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Dryosaurus
Temporal range: Late Jurassic, 155–145 Ma
D. altus, Beneski Museum of Natural History
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: †Ornithischia
Clade: †Ornithopoda
Family: †Dryosauridae
Genus: †Dryosaurus
Marsh, 1894
Type species
†Dryosaurus altus
(Marsh, 1878) [originally Laosaurus altus]
Other species

Dryosaurus (/ˌdraɪəˈsɔːrəs/ DRY-ə-SOR-əs, meaning 'tree lizard', Greek δρῦς (drys) meaning 'tree, oak' and σαυρος (sauros) meaning 'lizard' (the name reflects the forested habitat, not a vague oak-leaf shape of its cheek teeth as is sometimes assumed)) is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived in the Late Jurassic period. It was an iguanodont (formerly classified as a hypsilophodont). Fossils have been found in the western United States and were first discovered in the late 19th century. Valdosaurus canaliculatus and Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki were both formerly considered to represent species of Dryosaurus.[1][2][3]

Description

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Restoration of D. altus
Size comparison of D. elderae with a human

Based on known specimens, Dryosaurus has been estimated to have reached up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) long and to have weighed up to 100 kilograms (220 lb).[4] However, as no known adult specimens of the genus have been found, the adult size remains unknown.[5] In 2018, the largest specimen (CM 1949) was concluded to be from another species; revising the identity of this specimen put the previous research on size and growth into question.[6]

Dryosaurus had a long neck, long, slender legs and a long, stiff tail. Their arms, however, with five fingers on each hand, were short. They had a horny beak and cheek teeth.[citation needed] Some scientists suggest that it had cheek-like structures to prevent the loss of food while the animal processed it in the mouth.[who?] The teeth of Dryosaurus were characterized by a strong median ridge on the lateral surface.[7]

Discovery and naming

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Pelvis, leg, and tooth of D. altus, 1878 (incorrectly labelled as Laosaurus altus)

In 1876, Samuel Wendell Williston in Albany County, Wyoming discovered the remains of small euornithopods. In 1878, Professor Othniel Charles Marsh named these as a new species of Laosaurus, Laosaurus altus. The specific name altus, meaning "tall" in Latin, refers to it being larger than Laosaurus celer.[8] In 1894, Marsh made the taxon a separate genus, Dryosaurus.[9] The generic name is derived from the Greek δρῦς, drys, "tree, oak", referring to a presumed forest-dwelling life mode. Later it was often assumed to have been named after an oak-leaf shape of its cheek teeth, which, however, is absent. The type species remains Laosaurus altus, the combinatio nova is Dryosaurus altus.[9]

The holotype, YPM 1876, was found in a layer of the Upper Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation, dating from the Tithonian. It consists of a partial skeleton including a mostly complete skull and lower jaws. Several other fossils from Wyoming have been referred to Dryosaurus altus. They include specimens YPM 1884: the rear half of a skeleton; AMNH 834: a partial skeleton lacking the skull from the Bone Cabin Quarry; and CM 1949: a rear half of a skeleton dug up in 1905 by William H. Utterback. From 1922 onwards in Utah, Earl Douglass discovered Dryosaurus remains at the Dinosaur National Monument. These include CM 11340: the front half of a skeleton of a very young individual; CM 3392: a skeleton with skull but lacking the tail; CM 11337: a fragmentary skeleton of a juvenile; and DNM 1016: a left ilium dug up by technician Jim Adams.[10] Other fossils were found in Colorado. In Lily Park, Moffat County, James Leroy Kay and Albert C. Lloyd in 1955 recovered CM 21786, a skeleton lacking skull and neck. From 'Scheetz' Quarry 1, at Uravan, Montrose County, in 1973 Peter Malcolm Galton and James Alvin Jensen described specimen BYU ESM-171R found by Rodney Dwayne Scheetz and consisting of some vertebrae, a left lower jaw, a left forelimb and two hindlimbs.[11]

Cast of the D. elderae holotype skull

Rodney D. Scheetz and his family discovered a fossil locality around five miles from Uravan, Colorado in the spring of 1972. This site, unintentionally exposed by a bulldozer, was found to contain fossil fragments, said to be in such condition they looked like unfossilized bone.[12] The site was noted in a 1973 paper,[13] and Scheetz continued to dig at the site annually until publishing a short note in 1991. By then around 2500 fragments had been excavated, almost all of which specimens are thought to have belonged to Dryosaurus. At least eight individuals are represented, with ages ranging from juvenile to embryonic; finding specimens of embryonic age is exceptionally rare for dinosaur fossils. Eggshells were also represented in the sample. Scheetz voiced his intention to continue work at the site following the publishing of the note.[12]

Gregory S. Paul in his 2010 field guide to dinosaurs (2nd edition published in 2016) suggested that the Utah material represented a separate species,[14] which was confirmed by Carpenter and Galton (2018), who described the Dinosaur National Monument Dryosaurus as a new species, D. elderae.[6]

Paleobiology

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Dryosaurus subsisted primarily on low growing vegetation in ancient floodplains.[7] A quick and agile runner with strong legs, Dryosaurus used its stiff tail as a counterbalance.[15] It probably relied on its speed as a main defense against carnivorous dinosaurs.[citation needed]

Growth and development

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A Dryosaurus hatchling found at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah confirmed that Dryosaurus followed similar patterns of craniofacial development to other vertebrates; the eyes were proportionally large while young and the muzzle proportionally short.[7] As the animal grew, its eyes became proportionally smaller and its snout proportionally longer.[7]

Paleoecology

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D. elderae holotype skeleton (front) with Ceratosaurus, Carnegie Museum

The Dryosaurus holotype specimen YPM 1876 was discovered in Reed's YPM Quarry 5, in the Upper Brushy Basin Member, of the Morrison Formation. In the Late Jurassic Morrison formation of Western North America, Dryosaurus remains have been recovered from stratigraphic zones 2–6.[16] This formation is a sequence of shallow marine and alluvial sediments which, according to radiometric dating, ranges between 156.3 million years old (Ma) at its base,[17] to 146.8 million years old at the top,[18] which places it in the late Oxfordian, Kimmeridgian, and early Tithonian stages of the Late Jurassic period. In 1877 this formation became the center of the Bone Wars, a fossil-collecting rivalry between early paleontologists Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. The Morrison Formation is interpreted as a semiarid environment with distinct wet and dry seasons. The Morrison Basin where dinosaurs lived, stretched from New Mexico to Alberta and Saskatchewan, and was formed when the precursors to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains started pushing up to the west. The deposits from their east-facing drainage basins were carried by streams and rivers and deposited in swampy lowlands, lakes, river channels and floodplains.[19] This formation is similar in age to the Solnhofen Limestone Formation in Germany and the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania.[citation needed]

The Morrison Formation records an environment and time dominated by gigantic sauropod dinosaurs such as Brontosaurus, Camarasaurus, Barosaurus, Diplodocus, Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus. Dinosaurs that lived alongside Dryosaurus included the herbivorous ornithischians Camptosaurus, Stegosaurus and Nanosaurus. Predators in this paleoenvironment included the theropods Torvosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Marshosaurus, Stokesosaurus, Ornitholestes and Allosaurus.[20] Allosaurus accounted for 70 to 75% of theropod specimens and was at the top trophic level of the Morrison food web.[21] Other animal taxa that shared this paleoenvironment included bivalves, snails, ray-finned fishes, frogs, salamanders, turtles, sphenodonts, lizards, terrestrial and aquatic crocodylomorphs, and several species of pterosaur. Early mammals were present in this region, such as docodonts, multituberculates, symmetrodonts, and triconodonts. The flora of the period has been revealed by fossils of green algae, fungi, mosses, horsetails, cycads, ginkgoes, and several families of conifers. Vegetation varied from river-lining forests of tree ferns, and ferns (gallery forests), to fern savannas with occasional trees such as the Araucaria-like conifer Brachyphyllum.[22]

Other sites that have produced Dryosaurus material include Bone Cabin Quarry, the Red Fork of the Powder River in Wyoming and Lily Park in Colorado.[7]

See also

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Footnotes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dryosaurus

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from Grokipedia
Dryosaurus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur belonging to the family Dryosauridae, characterized by its small to medium size, bipedal locomotion, and herbivorous diet, which lived during the Late Jurassic epoch around 156 to 150 million years ago. Fossils of this genus, named "tree lizard" or "oak lizard" from the Greek words dryos (oak or tree) and sauros (lizard), have been recovered primarily from the Morrison Formation in western North America and the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania, with closely related dryosaurids like Dysalotosaurus indicating a broad distribution across Laurasia and Gondwana. The type species, D. altus, was first described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878 based on specimens from Como Bluff, Wyoming, and subsequent discoveries include the North American species D. elderae and the closely related African genus Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbeki. These dinosaurs typically measured 2 to 3.5 meters in length and weighed around 80 kilograms, with a lightweight build featuring a long, stiff tail for balance, elongated hind limbs suited for rapid escape from predators, and relatively short forelimbs with five-fingered hands. Their skull was equipped with a horny beak for cropping vegetation and leaf-shaped cheek teeth with fine ridges for grinding, adapted to a diet of ferns, cycads, and other low-lying plants in forested or floodplain environments. Notable anatomical features include low, elongate cervical vertebrae in D. elderae and a braincase with well-developed fossae on the paroccipital processes, suggesting enhanced sensory capabilities, though the endocranial morphology remains partially enigmatic due to the fragility of preserved specimens. Ontogenetic studies reveal rapid growth rates, with bone histology showing a shift from woven to parallel-fibered tissue in femora, indicative of a cursorial lifestyle that transitioned from juvenile agility to adult endurance. Dryosaurus coexisted with large sauropods like Apatosaurus and Diplodocus in the Morrison Formation's Brushy Basin Member, a semi-arid to subtropical setting with seasonal rivers, while in Africa, closely related dryosaurids shared habitats with theropods such as Allosaurus equivalents. The genus's transcontinental presence, along with relatives like Dysalotosaurus, supports paleogeographic models of land bridges facilitating faunal exchange between northern and southern landmasses during the Late Jurassic. Key fossil sites include Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, where the most complete D. elderae skull and juvenile remains have been unearthed, preserving fine details in fine-grained sediments. As basal iguanodontians within Dryosauridae, formerly classified among hypsilophodontids, Dryosaurus species provide insights into the early diversification of ornithopods, linking to more derived forms like Iguanodon.

Classification

Etymology and Taxonomy

The genus Dryosaurus was established by the American paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh in 1894 for fossils previously known as Laosaurus altus, which Marsh had named in 1878 based on material from the Morrison Formation. The name derives from the Greek drys (δρῦς), meaning "tree" or "oak," and sauros (σαῦρος), meaning "lizard" or "reptile," yielding "tree lizard" in reference to the inferred forested habitat of the animal in the Late Jurassic environment of western North America. This etymology reflects Marsh's interpretation of the depositional setting at sites like Como Bluff, Wyoming, rather than any superficial resemblance in the dinosaur's anatomy. The type specimen of Dryosaurus altus, designated YPM 1876, consists of a partial skeleton including vertebrae, a partial pelvis, and limb elements from an adult individual, collected from Quarry No. 5 at Como Bluff in Albany County, Wyoming. Initially placed within the genus Laosaurus as a species distinct from the smaller L. celer due to its larger size (reflected in the specific epithet altus, Latin for "high" or "tall"), it was elevated to its own genus by Marsh in 1894 amid ongoing revisions during the Bone Wars era. Taxonomic history has seen significant shifts, with Dryosaurus long classified as a hypsilophodontid ornithopod in early 20th-century schemes, emphasizing its bipedal form and dental traits. Revisions in the late 20th century, particularly by Peter M. Galton (1983), reviewed Jurassic hypsilophodontids and addressed synonymy issues, such as the African Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki (named in 1920), which Galton synonymized with Dryosaurus based on comparable cranial and postcranial morphology. Similarly, European material initially assigned to Dryosaurus canaliculatus (from the Early Cretaceous Wessex Formation) was excluded as a synonym and reclassified as the distinct genus Valdosaurus by Galton in 1977, highlighting temporal and geographic differences. These changes reflect broader refinements in ornithopod nomenclature, transitioning Dryosaurus toward recognition as a basal iguanodontian rather than a hypsilophodontid.

Valid Species

The genus Dryosaurus currently encompasses two valid species, both known from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of western North America. The type species is Dryosaurus altus (Marsh, 1894), originally described as Laosaurus altus in 1878 before being reassigned to the new genus Dryosaurus based on its distinct postcranial morphology, including a partial skeleton comprising vertebrae, a sacrum, partial pelvis, and limb elements. The holotype specimen (YPM 1876) derives from Quarry 5 at Como Bluff in the Brushy Basin Member, Albany County, Wyoming, with additional referred material from Colorado and Utah; it is diagnosed by elongated hindlimbs adapted for bipedal agility, with a femur length of approximately 470 mm indicating a body length up to 4.2 m in adults. The second valid species, Dryosaurus elderae (Carpenter and Galton, 2018), was erected for juvenile specimens from the Carnegie Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument, Uintah County, Utah, within the middle Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation. The holotype (CM 3392) consists of a partial articulated skeleton including the skull, anterior cervical vertebrae, and pelvis, distinguished from D. altus by cranial proportions such as a deeper horizontal maxillary ramus of the jugal below the orbit and teeth bearing a broad midline ridge with up to three fine longitudinal ridges, as well as limb ratios featuring more robust forelimbs relative to body size and a long, low ilium with an elongate preacetabular process. These traits suggest subtle ontogenetic or regional variations within the genus, though D. elderae remains smaller overall, with the holotype representing an individual under 2 m in length. Formerly, African material from the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania was assigned to Dryosaurus lettowvorbecki (Virchow, 1919), based on partial skeletons resembling North American specimens in postcranial proportions, such as a femur length of about 366 mm. However, this taxon was promptly reclassified as the separate genus Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki due to differences in dental and cranial features, rendering it invalid as a species of Dryosaurus. Subsequent analyses, including those synonymizing it temporarily with D. altus, have reaffirmed Dysalotosaurus as distinct, with no other species recognized within Dryosaurus as of 2018.

Phylogenetic Relationships

Dryosaurus is currently recognized as a basal iguanodontian dinosaur within the family Dryosauridae, which also includes Dysalotosaurus as a close relative, though the synonymy of the latter with Dryosaurus remains debated among researchers. This placement positions Dryosaurus as a sister taxon to more derived iguanodonts, such as those in the Ankylopollexia clade that encompasses Iguanodon. Historically, prior to the 1990s, Dryosaurus was classified as a "hypsilophodontid," a group of primitive ornithopods characterized by their small size and bipedal form, based on early assessments of its gracile morphology. Post-2000s phylogenetic revisions, including those by Norman (2004) and McDonald (2012), rejected this grouping and confirmed its position within Ankylopollexia, emphasizing its affinities with advanced ornithopods rather than basal forms. Cladistic analyses support this revised position through shared derived traits, such as the presence of a predentary bone in the lower jaw and early precursors to dental batteries in the form of leaf-shaped teeth with marginal denticles, which align Dryosaurus more closely with iguanodontians than with hypsilophodontids. A 2018 analysis by Carpenter and Galton further refines intrageneric relationships, placing Dryosaurus elderae as the closest relative to the type species D. altus within Dryosauridae. Despite these advances, gaps in the fossil record, particularly the scarcity of well-preserved adult specimens, limit precise phylogenetic resolution and continue to hinder detailed comparisons. Additionally, potential biogeographic affinities with African taxa remain unresolved due to ongoing debates over the synonymy of Dysalotosaurus with Dryosaurus, with some studies upholding the distinction based on subtle morphological differences.

Anatomy

Overall Morphology

Dryosaurus exhibited a slender, bipedal body plan typical of basal ornithopods, with a lightweight build adapted for agility in its Late Jurassic environment. Known specimens, primarily representing juveniles and subadults, measured 2.5–3.2 meters in total length and weighed approximately 80–110 kg, based on volumetric and scaling methods applied to femoral circumferences around 130–140 mm. No confirmed adult specimens have been identified, though extrapolations from growth patterns suggest a maximum size of 3.5–4 meters in length for mature individuals. The 2018 reassessment of the previously referred large specimen CM 1949 excluded it from Dryosaurus, reducing earlier overestimates of maximum mass that had reached up to 170 kg or more. The dinosaur maintained a horizontal posture with a bird-like stance, supported by an elongated neck and a stiffened tail reinforced by ossified tendons, which provided balance during movement. Hindlimbs were disproportionately long relative to the body, comprising a significant portion of the overall proportions and emphasizing bipedal locomotion, while the forelimbs were notably shorter, ending in manus with five digits suited for grasping or minor support. This light, gracile construction, with limb bones showing thin cortices in histological sections, underscores an agile form likely capable of rapid evasion in forested habitats. Sexual dimorphism is not evident in the preserved fossils of Dryosaurus, which consist mainly of immature individuals showing variation potentially attributable to ontogenetic stages rather than sex-specific traits. Inferences of dimorphism remain speculative, drawn from growth series that hint at possible differences in mature body proportions, though no direct evidence confirms this.

Cranial and Dental Features

The skull of Dryosaurus is characterized by an elongate, low-profile cranium, with subadult specimens exhibiting a length of approximately 25 cm. This structure includes a slender horizontal ramus of the jugal below the orbit and a predentary bone that contributed to a beak-like anterior margin for shearing vegetation. Large orbits are prominent, particularly in juveniles, suggesting adaptations for keen visual acuity to detect predators or forage in forested environments. The dentition of Dryosaurus consists of leaf-shaped cheek teeth equipped with a prominent median ridge on the lingual or labial surface, facilitating grinding of tough plant material. Maxillary teeth typically number up to 20 per side, with crowns featuring reduced ornamentation, including a subcentral primary ridge flanked by mesial and distal secondary ridges, and strong oblique wear facets indicating continuous replacement suited to abrasive herbivory. Premaxillary teeth are simple and slightly curved, numbering around 5, while the overall dental battery shows minimal cingulum development. Sensory features include moderately sized external nares positioned anteriorly, implying effective olfaction for locating food sources amid dense vegetation. Auditory bullae are absent, but the presence of a middle ear cavity with associated foramina for cranial nerves (e.g., V, X, XII) supports inferences of balance maintenance during rapid locomotion. Juvenile specimens, such as the hatchling from Dinosaur National Monument (CM 11340), display ontogenetic differences including shorter snouts, proportionally larger orbits relative to skull size, and less robust cranial proportions compared to subadults, reflecting early adaptations for vulnerability in a predator-rich habitat.

Postcranial Skeleton

The postcranial skeleton of Dryosaurus is characterized by adaptations supporting bipedal locomotion and agility, with a lightweight axial column and elongated hindlimbs. The vertebral column consists of approximately 9–10 cervical vertebrae, 15 dorsal vertebrae, and more than 40 caudal vertebrae, forming a structure that contributed to the dinosaur's overall length of up to 3.5 meters. The cervicals are elongated and hollow, with low neural spines that maintained a streamlined profile, while the dorsals feature robust centra and ossified tendons for reinforcement. The caudal series, stiffened by over 40 chevrons and interlocking neural arches, provided balance and propulsion during rapid movement, with the anterior caudals showing hexagonal articular facets for enhanced stability. The pectoral girdle is relatively small and gracile, reflecting reduced reliance on forelimbs. The scapula is slender and elongate, measuring about 150–200 mm in length, while the coracoid is compact and fuses with the scapula in adults to form a supportive unit. The humerus is notably shorter than the femur, typically around 190 mm compared to femoral lengths exceeding 400 mm, indicating limited forelimb function. The manus features five digits with curved phalanges, particularly in digits I–III, enabling grasping of vegetation or substrate. In contrast, the pelvic girdle and hindlimbs emphasize cursorial capabilities. The ilium is elongated and blade-like, extending well beyond the acetabulum for muscular attachment, while the pubis is robust and retroverted, contributing to a closed acetabulum. The femur is straight and robust, averaging 320–470 mm in length, with the tibia exceeding it at a ratio of approximately 1.1:1 (e.g., 386 mm tibia to 324 mm femur in one specimen), enhancing stride length. The astragalus is firmly fused to the distal tibia, forming a stable ankle joint suited for high-speed travel, and the pes is tridactyl with three functional toes (II–IV), digit I vestigial and IV reduced. Pathological evidence in Dryosaurus specimens is scarce but includes a hemivertebra in the dorsal region of the related dryosaurid Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki, causing spinal curvature without associated fractures, indicative of congenital malformation rather than trauma. Healed fractures in limb bones are rarely documented but suggest occasional predator interactions or accidents, with cortical thickening observed as a healing response in affected elements.

Discovery History

Initial Discoveries

The first fossils attributed to Dryosaurus were discovered in 1876 by paleontologist Samuel Wendell Williston in Albany County, Wyoming, within the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation. These remains consisted of partial postcranial elements of small ornithopods, uncovered during early explorations of the region's rich bone beds. Additional material was collected from 1877 to 1878 by Othniel Charles Marsh's Yale College Scientific School expedition at Como Bluff, Wyoming, including bones from Quarry 13 that expanded the known sample. In 1878, Marsh described the Wyoming material as a new species of the existing genus Laosaurus, naming it Laosaurus altus based on a partial skeleton comprising a sacrum, ilia, pubis, ischia, femora, tibia, fibula, and other fragments; the specific epithet "altus" referred to its relatively taller hindlimb proportions compared to L. celer. This description occurred amid the intense "Great Dinosaur Rush" of the late 1870s, a period of frantic fossil prospecting fueled by rivalry between Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope during the Bone Wars, which spurred rapid but sometimes hasty classifications of Morrison Formation ornithopods. Early finds were initially confused with other bipedal herbivores like Camptosaurus, due to overlapping postcranial features and limited cranial material. By 1894, following further study and amid ongoing taxonomic disputes with Cope, Marsh erected the new genus Dryosaurus for L. altus, distinguishing it by its gracile build; the generic name derives from Greek "dryos" (oak or tree) and "sauros" (lizard), reflecting presumed forest-dwelling habits. The type specimen, Yale Peabody Museum (YPM) 1876, remains a partial postcranial skeleton from Quarry 5 at Como Bluff. Early collections were limited, representing multiple specimens primarily from Quarry 13, with most being juveniles based on size and ontogenetic features of long bones.

Later Excavations and Reclassifications

In the early 20th century, excavations at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming, conducted primarily between 1898 and 1905 by teams from the American Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Museum, yielded additional postcranial elements of Dryosaurus, including limb bones such as tibiae, fibulae, and pedal elements, supplementing earlier finds from the Morrison Formation. These specimens, often disarticulated, provided insights into the appendicular skeleton but remained fragmentary compared to more complete material from other ornithopods at the site. In Africa, Dryosaurus fossils were first discovered in the Tendaguru Formation of Tanzania during German expeditions led by Werner Janensch from 1909 to 1913. These remains, including multiple partial skeletons, were initially described as the genus Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbeki by Richard Virchow in 1919. Modern discoveries in the 2000s and 2010s at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah included a well-preserved hatchling skull (CM 3392) from the Carnegie Quarry, excavated around 2007, which confirmed ontogenetic changes in craniofacial proportions, such as a relatively shorter muzzle and larger orbits in juveniles. This specimen, housed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, represented one of the most complete juvenile Dryosaurus skulls known, aiding studies of growth patterns. In 2018, paleontologists Kenneth Carpenter and Peter M. Galton described Dryosaurus elderae as a new species based on juvenile specimens, including the aforementioned skull and associated blocks from Dinosaur National Monument, distinguished by elongate premaxillary processes and other cranial features. Reclassifications in the late 20th century by Peter M. Galton, in his 1983 monograph on Dryosaurus cranial anatomy, formalized the synonymy of the African genus Dysalotosaurus (previously Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbeki) with Dryosaurus altus, based on shared dental and postcranial traits across Laurasian and Gondwanan material from the Upper Jurassic. This revision, building on earlier comparisons, emphasized biogeographic connections but retained Dysalotosaurus material as referable to Dryosaurus. The 2018 Carpenter and Galton study also re-evaluated the large specimen CM 1949, previously considered a mature Dryosaurus altus and used for maximum size estimates, reassigning it to an unnamed larger ornithopod due to proportional differences in limb robusticity and pelvic morphology, thereby questioning prior adult body size reconstructions. As of 2025, no new adult Dryosaurus fossils have been reported, leaving the genus primarily known from subadult and juvenile material. Preservation of Dryosaurus fossils typically involves disarticulated bones within fluvial channel and overbank deposits of the Morrison Formation, resulting from flood transport and rapid burial in sandy mudstones. Taphonomic biases favor juvenile remains, as smaller, more fragile bones were more likely to accumulate in low-energy floodplain settings, while adult skeletons may have been dispersed or less commonly preserved in these dynamic riverine systems.

Paleobiology

Growth and Ontogeny

Hatchling specimens of Dryosaurus exhibit distinct precocial traits, including relatively large orbits and a shorter rostrum compared to adults. The Dinosaur National Monument specimen, cataloged as CM 11340, preserves an articulated juvenile skeleton with these features, indicating early independence and rapid post-hatching development similar to other ornithischians. During the transition from juvenile to subadult stages, Dryosaurus underwent significant morphological changes, including rapid elongation of the craniofacial region and hindlimbs. This growth pattern is inferred from bone growth marks, though precise lifespan estimates remain uncertain due to incomplete ontogenetic data. Importantly, all known specimens represent juveniles or subadults, with no confirmed adult material, limiting understanding of maximum size and full ontogeny. Histological analysis of long bones reveals fast early growth rates characterized by fibrolamellar bone tissue deposition, which slowed after subadulthood without clear markers of sexual maturity. Lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in subadult femora indicate periodic slowing. Multi-individual fossil assemblages from sites like Dinosaur National Monument provide an ontogenetic series for staging development from hatchling to subadult, though gaps in fully mature adult material hinder a complete growth curve reconstruction. These collections highlight consistent patterns of rapid juvenile expansion followed by stabilization, aligning with broader ornithopod life histories.

Locomotion and Behavior

Dryosaurus exhibited bipedal locomotion characterized by cursorial adaptations, including elongated hind limbs relative to the forelimbs and a low center of gravity positioned toward the hips. These features enabled efficient running, likely capable of rapid speeds based on cursorial adaptations and limb proportions, similar to other small bipedal ornithopods, facilitating rapid movement across its floodplain habitat. The tail of Dryosaurus was stiffened by ossified tendons along the caudal vertebrae, serving primarily as a counterbalance to maintain stability during acceleration and turns. This rigid structure, observed in specimens from both North American and African localities, prevented lateral swaying and supported the forward shift in mass distribution required for bipedal sprinting. While possibly multifunctional, there is no direct skeletal evidence for its use in display or defense beyond locomotor support. Skeletal evidence from bonebed concentrations, such as the large assemblage of over 50 individuals in the Tendaguru Beds of Tanzania, indicates gregarious behavior with likely herding tendencies among Dryosaurus populations. These deposits suggest group living facilitated predator evasion through collective agility, though no fossils preserve direct evidence of nesting or parental care. Cranial features, including relatively large orbits and auditory regions, point to enhanced sensory integration for diurnal activity and group vigilance in Dryosaurus. The expansive eye sockets, particularly evident in ontogenetic series, imply acute vision suited to detecting threats in open environments, complemented by ear structures that supported auditory awareness within herds.

Diet and Feeding Mechanisms

Dryosaurus was a herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur that primarily browsed on low-growing vegetation in the understory of Late Jurassic floodplains and forests. Fossil evidence from the Morrison Formation indicates access to a diverse flora including ferns (such as Cladophlebis and Coniopteris spp.), cycads (Nilssonia spp. and Zamites), and horsetails (Equisetites spp.), which formed the basis of its plant-based diet. Microwear analysis reveals a diet emphasizing nutrient-rich, softer plant tissues like fleshy leaves and buds, with a high proportion of pits (71.84%) on tooth surfaces indicating minimal abrasion from fibrous material. Feeding in Dryosaurus involved a combination of cropping and grinding mechanisms adapted for efficient herbivory. The animal possessed a narrow, horny beak at the front of the lower jaw for nipping and cropping vegetation, paired with leaf-shaped cheek teeth featuring a prominent central ridge and secondary ridges for initial shearing and pulping of plant matter. As a basal ornithopod, it employed transverse jaw motion, sliding the lower jaws side-to-side against the upper dentition to facilitate grinding, a key adaptation for breaking down tough vegetation. Dental wear patterns, including strong oblique facets on the teeth and an estimated daily wear rate of 20–110 µm per tooth, further support processing of moderately abrasive plant material, with asymmetrical tooth crowns (working side 18.6% thicker) enhancing durability during mastication. Gastroliths, or stomach stones used to aid mechanical digestion in a crop or gizzard, are documented in some ornithopod dinosaurs but are absent from Dryosaurus fossils. This rarity in related taxa like Gasparinisaura suggests that Dryosaurus may have relied more on dental grinding and hindgut fermentation for processing its herbivorous diet, without supplementary gastrolith assistance. Microwear evidence points to a browsing niche focused on selective, low-level foraging, potentially including nutrient-rich fruits, though direct frugivory confirmation remains elusive.

Paleoecology

Geological Context

Dryosaurus fossils are known from the Upper Morrison Formation in the western United States and the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania, spanning the Kimmeridgian to Tithonian stages of the Late Jurassic, approximately 155 to 145 million years ago. In North America, the majority of specimens occur within the Brushy Basin Member, which consists of varicolored mudstones, sandstones, and limestones deposited in terrestrial environments across a vast alluvial plain. This member represents the upper portion of the formation and is characterized by its richly fossiliferous horizons, particularly in outcrops of Wyoming and Colorado. Stratigraphically, Dryosaurus remains are concentrated in layers 5 through 9 of the Morrison Formation as defined in key localities such as Como Bluff in Wyoming and Garden Park near Cañon City in Colorado. These layers fall within the middle to upper Brushy Basin Member, where radiometric U-Pb dating of ashfall zircons from associated quarries yields ages of 152 to 148 million years, confirming a narrow temporal window for deposition. For instance, the Quarry 9 site at Como Bluff dates to 152.51 ± 0.47 Ma, while the Mygatt-Moore Quarry in Colorado is dated to 152.18 ± 0.29 Ma, illustrating the synchroneity of fossil-bearing horizons across the region. The taphonomy of Dryosaurus fossils reflects preservation in fluvial and floodplain settings, with bones often accumulated in overbank mudstones and channel sandstones indicative of a meandering river system. Seasonal flooding events played a key role in concentrating remains, particularly juveniles, which are common in these deposits due to periodic water scarcity and migration patterns that led to mass mortality during dry spells followed by flood transport. Such assemblages show varying degrees of disarticulation, from partially articulated skeletons to isolated elements, preserved in fine-grained sediments that minimized post-mortem dispersal. In Tanzania, D. lettowvorbecki fossils are primarily from the Middle Saurian Bed and Upper Saurian Bed of the Tendaguru Formation, deposited in a coastal plain environment with fluvial channels, lagoons, and tidal flats during episodic marine transgressions. These units consist of sandstones, mudstones, and shelly limestones, with Dryosaurus remains often found in bonebeds suggesting mass accumulations from riverine transport or drought-induced mortality, similar to Morrison taphonomy. Radiometric constraints place the Tendaguru at approximately 154 to 145 Ma, correlating closely with the Morrison. Globally, the Morrison Formation correlates with the Lourinhã Formation of Portugal, where dryosaurid ornithopod remains exhibit morphological similarities to Dryosaurus altus, suggesting faunal interchange across the proto-Atlantic during the Late Jurassic. The Tendaguru Formation shares faunal affinities with both, supporting broader Late Jurassic connectivity between Laurasia and Gondwana.

Habitat and Environment

Dryosaurus inhabited Late Jurassic environments in the Morrison and Tendaguru Formations, characterized by fluvial and lacustrine depositional settings dominated by mudstones and sandstones indicative of floodplains and river channels. Sedimentary evidence from these units, including channel sandstones with rip-up clasts and overbank mudstones, points to a dynamic landscape shaped by periodic river avulsions and overbank flooding, with local wetlands and riparian zones along watercourses. Paleogeographic reconstructions suggest the North American region spanned low-lying floodplains at near-sea level to upland areas potentially reaching 500–1500 m in elevation, influenced by emerging tectonic features to the west, while the Tanzanian sites reflect a subtropical coastal plain with tidal influences. The paleoclimate was semiarid and strongly seasonal in both regions, with wet and dry periods driven by monsoonal influences, as inferred from oxidized sediments, calcrete paleosols, and vertisols throughout the formations. Mean annual precipitation varied regionally from approximately 700–1000 mm, with lower values in southern exposures reflecting more arid conditions and higher amounts in northern areas supporting wetter intervals. Mean annual temperatures are estimated at 20–25°C based on multiproxy analyses of paleosols and isotopic data from comparable Late Jurassic settings, indicating a warm subtropical regime without polar ice caps. Riparian forests likely provided localized humid microenvironments along rivers, contrasting with the broader arid expanses. Vegetation was dominated by conifers in upland areas, with palynological records revealing over 100 morphospecies, primarily gymnosperms such as cheirolepidiacean conifers adapted to drier conditions. Ferns and ginkgophytes formed a diverse understory in more mesic lowlands, while herbaceous elements like horsetails prevailed in floodplains, as evidenced by leaf mats and root taphofacies in sediments. Pollen assemblages show a latitudinal gradient in diversity, with increased moisture northward supporting fern proliferation, and overall patterns consistent with seasonal aridity limiting dense forest cover. Similar floral elements, including cycads and bennettitales, are recorded from Tendaguru plant fossils, suggesting comparable vegetation structure in a coastal setting. Abiotic stressors included recurrent droughts during dry seasons, leading to water scarcity that confined some biota to riparian zones, and episodic floods that reworked sediments and transported remains across the landscape. Potential fire regimes are indicated by charcoal fragments in certain debris flow deposits, suggesting periodic wildfires in the herbaceous-dominated vegetation under warm, dry conditions.

Contemporaneous Fauna and Interactions

Dryosaurus shared its Late Jurassic habitat in the Morrison Formation with a diverse assemblage of herbivores, including massive sauropods such as Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, and Camarasaurus, which dominated the landscape as high-level browsers and ground-shakers, as well as plated stegosaurs like Stegosaurus that targeted mid-canopy ferns and cycads. As a relatively small and bipedal ornithopod reaching up to 3 meters in length, Dryosaurus likely filled a distinct niche as an agile low- to mid-level browser, foraging on softer vegetation such as fruits, seeds, and tender shoots in forested or riverine edges, complementing rather than directly overlapping with the bulk-feeding strategies of larger herbivores. This partitioning is supported by the formation's overall herbivore guild structure, where small ornithopods like Dryosaurus and Othnielosaurus co-occurred with larger forms but favored more enclosed or peripheral environments. In the Tendaguru Formation, D. lettowvorbecki coexisted with giant sauropods such as Giraffatitan (Brachiosaurus-like) and Janenschia, as well as other ornithischians including the stegosaur Kentrosaurus, in a coastal floodplain setting. Dryosaurus likely occupied similar low-browser niches, evading predators in riverine habitats. Among predators, large theropods including Allosaurus—the most abundant carnivore—and Ceratosaurus posed significant threats in North America, with evidence from the Morrison Formation indicating that these apex hunters targeted a range of prey sizes through both active predation and scavenging. Theropod bite marks on ornithischian bones, including those from high-economy elements like long bones, suggest failed attacks or post-mortem feeding on individuals such as Dryosaurus, reflecting a stressed ecosystem where resources drove opportunistic behaviors. Dryosaurus's bipedal speed and agility likely served as a key defense against pack-hunting by Allosaurus, allowing evasion in open terrains. In Africa, comparable large theropods such as Afrovenator or Allosaurus-like forms preyed on similar-sized herbivores. Interspecific interactions among ornithopods highlight potential competition for mid-level foliage, particularly with the larger Camptosaurus, but dental microwear analyses reveal niche partitioning: Dryosaurus exhibited a high pit density (89.84%) with pit-dominated wear, while Camptosaurus showed 85.79% pits, both indicative of selective feeding on softer, nutrient-rich plant parts such as fruits and tender shoots. Bonebeds containing Dryosaurus remains, such as those in the Morrison's Brushy Basin Member and Tendaguru's Saurian Beds, often reflect mass mortality events driven by seasonal floods, where herds were swept into river channels and deposited together, underscoring vulnerability to environmental catastrophes over predation. Within the Morrison Formation's estimated 30–40 dinosaur genera—spanning over 100 species when including variants—Dryosaurus was a common small ornithopod, comprising roughly 5–10% of ornithischian assemblages in central localities like those in Wyoming and Colorado. Comparable abundance patterns are inferred for D. lettowvorbecki in Tendaguru bonebeds.

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