facts

  • 10 feet (3m) length

  • Late Cretaceous

  • Romania

  • Herbivore

Zalmoxes is a member of the family Rhabdodontidae, a group of small to medium-sized ornithopod dinosaurs. Fossils of Zalmoxes have been discovered in the Maastrichtian-age rocks of Romania, providing paleontologists with crucial insights into the fauna of the Late Cretaceous.

Zalmoxes was a relatively small dinosaur, estimated to have reached lengths of about 10 feet (3 meters). It displayed typical ornithopod features, including a beaked snout and specialized teeth suited for processing plant material. Its relatively long hind limbs and robust forelimbs suggest that it was both a bipedal and quadrupedal creature.

As a member of the ornithopod group, Zalmoxes was a herbivore, likely feeding on a variety of plants such as ferns, cycads, and conifers that were abundant during the Late Cretaceous. Its dental adaptations suggest a selective feeding strategy, allowing it to efficiently process tough vegetation.

The ability to adopt both bipedal and quadrupedal postures would have given Zalmoxes flexibility in foraging and locomotion. It might have used its hind limbs for swift movement and its forelimbs for manipulating and grasping food.