Corythosaurus

Corythosaurus (pronounced /ˌkɒrɨθoʊˈsɔrəs/), meaning 'helmet lizard' because of the shape of its crest (Greek κορυθως/korythos meaning 'helmet' and σαυρος/sauros meaning 'lizard') was a genus of duck-billed dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Period, about 75 million years ago. It lived in what is now North America.

Discovery and species

The first specimen was discovered in 1912 by Barnum Brown in Red Deer River, Alberta, Canada. As well as an almost complete skeleton, the find was remarkable because much of the creature's fossilized skin had also survived. In 1916, the Canadian (Canadian Pacific Lines) ship Mount Temple was carrying two specimens and other fossils from today's Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada to Britain. It was sunk by the German surface raider SMS Moewe, sending its 75 million year old cargo to the bottom of the North Atlantic, where it rests to this day.[1]

There were originally up to seven species described including C. casaurius, C. bicristatus, C. brevicristatus, C. excavatus, C. frontalis, and C. intermedius. In 1975 Peter Dodson studied the differences between the skulls and crests of different species of lambeosaurine dinosaurs. He found that the differences in size and shape may have actually been related to the gender and age of the animal. Now only one species is recognized, C. casuarius.[2]

Classification

Corythosaurus casuarius skeleton partially covered in skin

Corythosaurus is classified as a hadrosaurid, in the subfamily Lambeosaurinae. It is related to other hadrosaurs such as Hypacrosaurus, Lambeosaurus and Olorotitan, with the exception of Olorotitan they all share similar looking skulls and crests. However, recent research has suggested that Olorotitan is Corythosaurus closest known relative even though it doesn't share as many skull characteristics as other lambeosaurs. [3]

Paleobiology

Corythosaurus weighed in at 4 tonnes and measured roughly 10 metres (35 ft) from nose to tail. Like other hadrosaurs it had a toothless beak, the back of the jaws contained a dental battery composed of hundreds of small, interlocking teeth. These were used to crush and grind plant matter and were continually replaced as they wore away.

Over 20 skulls have been found from this dinosaur. As with other lambeosaurs, the animal bore a tall, elaborate bony crest atop its skull, which contained the elongate nasal passages.[4] The nasal passages extended into the crest, first into separate pockets in the sides, then into a single central chamber and onward into the respiratory system.[4]

Any vocalization would travel through these elaborate chambers, and probably get amplified.[4] Scientists speculate that Corythosaurus could make loud, low pitched cries "[L]ike a wind or brass instrument."[4] The sounds would be useful for communicating over long distances,[citation needed] and could serve to alert other Corythosaurus to the presence of food or a potential threat from a predator.[4]

It was once thought that this dinosaur lived mostly in the water, due to the appearance of webbed hands and feet. However, it was later discovered that the so-called "webs" were in fact deflated padding, much like that found on many modern mammals.

Corythosaurus (Information about this image)

In popular culture

Corythosaurus is one of the dinosaurs in the Rite of Spring segment of Disney's Fantasia. More recently, a herd of Corythosaurs and Parasaurolophus is featured in the film Jurassic Park III. Corythosaurus then went on to feature in the Vivendi Universal game Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis.

References

1. ^ Dinosaurs in the Deep
2. ^ Dodson, Peter (1975). "Taxonomic implications of relative growth in lambeosaurine dinosaurs". Systematic Zoology 24: 37–54. doi:10.2307/2412696.
3. ^ Godefroit, Pascal; Bolotsky, Yuri; and Alifanov, Vladimir (2003). "A remarkable hollow-crested hadrosaur from Russia: an Asian origin for lambeosaurines". Comptes Rendus Palevol 2: 143–151. doi:10.1016/S1631-0683(03)00017-4.
4. ^ a b c d e "Corythosaurus." In: Dodson, Peter & Britt, Brooks & Carpenter, Kenneth & Forster, Catherine A. & Gillette, David D. & Norell, Mark A. & Olshevsky, George & Parrish, J. Michael & Weishampel, David B. The Age of Dinosaurs. Publications International, LTD. p. 137. ISBN 0-7853-0443-6.

External links
Dinosaurs in the Deep