Maiasaura is called 'good mother lizard" because it was found with nests and babies. It belonged to the group of duckbill dinosaurs. Other members of the same family were Edmontosaurus and Hadrosaurus. They had flat heads without crests and a long, straight bottom jaw. They would browse among trees and long grasses munching food as they slowly ambled along.

Maiasaura was dug up in Montana and had a bony spike growing from the top of its head. This dinosaur was discovered in 1978. With it were several nests, each one 7 feet across and more than 2 feet deep. Each nest was in the form of a mound.

The eggs, shaped like sausages, were set out in the mound like spokes in a wheel. Each layer of eggs was separated with a layer of sand. The top layer was completely covered over. The young were found near the nest. This suggests that when they hatched they stayed close to home. These newly hatched Maiasaura were about 18 inches long and had badly worn teeth. The mother probably brought them food.

Location: USA

Diet: Ferns, palms, cycads

Size: Length 9m (29ft 6in)

Classification:

Family Hadrosauridae

Suborder Ornithopoda

Order Ornithischia

Time (million years ago): 80-75