Parasaurolophus Facts for Kids

Parasaurolophus is a great dinosaur for your kids to learn about!

Find out about its size, habitat, diet and more! 

Parasaurolophus had a broad flat mouth that looked like a duck's beak. It was a very unusual looking dinosaur :)

Dinosaur Fast Facts

  • You pronounce their name 'para-saw-rol-ofus'.

  • The meaning of its name is 'beside crested lizard'.

  • They were herbivores.

  • They had large head crests they used for trumpeting.

  • Their length was up to 10 metres (33 feet)

  • They weighed 3.5 tons (about as much as a transit van).

Parasaurolophus Dinosaur

More Dinosaur Details

Parasaurolophus Dinosaur Timeline

They lived about 76 to 73 million years ago - in the late cretaceous period. This was at the same time as the meat eaters Albertosaurus and Velociraptors.
Dinosaurs - Parasaurolophus head
The Parasaurolphus had an unusual tail that was tall but narrow. It is thought these could have been brightly colored and used to attract mates.

Its dinosaur classification is Ornithischia.
Parasaurolophus Dinosaur Facts

This dinosaur had a large crest on its head. On adult males this could be as long as 1.8 metres (6 feet) - which is as big as a man!

Scientists think they may have used their crest to make a trumpeting sound that they used to talk to each other. This video will let you hear what scientists think they may have sounded like.


More questions you may have :

  • What did they eat?
    They were herbivores (plant eaters) that used their strong back legs to reach higher branches. Find out more about the Cretaceous plants they ate.

  • Where did they live?
  • Parasaurolophus Dinosaur Map - where did they live?

  • How big were they?
  • Triceratops Dinosaur Size

    They were 10 metres (33 feet) in length and weighed 3.5 tons. Their huge head crest could grow to 1.8 metres long.
    Dinosaur Coloring Sheet

    Parasaurolophus
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