Name:
Gryposaurus (Greek for "hook-nosed lizard"); pronounced GRIP-oh-SORE-us
Habitat:
Woodlands of North America
Historical Period:
Late Cretaceous (85-75 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 30 feet long and 2 tons
Diet:
Plants
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Long, narrow skull; large bump on nose
About Gryposaurus:
In most ways a typical hadrosaur--or duck-billed dinosaur--of the Cretaceous period, Gryposaurus was distinguished by the prominent, arched bump on its nose, from which its name {"hook-nosed lizard") is derived. Paleontologists speculate that this feature evolved as a sexually selected characteristic (i.e., males with bigger noses were more attractive to females), and it may also have been used for producing piercing sounds or butting other males.
By the way, the name Gryposaurus is often used interchangeably with Kritosaurus, but paleontologists now prefer the former (for reasons having to do with the reliability of fossil remains).
