Thescelosaurinae

Thescelosaurinae is a subfamily of the ornithopod dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. The group was first named by Charles W. Gilmore in 1915 and includes the genera Thescelosaurus and Parksosaurus.

Description

Thescelosaurinae were small to medium-sized herbivorous dinosaurs. They were characterized by their long legs, small heads, and beak-like mouths. The most well-known member of this subfamily, Thescelosaurus, was about 2.5 to 4 meters long and weighed around 200 to 300 kilograms.

Discovery and Classification

The first fossils of Thescelosaurinae were discovered in the Lance Formation in Wyoming, USA. Since then, additional fossils have been found in other parts of North America, including Alberta, Canada. The subfamily was named by Charles W. Gilmore in 1915, based on the genus Thescelosaurus, which was first described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1892.

Thescelosaurinae is classified within the family Hypsilophodontidae, although this classification has been debated. Some paleontologists consider Thescelosaurinae to be a separate family, while others place it within the family Ornithopoda.

Paleobiology

Thescelosaurinae were likely fast runners, as suggested by their long legs and lightweight bodies. They were herbivores, feeding on a variety of plants. Their teeth were adapted for grinding plant material, and they likely had a complex digestive system to process this food.

In Popular Culture

Thescelosaurinae, particularly Thescelosaurus, have appeared in a number of popular culture mediums, including books, films, and video games. They are often depicted as small, fast-moving herbivores.

See Also

• Dinosaur
• Ornithopoda
• Hypsilophodontidae
• Late Cretaceous

References

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