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Parasaurolophus (/ ˌ p ær ə s ɔː ˈ r ɒ l ə f ə s,-ˌ s ɔːr ə ˈ l oʊ f ə s /; meaning "beside crested lizard" in reference to Saurolophus) [2] is a genus of hadrosaurid "duck-billed" dinosaur that lived in what is now western North America and possibly Asia during the Late Cretaceous period, about 76.9–73.5 million years ago. [3]
Parasaurolophus, a crested hadrosaur.. Hadrosaurids, also commonly referred to as duck-billed dinosaurs or hadrosaurs, were large terrestrial herbivores.The diet of hadrosaurid dinosaurs remains a subject of debate among paleontologists, especially regarding whether hadrosaurids were grazers who fed on vegetation close to the ground, or browsers who ate higher-growing leaves and twigs.
Saurolophus was an important early reference for other hadrosaurs, as seen in the names of Prosaurolophus ("before Saurolophus") and Parasaurolophus ("near Saurolophus"). However, little additional material has been recovered and described. Instead, more abundant remains from Asia have provided more data.
The ornithopod family, which includes genera such as Edmontosaurus and Parasaurolophus, was a common group of herbivores during the Late Cretaceous Period. [1] Hadrosaurids are descendants of the Late Jurassic / Early Cretaceous iguanodontian dinosaurs and had a similar body layout.
Lambeosaurines originated on the continent of Laurasia during the Late Cretaceous, being initially found throughout modern Europe and Asia.Around the Campanian stage, lambeosaurines of the tribe Corythosauria colonized the landmass of Laramidia (modern western North America) via Beringia and spread as far south as Mexico, radiating into a diverse array of a body plans, including famous taxa ...
The group contained hadrosaurids with a "males with median horn-like protuberance on the skull" and "very numerous teeth", found by Nopsca to be Parasaurolophus, Saurolophus, and Prosaurolophus. [3] In 1954, Charles Sternberg reevaluated the genera in Hadrosauridae, invoking the probability that Saurolophinae should be sunk into Hadrosaurinae.
In 1966 John Ostrom postulated that the diet of late Cretaceous chasmosaurs such as Triceratops and Torosaurus fed on very resistant and fibrous materials like the fronds of cycad or palm plants. [20] By extension, all Ceratopsids had a shearing dentition and efficient, powerful jaw mechanics that allowed them to feed on tough vegetation.
This feature helps to differentiate Parasaurolophini from Lambeosaurini. Generally, the crests of juveniles of lambeosaurines like Corythosaurus, Lambeosaurus, Hypacrosaurus stebingeri, parasaurolophines like Parasaurolophus, and primitive lambeosaurines like Kazaklambia are quite alike, although other features can be used to distinguish them. [39]