Blasisaurus Facts
Pronunciation: BLAY-see-SORE-us
Name meaning: Blasi's Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 2.5m |
| Length | 7m |
| Weight | 3 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | Spain |
Blasisaurus was a large ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72.2 million years ago. This impressive herbivore roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now Spain, representing one of Europe's distinctive duck-billed dinosaurs from the final stages of the Mesozoic Era.
As a lambeosaurine ornithopod, Blasisaurus possessed the characteristic duck-like bill that made these dinosaurs such efficient plant-eaters. The creature likely stood about 2.5 metres tall at the hip and measured roughly 7 metres in total length, making it a substantial member of the ornithopod family. Its robust build would have supported a weight of approximately 3 tonnes, allowing it to process large quantities of vegetation each day.
Blasisaurus fed on the diverse plant life of Late Cretaceous Europe, using its specialised dental batteries to grind tough plant material. These hundreds of small teeth worked together like a living food processor, allowing the dinosaur to extract maximum nutrition from ferns, conifers, and flowering plants that dominated its ecosystem.
The discovery of Blasisaurus has provided valuable insights into European dinosaur diversity during the final period of the Mesozoic. Its fossils, including partial skull and skeletal remains, help paleontologists understand how ornithopods adapted to different environments across the ancient world.
What made Blasisaurus distinctive?
Blasisaurus possessed the characteristic duck-like bill of lambeosaurine ornithopods, with specialised dental batteries for processing plant material. Its robust build and substantial size distinguished it from smaller ornithopods of its time.
Behaviour
Blasisaurus likely lived in herds, moving through Late Cretaceous European forests and plains in search of suitable vegetation. As a large ornithopod, it would have been capable of both bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion, switching between gaits as needed for feeding or movement.
Discovery
Blasisaurus was first described by Penélope Cruzado-Caballero, Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola and José Ignacio Ruiz-Omeñaca in 2010. The original fossils were discovered at Late Maastrichtian rocks, Spain.
Blasisaurus FAQ
What did Blasisaurus eat?
Blasisaurus was a herbivore that fed on the diverse plant life of
Late Cretaceous Europe. It used its duck-like bill and hundreds of small teeth arranged in dental batteries to grind tough vegetation including ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants.
How big was Blasisaurus?
Blasisaurus was a substantial dinosaur, standing about 2.5 metres tall at the hip and measuring approximately 7 metres in total length. It weighed around 3 tonnes, making it a large and robust member of the ornithopod group.
When did Blasisaurus live?
Blasisaurus lived during the
Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72.2 million years ago. This places it very close to the end of the Mesozoic Era, making it one of the last dinosaurs before the mass extinction event.
Where was Blasisaurus found?
Blasisaurus fossils were discovered in Spain, specifically in late Maastrichtian-age rocks. The discovery was made by a team of Spanish researchers and represents an important addition to European dinosaur diversity.
How do you pronounce Blasisaurus?
Blasisaurus is pronounced 'BLAY-see-SORE-us'. The name breaks down into 'Blasi' (referring to a person's name) and 'saurus' (meaning lizard).
What does Blasisaurus mean?
Blasisaurus means 'Blasi's Lizard'. The name honours someone called Blasi, following the common paleontological tradition of naming dinosaurs after people who contributed to their discovery or study.
How fast could Blasisaurus run?
The running speed of Blasisaurus is not precisely known. As a large ornithopod, it was likely capable of moderate speeds when necessary, but would have spent most of its time moving slowly while feeding on vegetation.
What type of dinosaur was Blasisaurus?
Blasisaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur, specifically a lambeosaurine member of the Hadrosauridae family. Ornithopods were herbivorous dinosaurs known for their specialised teeth and duck-like bills.
Was Blasisaurus related to birds?
As an ornithopod, Blasisaurus belonged to a different major group of dinosaurs than those that gave rise to birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, while Blasisaurus was an ornithischian dinosaur, making it only distantly related to modern birds.
How many Blasisaurus fossils have been found?
Blasisaurus is known from a partial skull and skeleton found in Spain. While this represents limited fossil material, it was sufficient for researchers to identify it as a new species and understand its basic characteristics and relationships to other ornithopods.
