Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki

† Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki is a small dryosaurid ornithopod from the Late Jurassic Tendaguru Formation of Tanzania, one of Africa's richest dinosaur Lagerstätten. Approximately 2–3 m long, it was a swift biped herbivore grazing on low-growing ferns and cycads alongside giant sauropods like Giraffatitan. Named after German General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, it is known from abundant material including juveniles, enabling detailed growth rate studies. Its gregarious behaviour is inferred from bonebeds.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161,5 to 145,0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.