Heterodontosaurus

different-toothed lizard

• heteros · Greek · different
• odous (odont-) · Greek · tooth
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name means "different-toothed lizard". It refers to the animal's unusual mix of tooth types: small cutting teeth at the front, large canine-like tusks, and cheek teeth for chewing plants. This variety is unlike the uniform teeth of most reptiles.

Named by

Crompton and Charig

Year named

1962

Period

Early Jurassic

Stages

Hettangian – Sinemurian

Found in

Upper Elliot Formation, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Small early ornithischian and the type genus of the family Heterodontosauridae. The type species is H. tucki. The stage range is approximate and varies between sources.