Dinosaurs
Learn about the dinosaurs that make up our fossil collection.
Spinosaurus
Spinosaurus (meaning "spined lizard") is an extinct genus of spinosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed in what is now North Africa during the Cretaceous period. Spinosaurus is the largest of all known carnivorous dinosaurs, even larger than Carcharodontosaurus, Giganotosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus rex.
Its most distinctive feature was the huge sail-like fin on its back. This sail was comprised of spines that extended from the top of the backbones of all dinosaurs and backboned animals. The spines of Spinosaurus were tremendous, the longest one found measured over 1.7 meters (5 feet) tall. It is possible that the sail might have been used to attract a mate.
Our Spinosaurus fossils come from the Kem Kim formation in Morocco. Bone fragments are only used when identifiable but lack sufficient skeletal remains to make a complete skeleton.
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Triceratops
Triceratops was a Cretaceous period dinosaur possessing a huge frilled head with horns over each eye that could reach over 3 feet long. Triceratops had a third, smaller horn on its nose. These would be fearsome weapons against a predator.
Triceratops was a herd animal. It is believed that large groups numbering into the hundreds roamed North America. Their large, horny beaks and long rows of teeth were well designed for chewing the tough, low-growing plants of the Late Cretaceous. It was likely that the main predator of these animals was Tyrannosaurus rex. A number of skeletons show bite and chew marks that match the teeth of T. rex.
Horns and frills seemed to vary among individuals within the species. Some frills were very broad, others narrow. The nasal horn shows the most variance among individual specimens, no two being the same. The material that covered its horns in life would have added significantly to the length of the fossilized bone
Our Triceratops fossils come from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. Bone fragments are only used when identifiable but lack sufficient skeletal remains to make a complete skeleton.
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Edmontosaurus
Edmontosaurus was a large herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Its name means "Edmonton lizard" after the location of its discovery (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). It has three junior synonyms, Anatosaurus, Anatotitan and Ugrunaaluk.
Edmontosaurus is part of the Hadrosauridae, or duckbill family of dinosaurs, who are known for their distinctive teeth - or as paleontologists call it, their "dental battery". On each side of the jaw are three rows of sixty or more perfectly interlocking teeth.
Edmontosaurus ate plants and had to be on constant alert for predators such as Tyrannosaurus, Dakotaraptor, and Acheroraptor. Edmontosaurus could not outrun any of the meat-eaters and had to rely on outmaneuvering them - like a crafty football player - and traveling in large herds, where there was safety in numbers
Our Edmontosurus fossils come from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. Bone fragments are only used when identifiable but lack sufficient skeletal remains to make a complete skeleton.