The Giant Duck-Billed Dinosaur
Shantungosaurus was one of the largest known hadrosaurids, or duck-billed dinosaurs, that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 70 to 66 million years ago.
| Meaning | Shandong lizard (named after Shandong Province, China) [Shantungo-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | SHAN-tung-oh-SORE-us |
| When: | Late Cretaceous (about 70–66 million years ago) |
| Where: | Asia (China) |
| What: | Hadrosaur (duck-billed herbivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 16 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 15 meters (49 feet) |
| Diet: | Herbivorous (ate plants and leaves) |
| Discovered: | First described by Hu Chengzhi in 1973 |
Its fossils were first discovered in the Shandong Province of China, giving this massive dinosaur its name.
Shantungosaurus could reach lengths of up to 16 meters (52 feet) and weigh as much as 15 tons, making it one of the largest herbivorous dinosaurs.
It had a broad, flat snout similar to modern ducks, which it used to graze on plants.
Its strong jaws were equipped with hundreds of teeth that were continually replaced, perfect for grinding tough vegetation.
This dinosaur likely lived in herds, which provided protection against predators and helped in finding food.
Its size alone would have been a significant deterrent to most predators of the time.