Lambeosaurus lived at the end of the Late Cretaceous.It was a holloe-crested Hadrosaurid that lived at the same time and can be found in the same places as Corythosaurus and Parasaurolophus. One species of Lambeosaurus that was common in Alberta had a crest that looked like a hatchet was embedded in the top of its head. The front part of this crest was stout and pointed forward and up from just above the eyes. The crest was hollow and connected to the nostrils. The nasal cavity went down the back of the throat into the lungs. To communicate between their family members or within large herds, the hollow portion of the crest produce low frequency sounds. The backward projection probably supported a frill of skin that went along the back of the animal to the tail. Speculations are that only males have the projection as half of the skulls found have them. The skeleton of Lambeosaurus was robust, with long, sturdy front and back legs. The tail was long and was held straight back when the animal walked. Because of the crests, it was once mistaken that Lambeosaurus and other Hadrosaurids lived in water,using their crests as snorkels or for storing air. They may have gone into the water or enjoyed a swim, but all Hadrosaurids lived on land.
One species, Lambeosaurus magnicristatus (left), had a forward-bulging crest. The lambeosaurid Parasaurolophus (right), had a longer, backswept,bony crest.Kritosaurus (far right), had a hadrosaurid, had a hump before the eyes, probably covered in thick skin, but no crest.
Diet: Flowering plants
Size: Length 15m (49 ft)
Classification:
Family Lambeosauridae
Suborder Ornithopoda
Order Ornithischia
Time (million years ago): 75
