Parasaurolophus walkeri was a herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 76 to 73 million years ago, in what is now North America. It belongs to the family of hadrosaurids, known as "duck-billed dinosaurs", and is notable for its distinctive tubular crest that extended backward from the top of its skull, making it one of the most recognizable hadrosaurids.
The most complete specimens of Parasaurolophus walkeri have been found primarily in Canada, specifically in the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta. It was a large dinosaur, with estimates suggesting that it could reach a length of approximately 9 to 10 meters and a weight ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 tons. It moved in both a quadrupedal and bipedal posture, depending on the situation; That is, it could walk on all fours while feeding and stand on its hind legs to run or interact with others of its kind.
What especially distinguishes Parasaurolophus walkeri is its hollow bony crest, which reached a length of up to 1.8 meters. Although the exact purpose of the crest has been debated for years, more recent studies suggest that it probably had multiple functions. One of the most accepted hypotheses is that the crest was used for sound communication between individuals, generating trumpet-like sounds through breathing, since the internal structure of the skull is connected to the airways. This would have allowed them to emit deep sounds, which would have been useful in social interactions or to warn of possible dangers. It has also been suggested that it could have had a visual function, acting as a sexually selective trait, or been used in thermoregulation, helping to dissipate body heat.
As an herbivore, Parasaurolophus walkeri fed mainly on low vegetation, such as leaves, branches and fruits of conifers and flowering plants. Its jaws were equipped with multiple rows of constantly renewing teeth, forming a dental battery suitable for crushing tough, fibrous plants. It is believed that it fed on a wide variety of plants thanks to its ability to process both soft and hard plant material.
The environment in which Parasaurolophus walkeri lived was dominated by rivers and river plains, with abundant vegetation including ferns, cycads and conifers. This habitat also hosted a wide range of other dinosaurs, including carnivores such as Albertosaurus and other herbivores such as Corythosaurus and Centrosaurus, suggesting that Parasaurolophus must have shared resources and possibly been on constant alert for predators.
Approximate measurements of Parasaurolophus:
The most complete specimens of Parasaurolophus walkeri have been found primarily in Canada, specifically in the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta. It was a large dinosaur, with estimates suggesting that it could reach a length of approximately 9 to 10 meters and a weight ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 tons. It moved in both a quadrupedal and bipedal posture, depending on the situation; That is, it could walk on all fours while feeding and stand on its hind legs to run or interact with others of its kind.
What especially distinguishes Parasaurolophus walkeri is its hollow bony crest, which reached a length of up to 1.8 meters. Although the exact purpose of the crest has been debated for years, more recent studies suggest that it probably had multiple functions. One of the most accepted hypotheses is that the crest was used for sound communication between individuals, generating trumpet-like sounds through breathing, since the internal structure of the skull is connected to the airways. This would have allowed them to emit deep sounds, which would have been useful in social interactions or to warn of possible dangers. It has also been suggested that it could have had a visual function, acting as a sexually selective trait, or been used in thermoregulation, helping to dissipate body heat.
As an herbivore, Parasaurolophus walkeri fed mainly on low vegetation, such as leaves, branches and fruits of conifers and flowering plants. Its jaws were equipped with multiple rows of constantly renewing teeth, forming a dental battery suitable for crushing tough, fibrous plants. It is believed that it fed on a wide variety of plants thanks to its ability to process both soft and hard plant material.
The environment in which Parasaurolophus walkeri lived was dominated by rivers and river plains, with abundant vegetation including ferns, cycads and conifers. This habitat also hosted a wide range of other dinosaurs, including carnivores such as Albertosaurus and other herbivores such as Corythosaurus and Centrosaurus, suggesting that Parasaurolophus must have shared resources and possibly been on constant alert for predators.
Approximate measurements of Parasaurolophus:
- Complete 1:60 scale
- Length 144 mm
- Height 96 mm
- Width 32 mm
- Snout-tail length 167 mm
- Complete 1:35 scale
- Length 247 mm
- Height 164 mm
- Width 54 mm
- Snout-tail length 285 mm
