Parasaurolophus

Parasaurolophus
Classification
Name	Parasaurolophus walkeri
Name Meaning	Walker's Near Crested Lizard
Species	Dinosaur
Family	Hadrosaurs
Diet	Herbivore
Physiology
Description	Duck-billed dinosaur with crest on head
Attributes	Crest on head; Duck-bill
Height	3.7 m (12.13 ft)
Length	11.1 m (36.41 ft)
Weight	3.5 t (7,000 lb)
Biography
Era	Late Cretaceous
Time	76 to 65 MYA
Discovered	1922
Locations	North America

“	I've seen fossils of these. I'm pretty sure they're Parasaurolophus.	„
	— Allen Johnson, about Parasaurolophus in Super Croc

Parasaurolophus (name meaning "Near-Crested Lizard"), often called Parasaur for short, is a genus of hadrosaurid dinosaur that originated during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now North America. Measuring around 11 meters long and weighing over 3 tons, Parasaurolophus is perhaps the most well-known hadrosaur, instantly recognizable due to its elongated head crest.

In the Series 2 episode "Super Croc," a herd of Parasaurolophus (consisting of six adults and seven juveniles) were brought to the park from Late Cretaceous Texas, 75 million years ago. They reside in the Hadrosaur Springs Enclosure and recently welcomed some hatchlings into the herd.

Facts

Era & Discovery

Parasaurolophus lived during the Late Cretaceous in North America from 76 – 65 million years ago, living up until the end of the Mesozoic when the dinosaurs died out. They shared their environments with other hadrosaurs, the ceratopsian dinosaurs, Ankylosaurs, and was also preyed upon by the raptor dinosaurs, Deinosuchus, and the large Tyrannosaur family.

Parasaurolophus was first described in 1922 by William Parks. It is one of the rarer hadrosaurids, known from only a handful of good specimens. William Parks named the specimen in honor of Sir Byron Edmund Walker, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Ontario Museum. Since its discovery, Parasaurolophus has become one of the most popular dinosaurs in media and art, thanks to its distinctive head crest.

Discovery & Range

Parasaurolophus was discovered by Dr. William A. Parks in 1922 in North America.

Physical Description

Parasaurolophus skeleton

Parasaurolophus had a long narrow head with large eyes on a mid-length neck, a hard beak and a narrow snout with pebbly textured skin and uniform tubercle-like scales. Parasaurolophus is most recognizable by its large and elaborate cranial crest that researchers believe could have measured as long as 6 1/2 feet long.

Behavior & Traits

Like all hadrosaurs and other herbivorous dinosaurs, Parasaurolophus lived in large herds of dozens, even hundreds of individuals. They were said to use their long crests as a form of communication between members of the herd. Parasaurolophus, at the very least the juveniles, and were curious creatures as well.

Gallery

A Parasaurolophus being killed by a Deinosuchus.

A herd of Parasaurolophus coming down to a lake to drink.

Trivia

• The sound effects of Parasaurolophus are that of camel, geese, and moose sound effects as well as an unknown trumpeting sound for their calling sound.
• Parasaurolophus is the second hadrosaur brought to the park.