Adelobasileus Coloring Pages

A tiny, tiny "first mammal" that lived in the age of dinosaurs!

Adelobasileus is a tiny, tiny creature that lived a very long time ago, when there were many dinosaurs. It was about the size of a mouse, and people think it was the very first relative of today's mammals.

When did it live?

Adelobasileus lived during a time called the "Triassic period," about 225 million to 210 million years ago. This was a very important time when big dinosaurs first started to appear on Earth.

A super tiny body!

Adelobasileus had a super tiny body.

• Without its tail, it was about 5 to 10 centimeters long. That is about the same size as a mouse today!
• It weighed only about 20 to 30 grams.

What did it eat?

People think Adelobasileus ate small insects, bug eggs, and plant seeds. With its small body, it might have moved around quietly at night to look for food.

Did it come out at night?

People think Adelobasileus came out at night so big dinosaurs would not find it. To look for food in the dark, it likely had a great sense of smell and very good hearing.

What does the name Adelobasileus mean?

In English, Adelobasileus is written as "Adeleobasileus". This name comes from two Greek words: "adelos" and "basileus." "Adelos" means "not clear" or "unknown," and "basileus" means "king." So, it means "obscure king" or "unknown first king." This shows that Adelobasileus was a very important first relative in mammal history, even though it still has many mysteries!

Where was its fossil found?

The fossil of Adelobasileus was found in Texas, USA. Only a part of its skull was found, but it showed us that this tiny creature was very important for how mammals evolved!

How to Choose Colors: Pick colors that blend into nature!

Adelobasileus was a small animal that survived in the time of the dinosaurs. Colors that blend into nature, like hiding in grass or dirt, will look great on it.

• Main body color: Brown (light brown, dark brown, etc.), gray (light gray, brownish-gray, etc.), or beige and cream, which look like a mix of those colors, are good choices.
• Belly color: If you make the belly a little lighter than the rest of the body (like light beige or cream), it will look soft and even cuter!
• Eyes: Even with a small body, it must have looked around carefully. Color the eyes dark black and leave a tiny white light spot to make them look alive!
• Nose: Make the tiny nose pink or light brown to give it a cute look.
• Ears: You can color them the same as the body or a little darker. If you mix in a little pink inside the ears, they will look nice and soft.
• Tail and tips of the paws: Color them the same as the body or a little darker to make it look strong.

Let's show the fluffy fur!

Adelobasileus was a mammal, so people think it had fur on its body. This picture has lines that show which way the fur grows. Use these lines as clues to draw soft, fluffy fur!

• When using colored pencils: Draw short, fine lines along the fur lines to make it look fluffy. Layering a few shades of brown and gray will give it great depth!
• When using crayons: Don't press too hard. Color softly with short strokes to show how soft the fur is.

How to make it look 3D: Think about shadows and light!

Even on the small body of Adelobasileus, there are bright spots where the light hits and dark spots in the shadows. Places that become shadows:

• Under the chin and under the belly (close to the ground)
• Where the arms and legs meet the body, and curved-in spots
• If you color these spots with a color that is a little darker than your main color, it will pop out and look 3D!
• If you leave spots like the back or the top of the head a bit lighter or color them with light colors where the light hits, it will look even more 3D.

Tips for enjoying your coloring page!

• Color it any way you like!
  • You do not have to stick to real colors. Use any colors you think, "It would be fun if Adelobasileus looked like this!" A colorful Adelobasileus is cute too!
• Try adding a background!
  • If you draw the forest, grass, or night sky where Adelobasileus lived, your picture will come to life even more! Adding tiny insects would be fun too.