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Maiasaura
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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.
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Maiasaura Books
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By Janet Riehecky
Brand: Childs World
Released: December 1st, 1989
Library Binding (32 pages)
 | List Price: $21.36*
Lowest Used Price: $3.69*
In Stock.*
*(As of 22:00 Pacific 23 Sep 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Maiasaura : Dinosaurs Series- Manufacturer: The Childs World Inc
- Brand: Brand: Childs World
- ISBN: 0895655438
- EAN: 9780895655431
Details:- Product Category: Library Binding
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Janet Riehecky
- Publication Date: December 1st, 1989
- Release Date: December 1st, 1989
Physical Description:- Size: 10.5 Inches by 8.5 Inches by 0.5 Inches
- Weight: 0.6 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
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By Duncan Searl
Bearport Publishing
Released: August 1st, 2006
Library Binding (32 pages)
 | List Price: $28.50*
Lowest Used Price: $7.06*
In Stock.*
*(As of 22:00 Pacific 23 Sep 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
The Maiasaura Nests: Jack Horner's Dinosaur Eggs (Fossil Hunters)- Manufacturer: Bearport Publishing
- Brand: Bearport Publishing
- ISBN: 1597162574
- EAN: 9781597162579
Details:- Product Category: Library Binding
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Duncan Searl
- Publication Date: August 1st, 2006
- Release Date: August 1st, 2006
Physical Description:- Size: 10.18 Inches by 8.18 Inches by 0.34 Inches
- Weight: 0.7 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
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By Dougal Dixon
Brand: Picture Window Books
Released: September 1st, 2006
Library Binding (24 pages)
 | List Price: $26.65*
Lowest Used Price: $5.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 22:00 Pacific 23 Sep 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Maiasaura and Other Dinosaurs of the Midwest (Dinosaur Find)- Manufacturer: Picture Window Books
- Brand: Brand: Picture Window Books
- ISBN: 1404827498
- EAN: 9781404827493
Details:- Product Category: Library Binding
- Number of Pages: 24
- Author: Dougal Dixon
- Publication Date: September 1st, 2006
- Release Date: September 1st, 2006
Physical Description:- Size: 9.9999999898 Inches by 9.9999999898 Inches by 0.25196850368 Inches
- Weight: 0.76 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
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By Virginia Schomp
Cavendish Square Publishing
Released: January 1st, 2004
Library Binding (31 pages)
 | List Price: $30.93*
Lowest New Price: $19.42*
In Stock.*
*(As of 22:00 Pacific 23 Sep 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Maiasaura: And Other Duck-Billed Plant-Eaters (Prehistoric World)- Manufacturer: Cavendish Square Publishing
- Brand: Cavendish Square Publishing
- ISBN: 0761415459
- EAN: 9780761415459
Details:- Product Category: Library Binding
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 31
- Author: Virginia Schomp
- Publication Date: January 1st, 2004
- Release Date: January 1st, 2004
Physical Description:- Size: 10.24 Inches by 10.14 Inches by 0.43 Inches
- Weight: 0.94 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
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