Tuck's Differently Toothed Lizard
Heterodontosaurus tucki
(Crompton and Charig, 1962)
    The desert-scrub of Early Jurassic South Africa is a harsh environment of small plants, hot sun, and little water.  The small, herbivorous, ornithopods that dwell in this place must work constantly to stay alive.  Hetetodontosaurus tucki is one of these ornithopods; it is a small, quick, and ferocious rooter and browser.

    In most respects, H. tucki is an average ornithopod.  When relaxed, it walks quadripedaly, with its hind feet flat on the ground, and will trot on all fours fairly quickly.  When aggravated, it is capable of rising onto its hind legs and sprinting across the scrub, holding its long tail out behind it for balance.  Heterodontosaurs wander through the desert scrub in small family groups, each ruled by a dominant male.  They will eat any plant materials, including roots, which they dig for with the aid of sharp, powerful claws on the inner digits of their front limbs. They can digest the toughest plant materials with the aid of their large guts and their array of grinding back teeth, which can sheer woody material into pulp (Peter Buchholz).

    Their namesake front teeth differ greatly from these grinding teeth in being long and sharp, almost like mammalian incisors.  Heterodontosaurs will use these teeth against any attacker with great ferocity.  Any small predator which threatens the herd will immediately be set upon and often will come out of the battle dead or seriously wounded.  During their mating rituals, heterodontosaurs also display these teeth, as the male with the largest teeth has a better chance against predators than his rival, but the incisors themselves are rarely used during the ritual as they could do damage to all parties involved.

Thanks to Alessandro Marisa for sending me those great articles, Peter Buchholz for answering all my questions, Sherry Michael for telling me to change the head,  Peter Buchholz for helping me with the latin translation of the name, and, of course, Ray Stanford.

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© Daniel Bensen 2000
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