Ornithopsis

bird appearance (bird face)

• ornis · Greek · bird
• opsis · Greek · appearance, look

The name combines the Greek words for "bird" and "appearance". Harry Seeley chose it because the vertebrae of this sauropod were hollowed by air spaces, much like those of birds, which made him think the bones looked bird-like.

Named by

Seeley

Year named

1870

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Barremian

Found in

Wessex Formation (Wealden Group), Isle of Wight, England, UK

A large sauropod (a titanosauriform) known from fragmentary vertebral remains. The type species is Ornithopsis hulkei. Its status has been debated and the material is incomplete, so check recent literature. The name was also used for other British sauropod material that has since been reassigned.