ornithopod

American  

[awr-nuh-thuh-pod, awr-nahy-thuh-] / ˈɔr nə θəˌpɒd, ɔrˈnaɪ θə- /

noun

1. any herbivorous dinosaur of the suborder Ornithopoda whose members usually walked erect on their hind legs.

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ornithopod British  

/ ˈɔːnɪθəˌpɒd /

noun

1. any herbivorous typically bipedal ornithischian dinosaur of the suborder Ornithopoda, including the iguanodon

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ornithopod Scientific  

/ ôr-nĭth′ə-pŏd′ /

1. One of the main types of ornithischian dinosaurs, including the hadrosaurs. Ornithopods walked on their hind legs and had three blunt toes on each foot. They lived from the late Triassic Period until the end of the Cretaceous Period.

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Etymology

Origin of ornithopod

First recorded in 1885–90, ornithopod is from the New Latin word Ornithopoda (plural). See ornitho-, -pod

Example Sentences

Theropod and ornithopod tracks can look similar, and sauropod tracks, although larger, do not always show clear toe impressions.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

"From the beginning, we knew these bones were exceptional because of their minute size. It is equally impressive how the study of this animal overturns global ideas on ornithopod dinosaur evolution," he says.

From Science Daily • Feb. 3, 2026

They suggest it was an ornithopod, a group of plant-eating dinosaurs that include Iguanodons.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2025

The latest ornithopod fossil is said to have been dug up by a family member of Carr’s, who stopped by to visit the site and was tasked with moving loose dirt, The Time-Journal reports.

From Fox News • Jul. 6, 2021

An infant ornithopod dinosaur tibia from the Late Cretaceous of Sebeş, Romania.

From Scientific American • Sep. 28, 2015