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corythosaurus: herbivore dinosaur from the Cretaceous era

Corythosaurus Facts

Pronunciation: ko-RITH-oh-SORE-us

Name meaning: Helmet Lizard

Diet	Herbivore
Height	3m
Length	8m
Weight	3 tonnes
Speed	25 km/h
Environment	Land
Era	Cretaceous
Period	Late Cretaceous
Type	Ornithopod
Location	Western North America

Corythosaurus was a spectacular ornithopod dinosaur that lived between 77 and 75.7 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now western North America. Named 'helmet lizard' by palaeontologist Barnum Brown in 1914, this duck-billed dinosaur was instantly recognisable by its distinctive hollow crest that rose majestically from the top of its skull.

Measuring up to 8 metres in length and standing 3 metres tall at the hip, Corythosaurus was one of the more impressive members of the ornithopod group. Its most striking feature was undoubtedly its semicircular crest, which extended backwards from its skull and contained complex internal air passages connected to its nasal cavity. The skull, including this remarkable crest, measured an impressive 70.8 centimetres in height.

As a herbivore, Corythosaurus used its distinctive duck-like bill to crop vegetation and its batteries of grinding teeth to process tough plant material. It could move both on two legs when running and on all fours when feeding, making it well-adapted to its forest environment. The dinosaur's powerful hind legs suggest it could reach speeds of up to 25 km/h when fleeing from predators.

Corythosaurus belonged to a group called lambeosaurines, making it closely related to other crested ornithopods like Lambeosaurus and Hypacrosaurus. Fossil evidence suggests these dinosaurs lived in herds and used their crests to communicate with one another across the ancient landscapes of North America.

What made Corythosaurus distinctive?

Corythosaurus possessed a distinctive semicircular, helmet-like crest that extended backwards from its skull, containing complex internal air passages. Its duck-like bill was perfectly adapted for cropping vegetation, whilst its skull including the crest measured an impressive 70.8 centimetres in height.

Behaviour

Corythosaurus likely lived in herds and used its hollow crest as a resonating chamber to produce sounds for communication with other members of its species. It could switch between bipedal locomotion when running from predators and quadrupedal movement when feeding on low-growing vegetation.

Fun Facts About Corythosaurus

Corythosaurus could produce trumpet-like sounds through its hollow crest, with different species likely having different 'voices' based on their crest shapes
The internal structure of Corythosaurus crests contained passages so complex that scientists use CT scans to study them, revealing they worked like natural musical instruments
Corythosaurus had hundreds of tiny teeth arranged in batteries, with new teeth constantly growing to replace worn ones as they ground tough plant material
Some Corythosaurus fossils preserve skin impressions showing the dinosaur had a pebbly, bumpy texture rather than smooth skin
The largest Corythosaurus skulls, including their distinctive crests, are nearly as tall as an average human adult

Corythosaurus in Popular Culture

Corythosaurus has appeared in various dinosaur documentaries and educational programmes, often featured for its distinctive musical abilities and impressive crest.

Scientific Classification

Phylum	Chordata
Class	Ornithischia
Family	Hadrosauridae
Genus	Corythosaurus

Discovery

Corythosaurus was first described by Barnum Brown in 1914. The original fossils were discovered at Alberta, Canada.

Corythosaurus FAQ

What did Corythosaurus eat?

Corythosaurus was a herbivore that fed on a variety of plants including ferns, conifers, and flowering plants. It used its duck-like bill to crop vegetation and had batteries of grinding teeth to process tough plant material, with new teeth constantly replacing worn ones.

How big was Corythosaurus?

Corythosaurus measured up to 8 metres in length and stood about 3 metres tall at the hip. It weighed approximately 3 tonnes, making it one of the larger duck-billed dinosaurs. Its skull, including the distinctive crest, was 70.8 centimetres tall.

When did Corythosaurus live?

Corythosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 77 to 75.7 million years ago. This was towards the end of the age of dinosaurs, roughly 10 million years before the mass extinction event.

Where was Corythosaurus found?

Corythosaurus fossils have been discovered in western North America, particularly in Alberta, Canada. The first specimens were found and described by Barnum Brown in 1914, and additional fossils have since been uncovered across the region.

How do you pronounce Corythosaurus?

Corythosaurus is pronounced 'ko-RITH-oh-SORE-us'. The name comes from Greek words meaning 'helmet lizard', referring to its distinctive crest that resembles a Corinthian helmet.

What does Corythosaurus mean?

Corythosaurus means 'helmet lizard' in Greek. The name was chosen by Barnum Brown in 1914 because the dinosaur's distinctive semicircular crest reminded him of a Corinthian helmet worn by ancient Greek warriors.

How fast could Corythosaurus run?

Corythosaurus could likely reach speeds of up to 25 km/h when running on its powerful hind legs. This speed would have been useful for escaping from large predators like Albertosaurus that shared its Late Cretaceous environment.

What type of dinosaur was Corythosaurus?

Corythosaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur, specifically a member of the Hadrosauridae family known as duck-billed dinosaurs. Within this group, it belonged to the lambeosaurines, which were characterised by their hollow crests.

Was Corythosaurus related to birds?

As an ornithopod dinosaur, Corythosaurus was not directly ancestral to birds. However, like all dinosaurs, it shared a common ancestor with birds. Birds actually evolved from theropod dinosaurs, which were a different group entirely from the plant-eating ornithopods.

How many Corythosaurus fossils have been found?

Multiple Corythosaurus specimens have been discovered since Barnum Brown's original find in 1914, including several well-preserved skulls and partial skeletons. Some fossils even preserve skin impressions, providing valuable insights into the dinosaur's appearance and biology.

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