Location : N. America

Othnielia was a little plant-eater that was named after one of the most important men in the study and collection of dinosaurs, Othniel C. Marsh. Othnielia was discovered in 1877 by Marsh himself, but he named it incorrectly. It was exactly 100 years later, in 1977, that the dinosaur was given its new name.

There is still disagreement over the assignment of this dinosaur. Despite having a great deal of fossil material, its relation to the Hypsilophodon  s is questioned. Dr. Bakker and others have suggested that it should not be considered a member of this primitive family because it is too advanced.