Pegomastax Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 0.2m |
| Length | 0.6m |
| Weight | 500 g |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Early Jurassic |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | South Africa |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 0.2m |
| Length | 0.6m |
| Weight | 500 g |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Early Jurassic |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | South Africa |
Pegomastax was a tiny ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period in what is now South Africa, approximately 201 million years ago. Despite its diminutive size—measuring only about 60 centimetres long—this remarkable creature possessed an impressive set of jaws that earned it the name 'strong jaw' in Greek.
This small dinosaur had a distinctly unusual appearance for a plant-eater. Its skull featured prominent, fang-like canine teeth at the front of its mouth, which might seem surprising for a herbivore. These teeth were likely used for display, defence, or processing tough plant material rather than for hunting prey. Behind these prominent canines, Pegomastax had rows of small, leaf-shaped teeth perfectly adapted for chopping up vegetation.
As a bipedal ornithopod, Pegomastax would have walked upright on its hind legs, using its long tail for balance. Its body was covered in quill-like structures, giving it a rather porcupine-like appearance that would have made it quite distinctive among Early Jurassic dinosaurs. These structures may have served as protection from predators or played a role in temperature regulation.
The single known specimen of Pegomastax was discovered during expeditions in the 1960s but remained unstudied for decades until palaeontologist Paul Sereno finally described it in 2012, revealing this fascinating glimpse into early dinosaur diversity in ancient Africa.
Pegomastax had prominent fang-like canine teeth at the front of its mouth despite being a herbivore, and its body was covered in defensive quill-like structures. Its compact skull featured large eye sockets and a short snout, giving it a rather parrot-like appearance when viewed from the side.
Pegomastax likely lived a solitary lifestyle, using its speed and small size to avoid predators in the Early Jurassic landscape. Its prominent canine teeth may have been used for threat displays against rivals or predators, whilst its quill-like covering provided additional protection when threatened.
Pegomastax was first described by Paul Sereno in 2012. The original fossils were discovered at Transkei District, Cape Province, South Africa.