|
|
|
Maiasaura
Click here for more Maiasaura Pictures
Maiasaura was a plant-eating dinosaur that lived in
North America during the late Cretaceous period,
about 80 to
65 million years ago.
It was probably one of the dinosaurs that died out in the Cretaceous-Tertiary
extinction,
65 million years ago.
Maiasaura adults were about 30 feet (9.1 meters) long,
and weighed 3 to 4 tons.
The creature could walk on two or four legs, and had
no obvious defenses against predators except for its
heavy muscular tail, and the fact that it lived in
large herds (some herds many have consisted of as many
as 10,000 individuals).
When Maiasaura was first discovered in
western
Montana
in 1978
by "Jack" Horner
and Robert Makela,
a complete nesting site was
found, where the dinosaurs laid their eggs, and nutured their young.
The nests were mounds of mud, with a depression in the center of each
mound. The eggs had been laid with great care, arranged in circles and layers
within the depression, each nest containing 30 to 40 eggs, each about the size
of an ostrich egg. Scientists believe that
Maiasaura would probably have covered each layer of eggs with sand or earth,
to protect them from predators, and
to keep the eggs warm. Although the parents are not believed to have sat
on the nests, it is highly likely that heat generated by
rotting vegetation in the nest, contributed to warming the eggs.
The name Maiasaura means "Good Mother Lizard", and was chosen in honor of the fact
that it was the first dinosaur species discovered with clear and convincing
evidence that it cared for its young.
This includes the fact that
fossils
of baby Maiasaura show that the hatchlings' legs were not fully
developed, and were incapable of walking, yet also show partially
worn teeth, indicating that the adults brought food to the nest.
Maiasaura has been designated the official state
fossil
of
Montana,
since
1985.
Maiasaura was the first dinosaur in space. A Maiasaura egg-shell, and a piece
of bone from a baby Maiasaura, were taken into space by NASA in
1985.
Maiasaura was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived from 80 to 65 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Maiasaura Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Maiasaura:
- Maiasaura was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Maiasaura" means "good mother lizard". This name was chosen by "Jack" Horner and Robert Makela in 1978, and refers to the fact this was the first dinosaur for which evidence of naturing behavior was found.
- Maiasaura was a member of the Ornithischia ("bird-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Maiasaura was not closely related to birds, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Maiasaura was a Hadrosaur (usually known as "duck-billed dinosaur") - a member of a group of related herbivorous (plant-eating) dinosaurs that were very successful in the Cretaceous period.
- Maiasaura lived between about 80 million years ago and 65 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.
- Maiasaura was one of the dinosaurs which died out during the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction at the end of the Mesozoic Era.
- Maiasaura lived in North America.
- Maiasaura was a herbivore (plant-eater).
- Maiasaura was about 30 feet (9.1 meters) long.
- Maiasaura weighed about 3 to 4 tons.
Maiasaura Pictures and Posters
by AllPosters
Here are some Maiasaura pictures and posters:
(Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by AllPosters. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website).
Maiasaura Toys
Here are some toys/games from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
Safari
Released: 2007-07-01
Toy
 | List Price: $17.99*
Lowest New Price: $11.44*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | - Collectible dinosaur replicas
- Authentically detailed and intricately hand-finished with paint exceeding US and European lead safety standards
- For ages 3 and above
Product Description:
Part of the Safari Ltd. Carnegie Museum Dinosaur collection, replicas researched and authenticated by the paleontologists of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each is either 1:20 or 1:40 scale. This Maisaura replica measures 8 inches long, 3 inches high. The Nest replica is a separate piece. Both replicas come tied to a display card. |
|
Safari
Toy
 | Lowest New Price: $38.61*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | - Made with the Best Quality Material with your child in mind.
Product Description:
For over 25 years, Safari Ltd has been proud to provide this premier line of scale model, dinosaur collectibles. These award winning dinosaur replicas are authenticated by the paleontologists of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, who houses the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world. Each Carnegie dinosaur can have up to 25 steps of hand painting to ensure the highest quality in the world marketplace. The scale of these dinos are either 1:20 or 1:40. Detailed educational information in 5 languages are provided with each replica. All our products are phthalate-free and thoroughly safety tested to safeguard your child's health. Safari Ltd takes pride in providing breathtaking, innovative and value priced figures for now over 3 generations. Each January, Safari Ltd introduces 2 new Carnegie models to encourage the collectibility of such an intriguing line. Featured is our Carnegie Collection Maiasaura with Nest Size: 8" L x 3" H (20 x 7.5 cm). Suggested age 3 and up |
|
Wild Republic
Toy
 | Lowest New Price: $2.98*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | - Bag of highly detailed figures
- Made of durable plastic
Product Description:
Set of small realistic toy dinosaurs includes a dozen realistic and colorful dinosaurs. Dinos measure up to 2.25 inches long or 1.5 inches tall. Made from slightly flexible plastic. Includes Plesiosaur, Velociraptor, Spinosaurus,Triceratops, Styracosaurus, Segasaurus, Duck-billed, Dilophosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Euoplocephalus. |
|
Maiasaura Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
By Dougal Dixon
Picture Window Books
Library Binding (24 pages; 1)
 | List Price: $23.93*
Lowest New Price: $15.30*
Lowest Used Price: $13.99*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Susan Heinrichs Gray
Child's World
Hardcover (32 pages; 1)
 | List Price: $27.07*
Lowest New Price: $15.00*
Lowest Used Price: $0.15*
Usually ships in 9 to 14 days*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
The story of the Maiasaura is a story of good mothers, both dinosaur and human! One good mom's discovery of Maiasaura bones changed the ideas of many scientists about how some dinosaurs cared for their young. Find out for yourself what made Maiasaura such a good dino parent. Would you like one as your mother? |
|
By Graham Coleman
Weekly Reader Books
Hardcover
 | Lowest Used Price: $25.00*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
Crestaceous Period: Baryonyx, Chasmosaurus, Gallimimus, Maiasaura, Triceratops, Pachycephalosaurus, Psittacosaurusm - Jurassic: Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, Megalosaurus, Pterodactylus, Steogosaurus, Vulcanodon - Triassic: Coelophysis |
|
By Duncan Searl
Bearport Publishing
Library Binding (32 pages; 1)
 | List Price: $25.27*
Lowest New Price: $17.97*
Lowest Used Price: $11.56*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Daniel Cohen
Capstone Press
Paperback (24 pages; 1)
| List Price: $6.95*
Lowest New Price: $3.49*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Virginia Schomp
Benchmark Books (NY)
Library Binding (32 pages; 1)
| List Price: $29.93*
Lowest New Price: $17.90*
Lowest Used Price: $12.00*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Jenny Vaughan
Gareth Stevens Pub
Library Binding (24 pages; 1)
| List Price: $19.93*
Lowest New Price: $15.95*
Lowest Used Price: $1.16*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Janet Riehecky
Childs World
Library Binding (32 pages)
| List Price: $21.36*
Lowest New Price: $16.38*
Lowest Used Price: $16.34*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Janet Riehecky
The Childs World
Hardcover
| Lowest Used Price: $11.90*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
By Elizabeth J. Sandell
Bancroft-Sage Publishing
Paperback (32 pages; 1)
| List Price: $7.95*
Lowest New Price: $9.99*
Lowest Used Price: $56.08*
*(As of 17:40 Pacific 13 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
Describes what is known about the recently discovered duckbilled dinosaur called Maiasuara, as suggested by current fossil evidence. |
|
Linking to This Page
Although this site is run on a commercial basis,
we do hope it will be useful and interesting for students and teachers.
We welcome people linking to this website, or citing us in their school and educational projects
(remember in school projects and papers, you should always cite your sources).
|
|
|
