Yandusaurus Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 0.8m |
| Length | 1.5m |
| Weight | 15 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Other |
| Location | China |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 0.8m |
| Length | 1.5m |
| Weight | 15 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Other |
| Location | China |
Yandusaurus was a small basal neornithischian dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 171 million years ago. This primitive ornithischian was discovered in the Lower Shaximiao Formation of Sichuan Province, China, and represents one of the earlier members of the bird-hipped dinosaur group that would later give rise to famous herbivores like Triceratops and Stegosaurus.
Standing about 80 centimetres tall at the hip and measuring roughly 1.5 metres in length, Yandusaurus was a relatively small dinosaur that moved primarily on two legs. Its lightweight build and agile frame suggest it was well-adapted for quick movement through the lush Middle Jurassic forests of what is now eastern Asia. The dinosaur possessed the characteristic beak-like structure typical of ornithischian dinosaurs, which it used to crop vegetation.
As a herbivore, Yandusaurus fed on low-growing plants, ferns, and early flowering plants that were beginning to diversify during the Middle Jurassic. Its teeth were designed for processing plant material, and like other early ornithischians, it likely had cheek pouches to help retain food whilst chewing. The dinosaur's position as a basal neornithischian makes it particularly important for understanding the early evolution of this major dinosaur group.
Yandusaurus was characterised by its small, lightweight build and bipedal stance typical of early ornithischian dinosaurs. It possessed a beak-like snout for cropping vegetation and relatively long legs that suggest it was built for agility and speed.
Yandusaurus likely lived in small groups and was constantly alert for predators due to its small size. Its agile build suggests it relied on speed and quick reflexes to escape from larger carnivorous dinosaurs that shared its Middle Jurassic habitat.
Yandusaurus was first described by He Xinlu in 1979. The original fossils were discovered at Lower Shaximiao Formation, Sichuan Province, China.