Hierosaurus

Say it like this: “HY-er-oh-SAWR-us”

Hierosaurus sternbergii

Hierosaurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in the United States.

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When: Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) · roughly 89.8 to 85.7 million years ago
Named in: 1909 · Wieland, G. R.
Hip height: Not established
Length: Not established
Weight: Not established
Found in: the United States · Niobrara Chalk
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: armored dinosaur · Ankylosaur
Family branch: Ankylosauria

The story in short

Hierosaurus was formally named in 1909 by G. R. Wieland.

Fossils referred to Hierosaurus date to the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian), roughly 89.8 to 85.7 million years ago. Finds come from the United States, including the Niobrara Chalk Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

The fossils of Hierosaurus are too incomplete for a responsible length, hip height, or weight, so those fields are left blank on purpose.

On the family tree it sits in Ankylosauria, among the armored dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Acanthopholis

Acanthopholis horrida

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) · roughly 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago

Ahshislepelta

Ahshislepelta minor

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Crichtonsaurus

Crichtonsaurus bohlini

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian · Turonian) · roughly 100.5 to 89.8 million years ago