Hypselospinus is a type of dinosaur that lived about 140 million years ago during a period called the Early Cretaceous. It falls under the family of iguanodontians, which are known for their unique features and behavior.
This dinosaur was first described in 1889 by Richard Lydekker, who originally classified it as a type of Iguanodon and named it Iguanodon fittoni. The name “fittoni” honors a scientist named William Henry Fitton.
In the 1880s, the Natural History Museum in London collected various dinosaur fossils from Hastings, England. Among these, some fossils turned out to belong to Hypselospinus. The first important fossils were discovered in a place called Shornden Quarry. They included parts of the pelvis and lower back, which indicated that Hypselospinus was smaller than some other species of Iguanodon and showed some unique differences.
Over the years, other fossils were found and studied, revealing more about this dinosaur. These specimens helped to further clarify its characteristics. In 2010, a scientist named David Norman decided that Iguanodon fittoni deserved its own name and created the genus Hypselospinus. The name comes from Greek and Latin terms meaning “high” and “thorn,” referring to the dinosaur’s tall spine bones.
Hypselospinus was similar to another dinosaur called Barilium, but it was lighter and had distinct features in its bones and body structure. It is estimated to have been about 6 meters long, which is around 20 feet.
The fossils that make up Hypselospinus primarily come from the Wadhurst Clay Formation in England, and there may be similar fossils found in Spain. While scientists have continued to study Hypselospinus, there is still some debate about its classification and relationship to other dinosaurs.
This fascinating dinosaur provides clues into the diversity and adaptability of dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period.