The Crested Dinosaur
Tsintaosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 70-65 million years ago.
| Meaning | Qingdao lizard [Tsintao-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | CHING-dao-sore-us |
| When: | Late Cretaceous (about 84–72 million years ago) |
| Where: | Asia (China) |
| What: | Hadrosaur (herbivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 3 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 8–10 meters (26–33 feet) |
| Diet: | Herbivorous (ate vegetation) |
| Discovered: | First described by Yang Zhongjian in 1958 |
Discovered in China, it is known for the elaborate crest on its head, which resembles a rounded paddle-shaped structure extending from its skull.
This crest was hollow and may have been used for display purposes or possibly to produce sounds.
Tsintaosaurus had a relatively small body, reaching lengths of about 6 meters (20 feet) and weighing around 1-2 tons.
It belonged to the hadrosaurid group of dinosaurs, also known as duck-billed dinosaurs, characterized by their beak-like mouths and rows of teeth for grinding vegetation.