在1889年,理查德·萊德克(Richard Lydekker)將這些化石命名為禽龍的一種,菲頓禽龍(I. fittoni),種名是以英國地質學家William Henry Fitton為名[4]。
在2010年,大衛·諾曼(David B. Norman)將菲頓禽龍建立為獨立屬,高刺龍(Hypselospinus)。屬名意為「高的刺」,意指背部的高神經棘。同年稍晚,肯尼思·卡彭特(Kenneth Carpenter)等人將同一批化石進行敘述、命名,建立為獨立屬,沃德赫斯特龍(Wadhurstia)。屬名是以化石發現處的瓦德赫斯特為名。沃德赫斯特龍目前被視為是高刺龍的次客觀同物異名[2]。
^ 1.01.11.2Norman, David B. Basal Iguanodontia. Weishampel, D.B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H. (eds.) (编). The Dinosauria 2nd. Berkeley: University of California Press. 2004: 413–437. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
^Lydekker, Richard. On the remains and affinities of five genera of Mesozoic reptiles. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. 1889, 45: 41–59. doi:10.1144/GSL.JGS.1889.045.01-04.04.
^Naish, Darren; and Martill, David M. Dinosaurs of Great Britain and the role of the Geological Society of London in their discovery: Ornithischia. Journal of the Geological Society, London. 2008, 165 (3): 613–623. doi:10.1144/0016-76492007-154.引文使用过时参数coauthors (帮助)
^ 6.06.1Blows, W. T. A review of Lower and middle Cretaceous dinosaurs from England. Lucas, S.G., Kirkland, J.I., and Estep, J.W. (eds.) (编). Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 14. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. 1997: 29–38.