Parasaurolophus walkeri
Cretaceous period - 76-65 million years ago

Parasaurolophus! Parasaurolophus walkeri - Cretaceous period. Oil painting by Josef Moravec. Parasaurolophus is in the dinosaur at collection of Dinosaur Corporation. Size 20" x 16".


PARASAUROLOPHUS walkeri
Parasaurolophus is the most famous of the crested hadrosaurs. It was small animal, compared to the other North American hadrosaurs, but it had the largest crest of any duck-bill. The Parasaurolophus lived in the forest region, but it has also migrated to the plains, semi-arid and the swamp regions. It was a herbivore, a herding animal, falling into a rigid social hierarchy. Males seem to achieve dominance in relation to the coloration of their skull crests. The females were capable of creating sounds at lower frequencies; they have repeatedly attracted the attention of the more brightly-colored males. This duck-bill had a long tubular crest that curved back from its snout and seems to have been larger in the males than in the females. This crest was an elongated, curved structure, longer than its skull. It contained two hollow tubes, believed to be for the creation of sound. Parasaurolophus is able to use these tubes to communicate with its fellow herd members. This crest was probably used to produce a loud bellow or call by exhaling air from these tubes within. Parasaurolophus was a good swimmer and had strong arms and a tail which was flattened from side to side. It was able to walk on two feet as easily as four.
TIME - 76 to 65 MYA, Late Cretaceous period.
RANGE - USA - Montana, Alaska. Canada - Alberta.
DIET - Various plants, including aquatic varieties.
SIZE - Lengths up to 30ft (10m).