Hesperornithoides

Type Species: Hesperornithoides miessleri

Classification: Dinosauria – Saurischia – Theropoda – Coelurosauria – Maniraptora – Paraves – Eumaniraptora – Troodontidae 

Time Period: Late Jurassic

Location: North America (Wyoming)

Diet: Carnivore   

Hesperornithoides was the only known troodontid from the Jurassic Period, the smallest known dinosaur from the Morrison Formation of North America, and the first western paravian – so this little critter has set a lot of records! Hesperornithoides lived in a semi-arid landscape splotched with patches of shallow, standing water dominated by horsetails, ferns, cycads, and conifers (though trees were sparse and far between). It likely hunted small prey. An adult Hesperornithoides grew to about three feet long. It had a well-developed wishbone, large, blade teeth, and a sickle-claw on its hind feet like Velociraptor and Troodon. Though it was probably covered in feathers, it was incapable of flight, as its arms were too short.