The holotype specimen of Manidens, MPEF-PV 3211, consists of a partial skeleton with skull and lower jaws, including the axial column except most of the tail; a left shoulder girdle; and the pelvis.
The specimens MPEF-PV 1719, 1786, 1718, 3810, 3811, isolated posterior teeth, from the same locality and horizon as the holotype are also referred to this genus.
The specimens were found in the Queso Rallado locality of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation, dating to the Aalenian–Early Bathonian stages, 171 ± 5 to 167 ± 4 Ma.

Manidens was a relatively basal heterodontosaurid that grew to about 60 to 75 centimetres (24 to 30 in) in length, smaller than later heterodontosaurids.
It has high-crowned teeth indicative of an increased adaptation to a herbivorous diet but lacks the wear facets seen in more advanced forms like Heterodontosaurus.
Manidens is the sister taxon of a clade consisting of the African species Heterodontosaurus, Abrictosaurus and Lycorhinus, indicating an early radiation of the heterodontosaurids.
The discovery of filamentous integumentary structures in the related Tianyulong suggests that they may also have been present in other heterodontosaurids such as Manidens.
The holotype specimen of Manidens, MPEF-PV 3211, consists of a partial skeleton with skull and lower jaws, including the axial column except most of the tail; a left shoulder girdle; and the pelvis. The specimens MPEF-PV 1719, 1786, 1718, 3810, 3811, isolated posterior teeth, from the same locality and horizon as the holotype are also referred to this genus. The specimens were found in the Queso Rallado locality of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation, dating to the Aalenian–Early Bathonian stages, 171 ± 5 to 167 ± 4 Ma.
Manidens was a relatively basal heterodontosaurid that grew to about 60 to 75 centimetres (24 to 30 in) in length, smaller than later heterodontosaurids. It has high-crowned teeth indicative of an increased adaptation to a herbivorous diet but lacks the wear facets seen in more advanced forms like Heterodontosaurus. Manidens is the sister taxon of a clade consisting of the African species Heterodontosaurus, Abrictosaurus and Lycorhinus, indicating an early radiation of the heterodontosaurids. The discovery of filamentous integumentary structures in the related Tianyulong suggests that they may also have been present in other heterodontosaurids such as Manidens.
Manidens