7/7/2014

Hadrosaurid Bone Maps

Continuing with our gallery of mesozoic dinosaur skeleton diagrams... today's post showcases the duck-billed dinosaurs drawn by Michelle Annette Leveille for the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum Dinosaur Hall.

There were two classes of dinosaurs, the saurischian (lizard-hipped) and the ornithischian (bird-hipped) classes. The hadrosaurid (duck-billed) family was the largest of the ornithsichians. Lambeosaurus was one of the smallest hadrosaurs, and it weighed as much as an elephant or more.

Lambeosaurus by Michelle Annette Leveille for LACMNH

Edmontosaurus is named after the capitol of the Canadian Province in which it was discovered. This hadrosaur has also gone by the name Anatotitan, (giant duck). Archaeologists have discovered a fossilized section of an Edmontosaur's skin, thus revealing more information about the animals.

Fossilized Edmontosaurus skin at the American Museum of Natural History

They also discovered a fossilized Edmontosaur bone which had been bitten by a Tyrannosaurus rex. The bone had healed partially afterwards. This proved that T. rex had bitten the animal while it was still alive, and the hadrosaur had gotten away. Previous to this discovery, some people thought that T. rex might have been a scavenger on the remains of dead animals only. The discovery of the Edmontosaur bone disproved that theory.

Edmontosaurus by Michelle Annette Leveille for LACMNH

Saurolophus was one of the most widespread of all the hadrosaurs. Its fossilized remains have been discovered in both North America and the Asian continent.

Saurolophus by Michelle Annette Leveille for LACMNH

Parasaurolophus was the famous cousin of Saurolophus. The two species probably came from a common ancestor known as Prosaurolophus. The elongated nasal cavity of Parasaurolophus likely made very loud noises. It is worth noting here that the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum has an excellent exhibit on this.

Parasaurolophus by Michelle Annette Leveille for LACMNH

Corythosaurus, too, had distinctive headgear. It is named after the Corynthian soldiers of Ancient Greece, who wore a unique helmet. 

Corythosaurus fossils were not discovered in Greece, however. The animals lived in forests of North America during the Late Cretaceous. Archaeologists discovered that air driven through the nasal cavities of Corythosaurus skulls made a loud booming noise.

Corythosaurus by Michelle Annette Leveille for LACMNH

Archaeologists also know more about Hypacrosaurus than most other dinosaurs. A complete nesting ground was discovered with eggs, young, and adults. From this it was discovered that the dinosaurs cared for their young and did not abandon them at an early age as many primitive organisms do today.

Hypacrosaurus by Michelle Annette Leveille for LACMNH

Fossilized bones of all of these animals can be found at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum.

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