Heterodontosaurus tucki

† Heterodontosaurus tucki — a Early Jurassic dinosaur from South Africa. Herbivorous browser. Discovered in South Africa; contributes to the local paleofaunal record.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Heterodontosaurus tucki 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 Early Mesozoic Era

Heterodontosaurus tucki lived during the Jurassic Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 201.4 to 174.7 million years ago.

After the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, dinosaurs rapidly diversified and became the dominant land vertebrates. Early sauropods and theropods began to evolve larger body sizes.