“Tuck‘s differently-toothed saurian“
= Lycorhinus tucki (Crompton 1962) Thulborn 1970
| Length | 0.9m – 1.2m (3′ – 4′) |
| Place | South Africa |
| Epoch | Early Jurassic |
| Ages | ?Hettangian – ?Sinemurian (?205.7 – ?197.3 Ma) |
| Diet | ?herbivorous |
Much of our information about Heterodontosauridae comes from this species, known from a few specimens, one nearly complete.
Posture and Locomotion
Although it has been restored as quadrupedal (Paul 1987), features of the anatomy suggest that this species was bipedal, like other primitive (and many advanced) Dinosauromorpha. These anatomical features include: sigmoid neck (as shown by an articulated specimen), low forelimb/hindlimb length ratio, relatively sharp (not hoof-like) manual unguals (Weishampel & Witmer 1990) (Smith 1997) and the articulation of the pectoral girdle (Weishampel & Witmer 1990).
Articulation of the cervical and dorsal vertebrae suggests that the torso was held horizontally (Weishampel & Witmer 1990), typical of Tetrapoda. Although ossified tendons, connecting the neural spines, stiffened the caudalmost dorsal vertebrae, the caudal series was flexible. (Smith 1997)
The calcaneum, astragalus, tibia, and fibula of this species fused into a single unit, termed the tibiofibulotarsus. (Weishampel & Witmer 1990) This may have been an adaptation for swift, bipedal motion. (Weishampel & Witmer 1990) (Santa Luca 1980)
| Skeletal Reconstruction of Abrictosaurus consors Alessandro Marisa Ink |
| Two Heterodontosaurus tucki Daniel Bensen Paint, Pencil |
| Angry Eyes (Heterodontosaurus tucki) Jack Conrad Pencil |
| Skeletal Reconstruction of Heterodontosaurus tucki Jack Conrad Ink |
| Heterodontosaurus tucki Mikko Haaramo Pencil |
| Dueling Heterodontosaurus tucki T. Michael Keesey Pencil, Digital (Two-Dimensional) |
| The Two Sexes of Heterodontosaurus tucki Shiraishi Mineo Digital (Two-Dimensional) |