Claosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: CLAY-oh-SORE-us
Name meaning: Broken Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 2m |
| Length | 7m |
| Weight | 2 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | North America |
Claosaurus was an important ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, between 89.8 and 83.6 million years ago, in what is now North America. This herbivorous dinosaur represents a crucial link in understanding the evolution of duck-billed dinosaurs, as it was one of the earliest members of the group that would eventually give rise to the famous hadrosaurs.
Measuring approximately 7 metres in length and standing about 2 metres tall at the hip, Claosaurus was a substantial ornithopod with a relatively slender build compared to its later relatives. It possessed the characteristic ornithopod features of a long tail, powerful hind legs, and a skull adapted for processing plant material. Unlike the elaborate crests of later hadrosaurs, Claosaurus had a relatively simple, elongated skull with rows of grinding teeth perfect for breaking down tough vegetation.
As a herbivore, Claosaurus would have fed on a variety of plants including ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants that were beginning to diversify during the Late Cretaceous. Its dental batteries allowed it to efficiently process fibrous plant material, whilst its bipedal stance enabled it to reach higher vegetation than many contemporary herbivores.
What makes Claosaurus particularly significant is its position in ornithopod evolution. Recent studies suggest it was the closest non-hadrosaurid relative to the true duck-billed dinosaurs, making it essential for understanding how this successful group of herbivores evolved their distinctive features.
What made Claosaurus distinctive?
Claosaurus had a relatively simple, elongated skull without the elaborate crests seen in later hadrosaurs, rows of grinding teeth arranged in dental batteries, and a slender build with powerful hind legs adapted for both bipedal locomotion and occasional quadrupedal movement.
Behaviour
Claosaurus likely lived in herds for protection against predators, as evidenced by multiple fossil discoveries in close proximity. It was capable of both bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion, probably running on two legs when threatened but moving on all fours whilst feeding on low-growing vegetation.
Discovery
Claosaurus was first described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1872. The original fossils were discovered at Niobrara Formation, Kansas, USA.
Claosaurus FAQ
What did Claosaurus eat?
Claosaurus was a herbivore that fed on a variety of
Late Cretaceous plants including ferns, conifers, cycads, and early flowering plants. Its rows of grinding teeth were perfectly adapted for processing tough, fibrous vegetation, allowing it to extract maximum nutrition from the plant material available in its environment.
How big was Claosaurus?
Claosaurus was approximately 7 metres long and stood about 2 metres tall at the hip, weighing roughly 2 tonnes. This made it a substantial ornithopod dinosaur, though it was more lightly built than many of its later hadrosaur relatives.
When did Claosaurus live?
Claosaurus lived during the
Late Cretaceous Period, specifically during the Santonian to Campanian stages, between approximately 89.8 and 83.6 million years ago. This was a time when flowering plants were beginning to diversify and the Western Interior Seaway covered much of central North America.
Where was Claosaurus found?
Claosaurus fossils have been discovered in North America, particularly in the Niobrara Formation of Kansas, USA. Kansas during the
Late Cretaceous was a very different environment from today, with much of the area covered by shallow seas and coastal plains supporting diverse dinosaur communities.
How do you pronounce Claosaurus?
Claosaurus is pronounced 'CLAY-oh-SORE-us', with emphasis on the first syllable 'CLAY'. The name breaks down into 'Clao' (meaning broken) and 'saurus' (meaning lizard), referring to the fragmentary nature of some early fossil discoveries.
What does Claosaurus mean?
Claosaurus means 'Broken Lizard', derived from the Greek words 'clao' (broken) and 'saurus' (lizard). This name likely refers to the incomplete or fragmentary state of some of the fossil remains when the dinosaur was first described in 1872.
How fast could Claosaurus run?
Based on its long, powerful hind legs and relatively light build, Claosaurus could likely reach speeds of up to 25 kilometres per hour when running bipedally. This speed would have been crucial for escaping from large predators that shared its
Late Cretaceous environment.
What type of dinosaur was Claosaurus?
Claosaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur, specifically a hadrosauromorph that represents an important evolutionary link between earlier ornithopods and the later duck-billed hadrosaurs. It's considered the closest non-hadrosaurid relative to true hadrosaurids, making it crucial for understanding ornithopod evolution.
Was Claosaurus related to birds?
As an ornithopod dinosaur, Claosaurus was not directly related to birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Claosaurus belonged to the ornithischian group. However, like all dinosaurs, Claosaurus and birds share a common archosaurian ancestor from much earlier in the Mesozoic Era.
How many Claosaurus fossils have been found?
Relatively few complete Claosaurus specimens have been discovered, which is partly why the genus name means 'broken lizard'. Most knowledge about Claosaurus comes from partial skeletal remains, though these have been sufficient to establish its important position in ornithopod evolution and its relationship to later hadrosaurs.
