The Sail-Backed Dinosaur
Ouranosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur that lived approximately 110 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
| Meaning | Brave lizard [Ourano-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | oh-RAN-oh-sore-us |
| When: | Early Cretaceous (about 125–112 million years ago) |
| Where: | Africa (Niger) |
| What: | Ornithopod (herbivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 4 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 7–8 meters (23–26 feet) |
| Diet: | Herbivorous (ate vegetation) |
| Discovered: | First described by Philippe Taquet in 1976 |
It was discovered in what is now Niger, Africa.
Ouranosaurus was notable for the large sail-like structure on its back, formed by elongated spines that extended from its vertebrae.
This sail may have served various purposes, such as regulating body temperature, display for mating rituals, or even for fat storage.
Ouranosaurus was a relatively large dinosaur, reaching lengths of about 7-8 meters (23-26 feet) and weighing around 3-5 tons.
It was adapted for both bipedal and quadrupedal movement, with powerful hind limbs and a long tail for balance.