Hesperornithoides

western bird-form (like Hesperornis)

• hesperos · Greek · western
• ornis · Greek · bird
• -oides · Greek · resembling, form of

The name combines the Greek words for "western" and "bird" with the suffix "-oides" ("like"), so it means "western bird-like form". It echoes the Cretaceous toothed seabird Hesperornis ("western bird"). It was chosen because this small feathered dinosaur lived in western North America and was bird-like in build.

Named by

Hartman et al.

Year named

2019

Period

Late Jurassic

Stage

Kimmeridgian

Found in

Morrison Formation, Wyoming, USA

A small paravian theropod; the type species is Hesperornithoides miessleri. It was described as a troodontid (or close to the origin of birds and troodontids), and its position in the tree has been debated. The nickname of the type specimen is "Lori".