Ready to learn about the crested dinosaur called the Parasaurolophus? This dinosaur fact sheet about Parasaurolophus is free to download as a printable PDF document.
What does the name Parasaurolophus mean?
Parasaurolophus translates to “near crested lizard”. This name was given to it because of the crest on its head, similar to the crest found on the Saurolophus.
What family was the Parasaurolophus part of?
The Parasaurolophus is part of the Hadrosauridae family. It is a family of dinosaurs that were herbivores and walked on both two legs and four legs.
What did the Parasaurolophus eat?
The Parasaurolophus was a herbivore, existing mostly on leaves and other prehistoric plant life. Its skull structure allowed it to grind plants in a way that is similar to chewing.
When and where did the Parasaurolophus live?
The Parasaurolophus lived in what is now North America and possibly Asia in the Late Cretaceous Period, between 76.5 and 73 million years ago.
How big was the Parasaurolophus?
The skeleton of the Parasaurolophus is incomplete, but it is believed that it could grow up to 9.5 m (31 ft) tall and weigh up to 2.5 tonnes (2.8 short tons).
When were the first remains of a Parasaurolophus found?
The first remains of a Parasaurolophus were found by a field party from the University of Toronto near Sand Creek along the Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada in 1920. They found a skull and parts of the skeleton. It was missing most of the tail and the hind legs below the knees.
What are some unique features of the Parasaurolophus?
One of the most distinctive features of the Parasaurolophus is a crest on its head. The crest pointed upward and to the back (in the direction of its tail). The function of the crest is unknown, but some scientists believe it may have helped identify species and sex, for communication, and to help maintain body temperature.
What are other interesting facts about the Parasaurolophus?
The Parasaurolophus could move on two legs or all four legs, but it would use only two legs when running. It was about to reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (about 40 km per hour), but could not run very far at that speed.
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