Edmontosaurus

dinosaur · duck-billed · Cretaceous · herbivore

Duck-billed dino. Edmontosaurus had a flat, wide bill that looked like a duck's bill, which is why scientists called it a hadrosaurid. This special mouth helped it scoop up plants and leaves from the ground.

Lived until the end. Edmontosaurus was one of the very last non-avian dinosaurs to ever exist, living right up until 66 million years ago when an asteroid hit Earth. It shared its world with Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, and Ankylosaurus during its final days.

Found in North America. Scientists have discovered fossils of Edmontosaurus in rocks across western North America, stretching back 73 million years for some species. These remains tell us exactly where and when this dinosaur lived.

Herd animal. Edmontosaurus likely lived in groups, which would have helped protect young dinosaurs and made finding food easier. Many fossils have been found together, suggesting they traveled as herds.

Plant eater. With hundreds of tiny teeth in its jaws, Edmontosaurus could chew tough plants and vegetation very efficiently. This made it one of nature's best plant-grinding machines of the dinosaur world.