Parasaurolophus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ParasaurolophusTemporal range: Upper Cretaceous
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| Parasaurolophus walkeri | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | †Ornithischia |
| Suborder: | †Ornithopoda |
| Family: | †Hadrosauridae |
| Tribe: | †Parasaurolophini |
| Genus: | †Parasaurolophus Parks, 1922 |
| Type species | |
| †Parasaurolophus walkeri Parks, 1922
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Parasaurolophus was a type of dinosaur that lived in North America a long, long time ago, about 76.5 to 73 million years ago. Its name means "near crested lizard" because scientists first thought it was related to another dinosaur called Saurolophus. This dinosaur was a herbivore, meaning it ate only plants. It could walk on two legs (like us!) or on all four legs, and it probably lived in big groups, like herds of deer today.
Parasaurolophus was a kind of ornithopod dinosaur. This group includes many plant-eating dinosaurs. It was also a hadrosaur, often called a "duck-billed dinosaur" because of the shape of its snout.
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What Was Parasaurolophus Like?
Parasaurolophus was a large dinosaur. It had a very special head crest that looked like a long, curved tube. This tube pointed upwards and backwards from its skull. This unique crest has been studied a lot by scientists.
The Amazing Crest of Parasaurolophus
Scientists believe the crest of Parasaurolophus had several important jobs:
- Recognizing friends: The crest might have helped Parasaurolophus tell the difference between its own species and other dinosaurs. It could also help them tell if another Parasaurolophus was a male or a female.
- Making loud sounds: The hollow tubes inside the crest could have worked like a musical instrument. When air passed through them, it might have made a loud, low-pitched sound. This sound could have been used to warn other dinosaurs of danger or to call to mates.
- Controlling body temperature: Some scientists think the crest might have helped the dinosaur cool down or warm up. Blood flowing through the crest could have released heat, like an elephant's ears.
How Rare Are Parasaurolophus Fossils?
Compared to some other hadrosaurs, Parasaurolophus is quite rare. Only a few good fossil examples have been found. This makes every new discovery very exciting for scientists!
Images for kids
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Holotype specimen of P. walkeri, showing the pathologic v-shaped notch
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Holotype skulls of the three species arranged by age
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Restoration of P. walkeri
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P. walkeri head with scalation detail.
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Juvenile skeleton RAM 14000 (nicknamed Joe)
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Reconstruction of a juvenile skeleton, based on RAM 14000
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Comparison drawing between the crests of P. cyrtocristatus (above) and P. walkeri (below)
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Restoration of P. walkeri with hypothetical skin frill
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Teratophoneus attacking a P. cyrtocristatus
See also
In Spanish: Parasaurolophus para niños
