Dinosaurs

Platecarpus sp. cf. P. somenensis

Classification: Class: Reptilia Subclass: Diapsida Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha Order: Squamata Suborder: Sauria Family: Mosasauridae Age: Late Cretaceous Period (approx. 80 mya) Locality: South Dakota, USA Formation: Pierre Formation

Mosasaurs were a group of lizards that evolved to live in the ocean. Their legs and feet became completely modified into flippers, which it is believed they used to steer as they swam in a snake-like fashion. Mosasaurs lived near the shores of a shallow sea, where they used their powerful teeth to prey on fish.

Once a tyrant of the ocean, Mosasaurs were driven to extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period around the same time dinosaurs disappeared from the land.

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Triceratops sp. Skull

Classification: Order: Ornithischia Suborder: Marginocephalia Infraorder: Ceratopsia Family: Ceratopsidae Age: Late Cretaceous Period (approximately 70 mya) Locality: South Dakota, USA Formation: Hell Creek Formation

Triceratops is easily recognized by its three horns and large frill formed by a bony structure protruding upwards behind the skull. This 9-m dinosaur used these distinctive features as defensive weapons against predators. It is also believed that Triceratops relied on these features to distinguish members of its own species, as well as to win mates in head-to-head wrestling.

The front side of Triceratops’ mouth resembled a parrot’s beak and contained no teeth. Deep inside the mouth, however, numerous upper and lower teeth were packed closely together. Triceratops likely used its sharp beak to grab and pluck plants, then ground them with its teeth. Worn-out teeth were continuously replaced by new ones.

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Dinosaur Eggs

Age: Late Cretaceous Period (approx. 70 mya) Locality: Var, France

Dinosaur eggs like these are often discovered in southern France. It is believed, although not confirmed, that these specimens belong to Hypselosaurus, a dinosaur closely related to Apatosaurus, as their fossils are frequently found in the same formation. Hypselosaurus is a large, plant-eating Sauropod from the Late Cretaceous Period.

The shape, size, number, and placement of dinosaur eggs vary significantly according to species. Worldwide, only a handful of fossil eggs have been clearly identified, and most eggs with unclear origin are given unique names of their own.

These specimens are larger than most dinosaur eggs. Nonetheless, the small size of dinosaur eggs indicates that newly hatched dinosaurs were surprisingly small in comparison to their fully-grown parents.

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