Maiasaura

Home . . . Alphabetical List . . . Carnivorous dinosaurs . . . Herbivorous dinosaurs

Name of Dinosaur

Maiasaura

How to say it

MY - a - SAW - ra

What the name means

Good mother reptile

Who named it

Dr Horner

When discovered

1979

What period of time

Cretaceous period

How long

9metres

How tall

2 metres

Diet

plants

Where found

North America

What it looked like
The Maiasaura is one of the most important dinosaurs to have been discovered recently. They were big and strong, with claws on their feet, and a long heavy tail.

What it ate
The Maiasaura was a herbivore, which means that it ate plants.

 

How it moved around
These dinosaurs moved about on four legs.

 

How it probably behaved
The Maiasaura lived in very large groups, with up to ten thousand animals in a herd. They were given their name because they laid their eggs in a mound of dirt, and covered them with plan matter that rotted down and kept the eggs warm. Parents probably stood guard over their nests to protect the eggs from being stood on, or stolen by other animals. Scientists think that parents looked after their young, and brought them food while they were very small.

 


Back to Top