Parasaurolophus Characteristics

Parasaurolophus measured 33 feet (11 metres) in length, 16 feet (5 metres) in height and weighed 2 - 3 tons. Like other hadrosaurs, Parasaurolophus was a bipedal and quadruped dinosaur and moved around and ran on its hind legs and would change to all 4 legs while foraging for food on the ground. It was quite a fast runner.

The most notable feature of the Parasaurolophus was its long curved crest on their heads which could measure 6 feet (1.8 metres) in length, it was larger than the rest of their skull. The crest projected from the rear of their heads and was longer in males than in females. The crest was hollow and would have probably been used for communication between species and for the males to attract mates. Many scientists also think the crest gave Parasaurolophus an excellent sense of smell. The crest may also have been used to produce a loud foghorn sound.

More about the crest

Parasaurolophus had nostrils at the end of its short, narrow snout which went up through the crest and back down it forming 4 tubes. When Parasaurolophus was in water, the crest was used like a snorkel, although they spent most of their time on land. Parasaurolophus also had a notch in its back, right where the crest would touch its back when its head leaned backwards. Parasaurolophus is often depicted with a flap of skin running from the bottom of the crest to the base of the neck, though there is no evidence of this.

Parasaurolophus had small forelimbs which were relatively short for a hadrosaur and webbed fingers on its hands. Their skin had a pebble-texture to it and they had a spoon-shaped beak that was toothless and had many cheek-teeth to grind plant material. Parasaurolophus had keen eyesight and hearing but had no natural defences.

There were around 3 species of Parasaurolophus, however, 2 of them are known only by incomplete remains. The best known species is Parasaurolophus walkeri. The other 2 less known species are Parasaurolophus tubicen and the short crested Parasaurolophus cyrtocristatus.

Parasaurolophus probably lived in large herds on grassy plains. It may have migrated to higher grounds to reproduce. Parasaurolophus was a herbivore and fed up on pine needles, leaves and twigs. Parasaurolophus was an ornithopod, whose intelligence (as measured by its relative brain to body weight, or EQ) was midway among the dinosaurs.

Parasaurolophus may have been prey for large carnivorous theropods, such as Daspletosaurus.

Fossils of Parasaurolophus have been found across North America and a complete skeleton was found in Alberta, Canada. Many other fossils have been found in New Mexico and Utah USA.

Parasaurolophus was described and named by Dr. William A. Parks in 1922.