Ornithischians

Dinosaurs are sorted into two groups, which are identified by their hips. One group were called Ornithischian (meaning 'bird-hipped') because they had a pelvis like a bird's.

This can be confusing because birds are actually related to the Saurischian (lizard-hipped) dinosaurs and not the Ornithischian dinosaurs.

Types of Ornithischians included:

• Hadrosaurs
• Stegosaurs
• Pachycephalosaurs
• Iguanodonts
• Ceratopsians
• Ankylosaurs

The pelvic structure is similar to a bird's, with the pubis pointing backwards. Ornithischians are herbivores. Some are two legged (bipedal) and some are four legged (quadrupedal). Instead of front teeth there is a beak that is used for cropping vegetation. The front legs are shorter than the back legs.

• Tetrapod

• Reptile

• Diapsid

• Ornithischian

• Saurischian