Saurolophus
Saurolophus osborni
Pronounced: Sore - o - Low -
fuss
Diet: Herbivore (plant eater)
Name Means: "Lizard Crest"
Length: 40 feet (12 m)
Height: 13 feet (4 m)
Weight: 3 tons (2,700 kilos)
Time: Late Cretaceous - 70
MYA
Fossil remains for this Dinosaur have been found in North America, Asia
Saurolophus is a well-known member of the duckbill family of dinosaurs. It had a small crest on the top of its head, highlighted by a fairly short and hollow tube. Like the other duck-billed dinosaurs, it had a large, flat beak (like a duck) at the front of its mouth and hundreds of teeth packed closely together to form what is called a dental battery. These were used to grind tough plant fiber into mushy pulp so that it could be digested more easily.
The Asian species of this genus, S. angustirostris, was
considerably larger than the Saurolophus specimen found in
Southwestern Canada. Discovered in 1911, this was the most
complete Canadian dinosaur found up to that time. The Canadian
species is about 7 feet (2 m) shorter than its Asian relative. |
