Parasaurolophus
Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Ornithopoda · Infraorder: Iguanodontia · Family: Hadrosauridae
Parasaurolophus has been found in Utah, New Mexico, and Alberta, Canada. The remarkable crest of this duck-billed dinosaur was a hollow tube 5 feet (1.5 meters) long that extended back over the animal's shoulders. The purpose of this crest may have been to improve the dinosaur's sense of smell, or it may have served as a resonance chamber to allow for trumpet like sounds.
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Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Parasaurolophus mean?
The name Parasaurolophus means “Similar Crested Lizard, or beside Saurolophus”. It is pronounced par-ah-SAWR-OL-uh-fus.
When did Parasaurolophus live?
Parasaurolophus lived during the Late Cretaceous.
How big was Parasaurolophus?
Parasaurolophus was about 33 feet (10.1 meters) long, around 16 feet (4.9 meters) tall, weighing up to 6,000 - 8,000 pounds.
Related dinosaurs
Other dinosaurs from the Hadrosauridae family.
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