Describer

Hopson, 1975

Time

Triassic Late Jurassic Early Norian Rhaetian Hettangian Sinemurian

Classification

Ornithischia Ornithopoda Heterodontosauridae

Diet

Herbivore

Fossilsite

Lesotho, South Africa

Typespecies

Abrictosaurus consors

Length

1,2 meter

Info

Genus - Skull

Abrictosaurus (Hopson, 1975) > Abrictosaurus consors (Thulborn, 1974) = Lycorhinus consors (Thulborn, 1974)

Abrictosaurus was a bipedal heterodontosaurid from the Late Triassic to the Early Jurassic red sandstones of Lesotho, South Africa. It was an herbivore with high-crowned teeth. Unlike other heterodontosaurids, it lacked canine-like teeth on its lower jaw.

Abrictosaurus [\\\\\\\"awake lizard\\\\\\\"] (the skull without tusks) may be a female, while Heterodontosaurus (with the tusks) is a male of the same species. 2 skulls and 1 associated fragmentary skeleton [UCL B54 [holotype]: partial skeleton, UCL A.100: partial skull] It measured approximately 1,2 meter length and 1 meter top and weighed around 43 kg.

The name expresses J. A. Hopson\\\\\\\'s \\\\\\\"disagreement with [R. A.] Thulborn\\\\\\\'s suggestion that heterodontosaurids underwent aestivation (or hibernation) during the yearly dry season,\\\\\\\" based on the supposed replacement pattern of their teeth. Abrictosaurus was active year-round in Hopson\\\\\\\'s view.