The Probactrosaurus was a large ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Lower Cretaceous, approximately 121 million years ago. It also belonged to the superfamily Hadrosauroidea, which included other duck-billed dinosaurs.
Key facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Probactrosaurus pronunciation | Proh-bak-troh-sore-us |
| What does Probactrosaurus mean? | Before Bactrosaurus |
| Dinosaur type | Ornithopod |
| On the menu | Herbivore |
| Length | 18′ (5.5 meters) |
| Height | 8′ 2″ (2.5 meters) |
| Weight | 2200 lbs (1000 kgs) |
| Life expectancy | Unknown |
| Legs used to get around | Quadruped |
| Estimated top speed | Unknown, but studies suggest that they could have been fast animals. |
| When they lived | Lower Cretaceous Period, around 121-99 million years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Inner Mongolia, in China |
When & Where
The fossils of the Probactrosaurus were first discovered in 1959 and 1960 during a Soviet-Chinese exploration in Inner Mongolia, near Moartu. The remains that were recovered were of an ornithopod which was later described by A. K. Rozhdestvensky in 1966.
Size & Weight
Studies suggest that this dinosaur possessed a length of 18’ (5.5 meters), a height of 8’2” (2.5 meters) , and a weight of 2200 lbs ton (1000kgs).
Mobility & Diet
Just like most ornithopods, the Probactrosaurus was a herbivore. This dinosaur ate plant materials such as conifers and ferns during its time. Some studies also suggest that herbivorous dinosaurs might have eaten crustaceans at certain times of the year. This behavior is believed to be linked to their mating behavior according to Dr. Karen Chin, an American Paleontologist.
Interesting Points
- The name Probactrosaurus means “Before Bactrosaurus” as the Probactrosaurus lived during the Early Cretaceous which was 121-99 million years ago while the Bactrosaurus lived after which was 100.5 million years ago – 70.6 million years ago.
- There had been 2 different specimens found by paleontologists.
Featured Image Credit: Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
