Hypsilophodon fossil map
Where fossils of Hypsilophodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 130 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 130 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Iguanodonts & duck-bills |
|---|---|
| Lived | 154.8–119.57 million years ago (Kimmeridgian to Aptian) |
| Periods | Jurassic, Cretaceous |
| Family | Hypsilophodontidae |
| Named by | Huxley 1870 |
| Fossil records | 10 occurrences at 9 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | UK, Spain, Romania, Japan, Portugal |
| Rock formations | txn:38734, Wessex, Vectis, Artoles, Villar del Arzobispo, Lower Bauxite |
About Hypsilophodon
Hypsilophodon (; meaning "Hypsilophus-tooth") is a neornithischian dinosaur genus from the Early Cretaceous period of England. It has traditionally been considered an early member of the group Ornithopoda, but recent research has put this into question.
The first remains of Hypsilophodon were found in 1849; the type species, Hypsilophodon foxii, was named in 1869. Abundant fossil discoveries were made on the Isle of Wight, giving a good impression of the build of the species. It was a small, agile bipedal herbivore, measuring 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 ft) long and weighing 20 kg (44 lb). It had a pointed head equipped with a sharp beak used to bite off plant material, much like modern-day parrots.
Some outdated studies have given rise to a number of misconceptions about Hypsilophodon, including that it was an armoured, arboreal animal, and that it could be found in areas outside of the Isle of Wight. However, research from the following years has shown these ideas to be incorrect.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Hypsilophodon (revision 1368026040), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in.
