ZoomDinosaurs.com Dinosaur and Paleontology Dictionary

Hypsilophodontids (meaning "high-crested tooth") were a group of small, gazelle-like, herbivorous, large-eyed, long-legged, five-fingered, four-toed, herding dinosaurs which included Hypsilophodon, Dryosaurus, Othnielia, Tenotosaurus, Parksosaurus, Thescelosaurus, etc. Hypsilophondontids lived from the late Triassic period until the late Cretaceous period. Hypsilophondontid fossils have been found on most continents.

Hypsilophondontids had no natural defenses from predators except their speed, senses and small claws on their toes. The presence of large optic lobes and large eyes suggests that they had good eyesight which would help them detect the presence of predators and help them avoid being caught and eaten by a meat-eater.

Hypsilophondontids are possibly the ancestors of the Hadrosaurs, the duck-bills. They were were Ornithischians (the order of bird-hipped dinosaurs), and ornithopods ("bird-footed" herbivores with hoof-like feet).

The following are some examples of Hypsilophondontids:
(Click on a dinosaur to go to an information sheet on that dinosaur.)

HYPSILOPHODONTIDAE
DRYOSAURUS	HYPSILOPHODON

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