Fruitadens

Fruitadens is a small genus of possibly omnivorous heterodontosaurid dinosaur from the late Jurassic period in North America. It is one of the smallest ornithischian dinosaurs known.

History and etymology
The first fossils of Fruitadens were excavated in the 1970's and 1980's, in the town of Fruita, Colorado (where it gets its name from). They were originally thought to have been related to dinosaurs such as Heterodontosaurus and Echinodon. The fossils were then placed in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

The specific name, F. haagarorum, honors the Haaga family, Paul Jr., Heather, Blythe, Paul III and Catalina for their support to the aforementioned museum.

Paleobiology
The lightweight build of Fruitadens suggests it was an fast, agile runner, easily able to navigate the forest floor and to escape predators such as Allosaurus. Additationally, its teeth show that Fruitadens, and other heterodontosaurids may have been omnivorous.

Body covering
Evidence from the dinosaur Tianyulong suggest all heterodontosaurids, including Fruitadens, to have been covered in quills.

Fast facts

 * Special features: Quills/fangs
 * Description: Small heterodontosaurid dinosaur from the late Jurassic of North America.
 * Diet: Low growing plants, insects and small invertebrates
 * Weight: 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.5 to 0.75 kilos)
 * Meaning of name: "heterodontosaurid from Fruita"
 * Fun fact: Like all heterodontosaurids, Fruitadens was probably an omnivore.
 * Classification: Heterodontosauridae
 * In popular culture: The Smithsonian
 * Size: 2 feet (0.6 meters)

Navigation
Species number: #006



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