PARASAUROLOPHUS

Parasaurolophus, meaning "Near Crested Lizard," was a truly remarkable dinosaur that roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period. Imagine a plant-eating giant, about 10 meters long, with a magnificent, curved crest sticking out from the back of its head! This crest wasn't just for show; scientists believe Parasaurolophus used it to make loud, honking sounds to communicate with its herd, like a giant dinosaur trumpet!

These herbivores munched on plants like leaves, twigs, and maybe even some fruits. They lived in what is now North America, and their fossils have been found in places like Alberta, Canada, and the United States. Parasaurolophus was a member of the Hadrosaur family, also known as duck-billed dinosaurs, because their mouths looked a bit like a duck's bill! They could walk on two legs or all fours, probably using two legs to run quickly from scary predators like Tyrannosaurus Rex, reaching speeds up to 40 km/h! While the exact bite force of Parasaurolophus remains a mystery, we know they had lots of teeth to grind up tough plants.