I Know Dino Podcast: Hypsilophodon

Episode 28 is all about Hypsilophodon, a fast-running dinosaur.

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The dinosaur of the day: Hypsilophodon, an ornithopod, whose identify means “Hypsilophus-tooth”

Virtually 100 specimens have been discovered on the Isle of Wight (over 20 dinosaur species discovered there)
20 Hypsilophodon specimens have been present in one place, the place they died collectively (could have been in quicksand)
Reverend William Fox, found the 1868 specimen (with cranium), so the sort species is known as after him

Small, bipedal, about 5.9 toes (1.8 meters) lengthy, weighed about 45 kilos (20 kg)
Agile runner, and had a pointy beak it used to chunk off vegetation
Herbivore, and probably an omnivore

A lot of misconceptions: scientists used to suppose Hypsilophodon climbed bushes and was armored
First present in 1849, and two items have been offered (one to naturalist James Scott Bowerbank); on the time, they thought it was the bones of a younger Iguanodon (Mantell described it as an Iguandon in 1849, as did Richard Owen in 1855)
Paleontologist Thomas Henry Huxley wrote a extra complete description in 1870 (after finding out the cranium); Huxley was the primary to notice that Ornithischians had pubic bones that pointed backwards, like birds

Huxley selected the identify Hypsilophodon as a result of he needed it to be much like Iguanodon’s identify (means iguana-tooth) so he selected named the dinosaur after an “extant herbivorous lizard”
Richard Owen nonetheless thought Hypsilophodon was not a unique genus, and renamed it in 1874 Iguanodon foxii, however scientists rejected it (John Whitaker Hulke had extra specimens from Fox)
In 1874 Hulke described Hypsilophodon as armored, however in 2008 Galton wrote the armor was really from the torso, “an instance of inside intercostal plates related to the rib cage. It consists of skinny mineralized round plates rising from the again finish of the center rib shaft and overlapping the entrance fringe of the next rib”

In 1882 Hulke stated Hypsilophodon was in all probability quadrupedal, but additionally climbed rocks and bushes (due to its greedy hand). In 1912 paleontologist Othenio Abel stated it was a aroboreal animal, and in 1916 Gerhard Heilmann stated it lived like a contemporary tree kangaroo. However in 1926 Heilmann modified his thoughts and stated the primary toe was not opposable as a result of it was “firmly linked to the second”. In 1927 Abel denied this description, and in 1936 Swinton stated although the primary metatarsal was ahead pointing it may need a moveable toe. In 1969 Peter M. Galton analyzed the skeleton, and described Hypsilophon as not having the ability to climb, however as an alternative a bipedal runner.
Most Hypsilophodon specimens have been discovered between 1849 and 1921, and at the moment are within the Pure Historical past Museum in London (about 20)
1967 Peter Malcolm Galton printed his thesis on Hypsilophodon, beginning trendy analysis on the dinosaur

In 1978-79, Galton and James Jensen named one other Hypsilophodon species, Hypsilophodon wielandi, after George Reber Wieland discovered a thigh bone in South Dakota. They thought Hypsilophodon wielandi was proof of a land bridge between North America and Europe, however now the specimen is taken into account an “indeterminate basal ornithopod”
Hypsilophodon had primitive options, akin to 5 digits on every hand and 4 digits on every foot (its fifth finger was opposable and will seize meals); had a beak like different ornithischians, but additionally had 5 tooth in its premaxilla (entrance of the higher jaw)–most different herbivores in its time not had these entrance tooth)
Had a big eye socket, and skinny, pointy bones excessive half of its eyes to provide it shade (and make it look fierce)

Might have had cheeks, to assist it chew meals
As a result of it was small, at low-growing crops (in all probability favored shoots and roots, like trendy deer)
Might have been semi-quadrapedal when consuming low rising crops

Potential predators: Eotyrannus, Neovenator, Baryonyx
Associated species had neatly organized nests (no Hypsilophodon nests have been discovered), so could have cared for eggs earlier than hatching
One of many quickest kinds of dinosaur, in all probability

Had a physique constructed for working; gentle weight, lengthy legs, stiff tail (for steadiness); could also be the very best ornithischian tailored to working
When working, stored its backbone horizontally degree to the bottom (lengthy tail would assist counterbalance)
Can see a mounted skeleton at Dinosaur Isle, “Britain’s first objective constructed dinosaur museum and customer attraction; primarily based in Sandown on the Isle of Wight”

Hypsilophodonts have been small, lengthy, bipedal herbivores (some made burrows for his or her younger, like Oryctodromeous (episode 2)
Lived within the center Jurassic to late Cretaceous
Fossils have been present in Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, North America, and South America

Enjoyable Reality: All dinosaurs laid eggs. About 40 sorts of dinosaur eggs have been found. (there are ~1,000 found to date, so there are nonetheless quite a lot of unknowns [including ceratopsians])

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