Charonosaurus

dinosaur · hadrosaurus · crested · China

Crested dinosaur expert. Charonosaurus belonged to a special group of duckbill dinosaurs called lambeosaurines, which had fancy curved crests sticking out from their heads. Scientists think these crests helped them make loud honking sounds to talk to each other.

Ancient China resident. This dinosaur lived in what is now northern China, on the south bank of the Amur River that divides China from Russia today. Fossils of Charonosaurus were found and studied in the year 2000.

Late Cretaceous creature. Charonosaurus lived during the very last part of the Cretaceous Period, which was the age just before all non-bird dinosaurs went extinct. It roamed Earth millions of years ago when China looked very different.

Similar to Parasaurolophus. This dinosaur was very much like another crested dino called Parasaurolophus, sharing the same basic body shape and fancy headgear. Both were herbivores that walked on two strong back legs.

Only one species known. So far, scientists have only identified one species of Charonosaurus, called C. jiayinensis, based on the fossils that have been discovered.