Yinlong

dinosaur · early ceratopsian · herbivore · Late Jurassic

Tiny pioneer dinosaur. Yinlong was one of the smallest and earliest ceratopsians, living during the Late Jurassic Period in what is now China. It came long before the famous horned dinosaurs like Triceratops.

Walked on two legs. Unlike many later ceratopsians, Yinlong was primarily bipedal, meaning it walked upright on its two hind legs. This made it a speedy little dinosaur that could dash away from predators.

Plant-eating champion. Yinlong munched on plants and other vegetation despite being a ceratopsian, a group known for eating leaves and shrubs. Its small size meant it could nibble on plants that bigger dinosaurs couldn't reach.

Missing link fossil. Scientists consider Yinlong extremely important because it helps them understand how ceratopsians first evolved. Finding Yinlong was like discovering a time capsule that showed what the earliest members of this dinosaur family looked like.