Field Information Species Velociraptor mongoliensis Period Late Cretaceous (75–71 Ma) Feather evidence Quill knobs on ulna confirmed, 2007 Flight capability None — too heavy, arms too short Feather function Insulation, display, possibly brooding Quick Answer: Yes, Velociraptor had feathers. Fossil evidence from quill knobs preserved on its forearm bones confirms this directly. It could not … Read more
At a Glance Field Information Species Velociraptor mongoliensis Claw Length 6.5+ cm (outer edge) Location Second toe, each foot Walking Position Retracted off ground Primary Function Prey restraint and pinning Discovery First specimen 1923 Quick Answer: Velociraptor’s sickle claw was an enlarged, curved talon on the second toe of each foot that could grow over … Read more
Kentrosaurus possessed small bony plates only on its neck and front shoulder region, with the rest of its body covered in paired spikes. These plates were significantly smaller than those of Stegosaurus, rarely exceeding 20 centimeters in height, and the transition from plates to spikes along the body represents a key evolutionary variation within the … Read more
Kentrosaurus was discovered during the German Tendaguru Expedition in Tanzania between 1909 and 1913, led by paleontologist Edwin Hennig. The excavation in the Tendaguru Formation yielded multiple individuals, with specimens shipped to Berlin, where the first mount was assembled in 1925, making Kentrosaurus one of the best-represented African dinosaurs in museum collections. Introduction The discovery … Read more
Kentrosaurus was significantly smaller than Stegosaurus, measuring about 4.5 meters compared to Stegosaurus’s 9 meters, and the two species lived on different continents. Kentrosaurus carried proportionally more spikes and fewer plates, while Stegosaurus featured massive back plates and only four tail spikes, reflecting different defensive strategies in their respective ecosystems. Introduction Kentrosaurus and Stegosaurus represent … Read more
Kentrosaurus possessed pairs of long, sharp spikes running along its tail and potentially on its shoulders, serving as a powerful defensive weapon against predators like Allosaurus. The tail spikes, up to 60 centimeters long, could be swung with lethal force thanks to the animal’s ability to pivot rapidly on its hind legs. Introduction The spikes … Read more
Parasaurolophus vs Other Hadrosaurs: Corythosaurus, Lambeosaurus, and Edmontosaurus At a Glance Feature Parasaurolophus Corythosaurus Lambeosaurus Edmontosaurus Crest type Long tubular, projecting back Helmet-shaped, hollow Hatchet-shaped, hollow None Length 9.5–11 m (31–36 ft) ~9 m (30 ft) ~9–10 m (30–33 ft) ~9–13 m (30–43 ft) Period 76.5–73 Ma ~77–75 Ma ~76–75 Ma ~73–66 Ma Formation Dinosaur … Read more
At a Glance Feature Parasaurolophus Tyrannosaurus rex Period 76.5–73 Ma (Campanian) 68–66 Ma (Maastrichtian) Formation Dinosaur Park Fm. (Alberta); Kirtland/Fruitland Fms. (New Mexico) Hell Creek Fm. (Montana, S. Dakota); Lance Fm. (Wyoming) Length 9.5–11 m (31–36 ft) 12–13 m (39–43 ft) Weight 2,500–4,000 kg (5,500–8,800 lb) 8,000–14,000 kg (17,600–30,900 lb) Diet Herbivore Carnivore Did they … Read more
At a Glance Field Information Species Parasaurolophus walkeri, P. tubicen, P. cyrtocristatus Period Late Cretaceous (76.5–73 Ma) Social structure Inferred gregarious; direct fossil evidence for herding limited but present in hadrosaurs broadly Locomotion Quadrupedal at normal pace; bipedal capable; speed estimates 20–35 km/h (12–22 mph) when bipedal Primary defence Speed, group vigilance, and possibly crest-based … Read more
At a Glance Field Information Species Parasaurolophus walkeri, P. tubicen, P. cyrtocristatus Period Late Cretaceous (76.5–73 Ma) First described 1922, by William Parks, University of Toronto Type specimen ROM 768, Royal Ontario Museum, Alberta Key formations Dinosaur Park Formation (Alberta); Kirtland and Fruitland Formations (New Mexico); Kaiparowits Formation (Utah) Notable recent find Juvenile skull from … Read more