1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Dinosaurs

Jack Horner

By , About.com Guide

Jack Horner

Name:

Jack Horner

Born:

1946

Nationality:

American

Dinosaurs Named:

Maiasaura

About Jack Horner:

Along with Robert Bakker, Jack Horner is one of the most prominent paleontologists in the United States (the two men served as advisers for the Jurassic Park movies, along with the famous dinosaur writer Don Lessem, and Sam Neill's character in the original was inspired by Horner). Horner's main claim to fame was his discovery, in the 1970’s, of the extensive nesting grounds of a North American hadrosaur, which he named Maiasaura ("good mother lizard"). These fossilized eggs and burrows gave paleontologists an unusually detailed glimpse of the family life of duck-billed dinosaurs.

The author of numerous popular books, Horner has remained at the forefront of paleontological research. In 2005, he discovered a chunk of T. Rex with soft tissue still attached, which was recently analyzed to determine its protein content. And in 2006, he led a team that discovered dozens of nearly intact Psittacosaurus skeletons in the Gobi Desert, shedding some valuable light on the lifestyles of these small, beaked herbivores.

Explore Dinosaurs

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Dinosaurs
  4. Dinosaur Discovery
  5. Famous Paleontologists
  6. Jack Horner - Profile of the Famous Paleontologist Jack Horner>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.