Oryctodromeus

† Oryctodromeus is an Early Cretaceous small ornithopod from the Blackleaf Formation of Montana, USA. The first known burrowing dinosaur, it excavated denning burrows ~2 m long, evidenced by complete family groups in fossil burrows.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Oryctodromeus 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

Cretaceous Early Mesozoic Era

Oryctodromeus lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145,0 to 100,5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.