Dollodon Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 1.5 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | Europe |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 1.5 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | Europe |
Dollodon was a large ornithopod dinosaur that roamed the forests and plains of Early Cretaceous Europe between 143 and 121 million years ago. This impressive herbivore measured around 6 metres in length and stood approximately 3 metres tall at the hip, making it a substantial presence in its ancient ecosystem. Originally classified as a species of the famous Iguanodon, Dollodon was recognised as its own distinct genus in 2009 by palaeontologist David Norman.
As an ornithopod, Dollodon possessed the characteristic bird-like hip structure of this diverse group of dinosaurs. It was primarily bipedal, walking upright on its powerful hind legs, though it could likely drop to all fours when feeding on low-growing vegetation. Its most distinctive features included a robust skull with a characteristic ornithopod beak for cropping plants, and rows of grinding teeth perfect for processing tough Cretaceous vegetation.
Dollodon's diet consisted entirely of plants, which it would have gathered using its specialised beak-like mouth. The dinosaur's teeth were well-adapted for breaking down fibrous plant material, including ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants that were beginning to diversify during the Early Cretaceous period. Its powerful jaw muscles and efficient chewing motion allowed it to extract maximum nutrition from the available vegetation.
This ornithopod shared its European habitat with various other dinosaurs, including predatory theropods and fellow herbivores. Dollodon's size and potential speed would have been important defences against the carnivorous dinosaurs of its time, allowing it to flee from danger when necessary.
Dollodon had a robust skull with a characteristic ornithopod beak and rows of grinding teeth adapted for processing plant material. It possessed powerful hind limbs for bipedal locomotion and a relatively long tail for balance.
Dollodon was likely a social animal that lived in small herds, providing safety in numbers against predators. When threatened, it could run at considerable speeds on its powerful hind legs, using its long tail for balance during rapid movement.
Dollodon was first described by David Norman in 2009. The original fossils were discovered at Bernissart, Belgium.