Tanius
Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Ornithopoda · Infraorder: Iguanodontia · Family: Hadrosauridae
Tanius was a large, flat-headed duck-billed dinosaur that lived in China in the late Cretaceous, some 88 to 66 million years ago. As the specimens found to date show no evidence of a crest, Tanius may have belonged to the crest less basal hadrosaurine group of duck bills. Another theory holds that Tanius will turn out to be the same animal as Tsintaosaurus, a familiar duckbill pictured in many books because of its unicorn-like spike.
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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 Tanius mean?
The name Tanius means “of the Tan”. It is pronounced TAN-ee-us.
When did Tanius live?
Tanius lived during the Late Cretaceous.
Was Tanius a carnivore or a herbivore?
Tanius was a herbivore.
How big was Tanius?
Tanius was about 35 feet (10.7 meters) long, around 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, weighing up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg).
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