William Parks (paleontologist) facts for kids

William Arthur Parks was a Canadian scientist who studied rocks (geology) and ancient life, especially dinosaurs (paleontology). He lived from 1868 to 1936. He was an important researcher at the University of Toronto.

Early Life and Education

William Arthur Parks was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He loved learning about the natural world. He went to the University of Toronto for his studies. In 1892, he earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts.

After getting his degree, Parks started working at the University of Toronto. He taught students about different science topics. These included geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and how they are formed. He also taught paleontology, which is the study of fossils and ancient life. Another subject he taught was mineralogy, which focuses on minerals.

Parks continued his own studies while teaching. He earned a special advanced degree called a PhD in 1900. This showed his deep knowledge in his field.

Discovering Ancient Animals

William Arthur Parks was very busy with his research. He wrote 80 scientific papers during his lifetime. These papers shared his discoveries with other scientists. He was especially known for finding and describing new types of dinosaurs and other ancient animals.

When a scientist discovers a new species, they get to name it. Parks named many different kinds of ancient creatures. Here are some of the famous dinosaurs he named:

• 1922 Parasaurolophus walkeri: This dinosaur had a long, hollow crest on its head. It might have used the crest to make sounds.
• 1923 Lambeosaurus lambei: This dinosaur also had a unique crest on its head, shaped like a hatchet.
• 1925 Arrhinoceratops brachyops: This was a horned dinosaur, similar to Triceratops.
• 1926 Thescelosaurus warreni: This small, plant-eating dinosaur was later renamed Parksosaurus in his honor.

Honors and Legacy

William Arthur Parks made many important contributions to science. Because of his great work, a dinosaur was named after him. In 1937, a scientist named Charles M. Sternberg named a dinosaur Parksosaurus. This was a special way to honor Parks and his discoveries.

Parks passed away in Toronto, Ontario, in 1936. His work helped us understand more about the ancient world and the amazing creatures that lived long ago.