Kritosaurus navajovius is a herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous, approximately 75 to 73 million years ago, in what is now North America. This member of the hadrosaurid family, commonly known as duck-billed dinosaurs, is notable for its elongated, flattened head with a toothless beak that it used to tear and crush vegetation.
Kritosaurus navajovius reached a length of between 7 and 9 meters and a weight of approximately 3 tons. Its body was robust, with a long tail that provided balance while walking on its hind legs or all four, depending on the situation. This dinosaur had strong hind limbs that were longer than its front limbs, suggesting that it could alternate between a bipedal and quadrupedal posture.
One of the most notable features of this dinosaur was its skull, which featured a prominent nasal structure, probably used in visual displays or vocalizations. Unlike other hadrosaurids that possessed elaborate, hollow crests, the head of Kritosaurus was simpler in comparison, but still distinctive for its low profile.
Kritosaurus navajovius inhabited areas that included rivers and plains, where it fed on a diet consisting primarily of soft plants, such as ferns and conifers. Its teeth were arranged in dental batteries, with several rows that were continually replaced as they wore down, allowing it to process large amounts of plant material.
Despite its size and relatively calm appearance, Kritosaurus navajovius lived in a dangerous world, sharing its habitat with large predators such as tyrannosaurids. Its social behavior may have included forming large herds, which offered it some protection from attacks by these carnivores.
Approximate measurements of the Kritosaurus:
Kritosaurus navajovius reached a length of between 7 and 9 meters and a weight of approximately 3 tons. Its body was robust, with a long tail that provided balance while walking on its hind legs or all four, depending on the situation. This dinosaur had strong hind limbs that were longer than its front limbs, suggesting that it could alternate between a bipedal and quadrupedal posture.
One of the most notable features of this dinosaur was its skull, which featured a prominent nasal structure, probably used in visual displays or vocalizations. Unlike other hadrosaurids that possessed elaborate, hollow crests, the head of Kritosaurus was simpler in comparison, but still distinctive for its low profile.
Kritosaurus navajovius inhabited areas that included rivers and plains, where it fed on a diet consisting primarily of soft plants, such as ferns and conifers. Its teeth were arranged in dental batteries, with several rows that were continually replaced as they wore down, allowing it to process large amounts of plant material.
Despite its size and relatively calm appearance, Kritosaurus navajovius lived in a dangerous world, sharing its habitat with large predators such as tyrannosaurids. Its social behavior may have included forming large herds, which offered it some protection from attacks by these carnivores.
Approximate measurements of the Kritosaurus:
- Scale 1:60 Complete
- Length 128 mm
- Height 61 mm
- Width 48 mm
- Snout-tail length 146 mm
- Scale 1:35 Complete
- Length 220 mm
- Height 104 mm
- Width 81 mm
- Snout-tail length 250 mm
