Hypsilophodon

Hypsilophodon is an extinct genus of small, plant-eating ornithopod dinosaurs known chiefly from fossils found on the Isle of Wight. It lived during the Early Cretaceous, about 125 million years ago.

Ornithopoda: A group of mostly herbivorous ornithischian dinosaurs that includes iguanodontians and hadrosaurs. Hypsilophodon belongs to this diverse group of plant-eating dinosaurs.
Bipedalism: Locomotion in which an animal moves primarily on two hind limbs. Hypsilophodon’s hindlimbs indicate it was adapted for fast, two-legged movement.
Thomas Henry Huxley: An English biologist who became a leading advocate of evolutionary theory and studied fossil reptiles. Huxley named Hypsilophodon in 1869 from fossils collected on the Isle of Wight.
Hypsilophodontidae: A historically used family of small ornithopods whose membership and validity have been debated. Hypsilophodon once served as the namesake of this grouping, now treated cautiously.
Ornithischia: One of the two major dinosaur groups, characterized by a backward-pointing pubis and diverse herbivorous lineages. This broader dinosaur group contains the ornithopods that include Hypsilophodon.
Cursoriality: Anatomical and behavioral adaptations for running. Its long hindlimbs and light build have been associated with running.
William Fox (paleontologist): An English clergyman and fossil collector who discovered many dinosaur remains on the Isle of Wight. Fox collected the fossils that Huxley used to establish the genus.
Iguanodon: A large herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur known from Early Cretaceous fossils in Europe. Its size and anatomy sharply contrast with the much smaller Hypsilophodon.
Isle of Wight: An island off southern England with important Early Cretaceous fossil-bearing rock formations. Many of the fossils that established Hypsilophodon come from this island.
Herbivory: A feeding strategy in which animals consume plants or plant-like organisms. Hypsilophodon’s teeth and jaws indicate a plant-based diet.

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