Othnielia was a genus of ornithischian dinosaur, known as a hypsilophodont, named after its original describer, Professor Othniel Charles Marsh, an American paleontologist of the 19th century.
Facts
Currently, Othnielia is recognized as an older, outdated name of Othnielosaurus, but this is still debated.
Othnielosaurus or Othnielia was a dinosaur of 1,50 meters long and 50 centimeters height that probably relied on living in groups and speed for protection. They were too fast for larger animals such as Allosaurus to catch if Othnielia wasn't ambushed, but smaller predators like Ornitholestes had probably a chance to catch them in a chase. Othnielia itself ate low-growing vegetation, but sometimes it would eat scraps from a bigger herbivore's meal (like a Stegosaurus) and it could also eat a lizard or a centipede on occassion.
In Walking with... Series
Walking with Dinosaurs
Othnielia is seen in the background, however, it is not identified in the show.
Ballad of Big Al
A small group of Othnelia was featured in this special, following a foraging Stegosaurus and picking up the scraps of vegetation the larger herbivore left behind.
Trivia
- A replica of Othnielia and Allosaurus skeletons can be seen at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada.
Gallery
