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Othnielosaurus
Othnielosaurus is one of the smaller but interesting species belonging to the diverse Dana Quarry fauna. Othnielosaurus was a small, swift bipedal herbivorous dinosaur with short forelimbs and long hind legs. Numerous bones belonging to a beautifully preserved specimen have been collected including, a nearly complete articulated foot. Preparation is ongoing so the exact completeness of this wonderful specimen is presently unknown. Many ribs, vertebrae, limbs and teeth have been cleaned so far. Fortunately, the structure of the cheek teeth provides a diagnostic basis, thereby giving us a certain degree of confidence in referring it to the species Othnielosaurus consors. The tooth crowns are small and leaf-shaped, with ridges and cusps lining the front and back edges. They are unique and distinctive in comparison to the other contemporaneous ornithopod dinosaurs (e.g. Dryosaurus, Drinker).
The Othnielosaurus skull has yet to be positively identified from our field jackets, but sections of bone, which may be skull elements, have an interesting ornate surface pattern similar to that found in pachycephalosaurids.
