Edmontosaurus Facts

Edmontosaurus was one of the largest and most successful ornithopod dinosaurs, living in western North America during the final stages of the Late Cretaceous period, between 73 and 66 million years ago. This massive duck-billed dinosaur was among the last non-avian dinosaurs to walk the Earth, sharing its world with famous contemporaries like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops before the great extinction event that ended the age of dinosaurs.

Measuring up to 12 metres in length and standing 4 metres tall at the hip, Edmontosaurus was built like a living lawn mower. Its distinctive duck-like bill was perfectly adapted for cropping vegetation, whilst hundreds of small grinding teeth in its cheeks processed tough plant material. The dinosaur could move both on two legs when running and on all fours when feeding, making it remarkably versatile in its movements.

Two species of Edmontosaurus are recognised: E. regalis from the earlier Campanian age and E. annectens from the later Maastrichtian age. Both inhabited the lush coastal plains and river systems of ancient North America, where they lived in large herds for protection against predators. Their excellent preservation has provided paleontologists with extraordinary insights into late Cretaceous ecosystems.

Recent fossil discoveries have revealed that Edmontosaurus possessed a fleshy crest or 'comb' on top of its skull, similar to a rooster's comb, completely changing how we visualise these magnificent creatures and demonstrating how much we still have to learn about dinosaur appearance.