Troodon

Troodon is a relatively small, bird-like dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period. Found in 1855, it was the first dinosaurs found in North America. Its species ranged widely, with fossil remains recovered from as far north as Alaska and as far south as Wyoming and even possibly Texas and New Mexico.Troodon formosus (from Greek troo - to wound and odon - tooth) was a small possibly maniraptoran theropod dinosaur whose eating habits are still uncertain. This taxon is commonly recognized during excavation from its distinctive small teeth with large denticles along the trailing margin. While the dinosaurs may have ranged upwards to 6 feet (2 meters) in length, many of them must have been the size of chickens or smaller. The teeth size nearby microsites (localities in which most of the fossils are  small, being less than an inch, or 2 cm in length. These fossils are often teeth) are nearly microscopic, ranging upward to a few mm in length. Why the teeth are so small is difficult to understand, unless they are from very young dinosaurs that might have been feasting on the rotting carcasses of Edmontosaurus.

• Found in: North America

• Anatomy: Relatively large brain, large eyes and stereoscopic vision. Lightly built but agile, could run faster than most other dinosaurs of the time. It had excellent co-ordination and vision.

• Length: 2 m

• Height: 1-1.5 m

• Weight (mass): About 40 kg

• Locomotion: Bipedal

• Food preference: Carnivore (small vertebrates, Lizards, mammals)

• Time period: Cretaceous (76-74 million years ago)

• Type of hip: Lizard hipped

• Dinosaur group: Theropod

• Remains: 1982 scientist in Alberta, Canada uncovered the fossilized brain case.