Charonosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charonosaurus |
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Charonosaurus
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C. jiayinensis
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Charonosaurus was a type of dinosaur known as a hadrosaur. These plant-eating dinosaurs are also called "duck-billed dinosaurs" because of their wide, flat snouts. Charonosaurus lived at the very end of the Cretaceous Period, about 65 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in China.
This dinosaur was quite large, reaching about 13 meters (42.5 feet) long. That's longer than a school bus! Scientists found a partial skull and other bones, including leg bones (femurs) that were up to 1.35 meters (4.5 feet) long. Both adult and young Charonosaurus fossils were found together. This helps scientists learn about how these dinosaurs grew.
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What Did Charonosaurus Look Like?
Charonosaurus was a lambeosaurine hadrosaur. This group of hadrosaurs is famous for the hollow crests on their heads. The skull of Charonosaurus looked a lot like that of another dinosaur called Parasaurolophus, which lived in North America.
The Amazing Head Crest
The crest on Charonosaurus's head was long and pointed backward. It was also hollow. Scientists believe this crest was used for making loud trumpeting calls. These calls might have helped them communicate with each other. They could have warned of danger or attracted mates.
It's interesting that Charonosaurus in Asia and Parasaurolophus in North America had similar crests. This doesn't mean there was a land bridge connecting Asia and North America back then. The continents were much farther apart during the Cretaceous Period. Instead, it suggests that this type of crest was a common feature for many hadrosaurs in this group.
Where Did Charonosaurus Live?
The remains of Charonosaurus were found in Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China. This area was likely a lush environment with plenty of plants for these large herbivores to eat. Finding both adult and juvenile fossils in the same place suggests they might have lived in groups.
Images for kids
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A drawing showing what Charonosaurus might have looked like.
See also
In Spanish: Charonosaurus jiayinensis para niños
