Callovosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: cal-OH-vo-SORE-us
Name meaning: Callovian Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1m |
| Length | 3m |
| Weight | 50 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | England |
Callovosaurus is one of palaeontology's most enigmatic ornithopod dinosaurs, known from a single left thigh bone (femur) discovered in Middle Jurassic rocks of England. Named after the Callovian stage of the Middle Jurassic period when it lived approximately 165 million years ago, this dinosaur represents our limited understanding of early ornithopod evolution during this crucial time period.
Based on the fragmentary remains, scientists believe Callovosaurus was a relatively small, bipedal herbivore that walked on its hind legs. The thigh bone suggests it was likely similar in build to other early ornithopods, with long legs adapted for running and a body designed for processing plant material. As an ornithopod, it would have possessed a beak-like mouth at the front of its jaws and cheek teeth designed for grinding vegetation.
The classification of Callovosaurus has been debated since its discovery, with some scientists considering it a basal iguanodontian, possibly related to the dryosaurids. However, the limited fossil evidence makes it extremely difficult to determine its exact relationships within the ornithopod family tree. The single bone provides tantalising glimpses of Middle Jurassic ornithopod diversity but leaves many questions unanswered.
Living in what is now England during the Middle Jurassic, Callovosaurus inhabited a warm, humid environment with lush vegetation. The Oxford Clay Formation where it was found represents ancient marine and coastal environments, suggesting this ornithopod lived near ancient shorelines where it could feed on the abundant plant life of the period.
What made Callovosaurus distinctive?
Due to being known from only a single thigh bone, no distinctive visual features can be confidently identified for Callovosaurus. The femur suggests it was a small to medium-sized ornithopod with typical bipedal proportions.
Behaviour
Little can be determined about Callovosaurus's behaviour from a single thigh bone, though as an ornithopod it likely spent much of its time foraging for plants and may have lived in small groups for protection from predators.
Discovery
Callovosaurus was first described by Peter Galton in 1980. The original fossils were discovered at Oxford Clay Formation, Cambridgeshire, England.
Callovosaurus FAQ
What did Callovosaurus eat?
Callovosaurus was a herbivore that fed on
Middle Jurassic plants. As an ornithopod, it would have used its beak-like mouth to crop vegetation and its cheek teeth to process plant material, though we can only infer this from its classification since so little fossil evidence exists.
How big was Callovosaurus?
Based on the single thigh bone, Callovosaurus is estimated to have been around 3 metres long, 1 metre tall at the hip, and weighed approximately 50 kilograms. However, these are very rough estimates given the limited fossil evidence.
When did Callovosaurus live?
Callovosaurus lived during the
Middle Jurassic period, approximately 165.3 million years ago during the Callovian stage, which is where it gets its name.
Where was Callovosaurus found?
Callovosaurus was discovered in the Oxford Clay Formation in Cambridgeshire, England. This formation dates to the
Middle Jurassic and is particularly famous for its marine reptile fossils.
How do you pronounce Callovosaurus?
Callovosaurus is pronounced 'cal-OH-vo-SORE-us', with emphasis on the second syllable 'OH' and the final 'SORE'.
What does Callovosaurus mean?
Callovosaurus means 'Callovian lizard', named after the Callovian stage of the
Middle Jurassic period when it lived. The Callovian stage itself was named after the Latin name for Kellaways in Wiltshire.
How fast could Callovosaurus run?
The running speed of Callovosaurus is unknown due to the limited fossil evidence. As a small ornithopod with long legs, it may have been capable of quick bursts of speed to escape predators, but we cannot make reliable estimates from just a thigh bone.
What type of dinosaur was Callovosaurus?
Callovosaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur, possibly a basal iguanodontian with potential relationships to the dryosaurids. However, its exact classification remains uncertain due to being known from only a single bone.
Was Callovosaurus related to birds?
No, Callovosaurus was not directly related to birds. As an ornithopod, it belonged to a different major group of dinosaurs than the theropods, which are the dinosaur group that gave rise to modern birds.
How many Callovosaurus fossils have been found?
Only one Callovosaurus fossil has been found - a single left thigh bone discovered in the Oxford Clay Formation. This extremely limited fossil record is why the dinosaur is considered a nomen dubium by many scientists.
