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Welcome to the Museum ofDinosaurs

Curator’s OfficesR

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Curator’s Office

Contact me at [12345678@onslow.k12.nc.us

Jane Doe is a 4th grade student at Northwoods Elementary School of Technology and Innovation. Her favorite hobbies are video games, soccer and learning about dinosaurs.

Jane Doe, Museum Curator

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Theropoda Room

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Sauropodomorpha Room

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Cerapoda Room

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Thyreophoria Room

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. "Allosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015

"Spinosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015.

"Giganotosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015.

Strauss, Bob. "These 12 Fossils Changed Dinosaur History." Web. 16 June 2015.

"Ankylosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Euoplocephalus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Stegosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Gigantspinosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

“10 Facts About Dinosaur Eggs.” Web. 16 June 2015.

"Apatosaurus." (Brontosaurus) Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Brachiosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Massospondylus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Plateosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Research Room

"Pachycephalosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Triceratops." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Hadrosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Lambeosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

"Allosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015.

Allosaurus was a common carnivorous (meat-eating) dinosaur in North America during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous period, approximately 154 to 135 million years ago. Allosaurus fossils have also been found in Africa and Australia. 

Allosaurus was up to 39 feet (11.9 meters) long, and weighed approximately 1.7 tons. 

Some scientists believe Allosaurus was too heavy to chase down prey, and therefore was probably a scavenger. However, others believe that Allosaurus may have been quite agile, and could even have hunted in packs to bring down giant herbivores (plant-eaters) such as Apatosaurus or Diplodocus. 

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Allosaurus

"Spinosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015.

Spinosaurus was a carnivore (meat-eater) that lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 95 to 70 million years ago. 

Until recently, it was thought that Spinosaurus was 39 feet (11.9 meters) long, and probably weighed 7 tons. However, new research published in 2006, suggests that some Spinosaurus were as much as 51 feet (17 meters) long and could have weighed 9 tons: This would make Spinosaurus the largest known carnivore, 

Spinosaurus had 6 feet (1.8 meters) spines on its back, forming a large fin (sometimes also called "sail"). The fin was probably used for temperature regulation: the animal could face it towards or away from the sun, depending on whether it needed to heat up or cool down. The creature's name comes from this feature: Spinosaurus means "spine lizard". 

Spinosaurus also had surprisingly large arms, compared to related carnivores, so it is possible that it may have been able to walk on all fours. 

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Spinosaurus

"Tyrannosaurus Rex." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015.

Tyrannosaurus Rex was a large Theropod dinosaur. The animal was a carnivore (meat-eater), and lived in North America and Asia during late Cretaceous period, about 67 to 65 million years ago. It was one of the last dinosaurs, and probably went extinct during the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. 

An average Tyrannosaurus was about about 39 feet (11.9 meters) long, up to 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, and weighed around 7 tons. The largest known Tyrannosaurus fossil specimen, yet found, is 42 feet (12.8 meters) long, nicknamed "Sue", and exhibited at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. 

The first Tyrannosaurus ever found, was found by Barnum Brown in 1902 in Montana.Until the mid-1990s, it was generally thought that Tyrannosaurus was the largest land predator ever. Then, scientists discovered Giganotosaurus which lived was a 45 feet (13.8 meter) long carnivore that lived in Argentina about 100 million years ago. New research, first published in 2006, now suggests that Spinosaurus may have been even larger still: up to 51 feet (17 meters) long. 

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Tyrannosaurus Rex

"Giganotosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 15 June 2015.

Giganotosaurus was a carnivorous (meat-eating) dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the late Cretaceous period. between approximately 93 to 89 million years ago. 

Giganotosaurus was up to 43 feet (13.2 meters) long, and the largest animals probably weighed approximately 6.2 tons. 

Fossils of the giant Sauropod dinosaur, Titanosaurus, have been found near Giganotosaurus, and it is therefore thought likely that Giganotosaurus would have preyed on these herbivores. There is also evidence that dinosaurs in the same family as Giganotosaurus were pack hunters, and as a result, it seems probable that Giganotosaurus was too. 

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Giganotosaurus

"Apatosaurus." (Brontosaurus) Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

This dinosaur is widely known as Brontosaurus (meaning "thunder lizard"), however the correct scientific name is Apatosaurus (meaning "deceptive lizard"). Apatosaurus was a massive herbivore (plant-eater) that lived during the late Jurassic period 157 to 146 million years ago in western North America. An adult Apatosaurus measured 70 feet (21.3 meters) long, and weighed a massive 33 tons. 

When it was first discovered, many scientists believed that Apatosaurus was so huge that it could not have supported its weight on dry land, and therefore must have lived partially submerged in water. More recent research and discoveries (including the discovery of fossilized footprints), however suggests that Apatosaurus probably did live on dry land, and probably was a grazing animal that lived in herds. 

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Apatosaurus

"Brachiosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Brachiosaurus was a massive plant-eating dinosaur that lived in the late Jurassic period (156 to 145 million years ago), and may have survived even until 140 million years ago, into the early Cretaceous period. Brachiosaurus fossils have been found in North America and Africa. 

An average Brachiosaurus was 75 feet (22.9 meters) long, 41 feet (12.5 meters) tall, and weighed 89 tons (almost three times the weight of Apatosaurus). 

Brachiosaurus was unusual among dinosaurs, in that its front legs were longer than its hind legs. This, together with its very long neck, gave Brachiosaurus the ability to eat foliage at the top of trees as high as 40 or 50 feet (12.2 to 15.2 meters) above the ground. 

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Brachiosaurus

"Massospondylus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Massospondylus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in Southern Africa and North America, about 208 to 204 million years ago, during the early Jurassic period. 

Massospondylus, who was around 13 feet (4 meters) long, means "massive vertebra" or "elongated vertebra" (referring to the large bones in the creature's neck). Massospondylus had a tiny head on the end of a very long and flexible neck. Its hands had five fingers, and could be used for both walking and grasping, and its thumbs were each equipped with a large claw. 

Polished stones ("gastroliths") have been found inside Massospondylus skeletons. Just like many birds do, Massospondylus is believed to have swallowed stones to help it grind up tough food. When the stones were worn smooth and of no further use, Massospondylus would have regurgitated the stones, and swallowed new rough rocks to replace them. 

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Massospondylus

"Plateosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Plateosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in Europe during the late Triassic period, between about 222 and 218 million years ago. 

Plateosaurus was about 20 to 33 feet (6 to 10 meters) long, and weighed something in the region of 0.7 tons. It appears to have been quite a common animal, and fossils of Plateosaurus have been found in a number of locations including in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Greenland. In fact, fossils of Plateosaurus were even found in a rock core removed by oil-drillers from deep under the North Sea! 

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Plateosaurus

"Pachycephalosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Pachycephalosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eating) dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 76 to 65 million years ago, in North America.

The name Pachycephalosaurus means "thick-headed lizard", and describes the creature's most noteworthy feature: the huge 10 inch (25 centimeter) thick bone dome on its head. At the rear of the dome were a number of bony knobs, and the animal's snout also possessed several short bony spikes.

Another somewhat unusual feature of Pachycephalosaurus is its teeth. The animal had very small ridged teeth which would have been far less capable of chewing tough, fibrous plant material than other herbivorous dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous. It is therefore thought that perhaps Pachycephalosaurus lived on a diet of leaves, seeds, fruit and perhaps insects. 

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Pachycephalosaurus

"Triceratops." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Triceratops was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 72 to 65 million years ago, Triceratops was one of the dinosaurs that died out in the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 65 million years ago. 

Triceratops was about 30 feet (9.1 meters) long, 10 feet (3 meters) tall, and weighed up to 11 tons. Its skull alone (including the neck frill) was over 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. 

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Triceratops

"Hadrosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Hadrosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in North America during the Cretaceous period between about 80 and 75 million years ago. 

An adult Hadrosaurus has been estimated to be about 30 feet (9.1 meters) long and weigh around 7 tons. Like other duck-billed dinosaurs, Hadrosaurus is believed to have generally been bipedal, but could walk on 4 limbs when feeding. 

The first fossilized bones of the animal were discovered by John Estaugh Hopkins in 1838 near Haddonfield, New Jersey, who then displayed them in his home.  

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Hadrosaurus

"Lambeosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Lambeosaurus was a large herbivore (plant-eater) normally about 30 feet (9.1 meters) long, although a specimen has been found that was 54 feet (16.5 meters) long. 

Lambeosaurus lived in North America during the Cretaceous period, about 83 to 65 million years ago, It was one of the dinosaurs that died out in the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction, 65 million years ago. 

Lambeosaurus had two structures on its head: a hollow crest which pointed forward, and a solid bony spike which pointed backward. 

Like Corythosaurus, Lambeosaurus was a duck-billed dinosaur, and was a good runner that probably lived in herds. 

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Lambeosaurus

"Ankylosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Ankylosaurus was a massive herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in the late Cretaceous period (74 to 65 million years ago) in North America.

Ankylosaurus was covered with massive armor to protect it from predators, was up to 33 feet (10 meters) long, and weighed over 4 tons. 

The armor consisted of hundreds of oval-shaped bony plates embedded in its leathery hide. There were also four spikes on its head (two at the back, and one on each cheek), and a heavy bony growth on the end of its tail, which was was probably use a club in defense, when Ankylosaurus was attacked by predators. 

Ankylosaurus was named by Barnum Brown in 1908 and means "stiffened lizard". 

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Ankylosaurus

"Euoplocephalus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Euoplocephalus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in North America during the late Cretaceous period, about 70 to 65 million years ago.

Euoplocephalus was about 20 feet (6 meters) long and probably weighed about 2 tons. 

Euoplocephalus was protected from carnivores by its armor which included oval plates embedded its skin, spikes, horns and a club-like tail. It even had armored shutters which could slide down to cover its eyelids. Appropriately enough, its name, Euoplocephalus, means "well-armored head", although it is also sometimes known as "Scolosaurus" (which means "spiny lizard"). 

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Euoplocephalus

"Stegosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Stegosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in North America and Europe (the first European specimen was found in Portugal in 2006) during the late Jurassic period, about 155 to 144 million years ago.

Stegosaurus was up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) long. An average Stegosaurus was around 20 feet (6.1 meters) long, and weighed 2 tons. Stegosaurus had much longer hind legs than forelegs, and very strong muscles around its hips. So, although Stegosaurus walked on all fours, it is thought likely that the animal could have lifted its forelegs off the ground to eat from the branches of trees. 

Stegosaurus bony plates on its back that could have been used for protection, and possibly temperature regulation. The largest of the plates were over 2 feet (60 centimeters) high. 

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Stegosaurus

"Gigantspinosaurus." Dinosaur Facts. Web. 16 June 2015.

Gigantspinosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in China during the late Jurassic period, about 160 million years ago. It is the earliest known member of the Stegosauria (the Infraorder that includes Stegosaurus and Kentrosaurus among others). 

The creature's name means "giant spined lizard". The "giant" in the name refers to the animal's comparatively large shoulder spines - Gigantspinosaurus had very large shoulder spines, but the bony plates on its back were relatively small. 

Gigantspinosaurus about 13 feet (4 meters) long, and probably weighed around 500 pounds (225 kilograms).

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Gigantspinosaurus

Strauss, Bob. "These 12 Fossils Changed Dinosaur History." Web. 16 June 2015.

Iguanodon was only the second dinosaur after Megalosaurus to be given a formal genus name; more important, its numerous fossils (first investigated by Gideon Mantell in 1820) precipitated a heated debate among naturalists about whether or not these ancient reptiles even existed. 

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Iguanodon Claw

Strauss, Bob. "These 12 Fossils Changed Dinosaur History." Web. 16 June 2015.

When the partial femur of Megalosaurus was unearthed in England in 1676, a professor at Oxford University identified it as belonging to a human giant--since 17th-century theologists couldn't wrap their minds around the concept of huge, lumbering reptiles from a land before time. It took another 150 years, in 1824, for William Buckland to give this genus its distinctive name, and nearly 20 years after that for Megalosaurus to be conclusively identified as a dinosaur (by the famous paleontologist Richard Owen). Return to

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Megalosaurus Jawbone

“10 Facts About Dinosaur Eggs.” Web. 16 June 2015.

Every dinosaur that ever lived during the Mesozoic Era hatched from an egg. Mother dinosaurs laid anywhere from a handful (three to five) to a whole clutch (15 to 20) of eggs at a single sitting, depending on the genus and species. Most of the dozen or so eggs laid by a female Apatosaurus would be immediately devoured by predators, and of the remainder, most of the newborn hatchlings would be gobbled up as soon as they stumbled away from the egg. Even if an unhatched dinosaur egg managed to escape predation (see previous slide) and wound up buried in sediment, microscopic processes would have quickly destroyed the embryo inside.

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Dinosaur Eggs