Astrodon is a type of large dinosaur that lived about 112 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. This dinosaur was a herbivore, meaning it ate plants.
Astrodon was quite big, measuring around 66 feet long and about 30 feet tall. Its fossils have been found mainly in what is now the eastern United States, particularly in Maryland.
The story of Astrodon’s discovery goes back to the late 1850s when two dinosaur teeth were found in an iron ore pit. A chemist named Philip Thomas Tyson received these teeth and showed them to a dentist named Christopher Johnston. Johnston was amazed by a unique star-shaped cross-section of one tooth and named the dinosaur Astrodon in 1859. However, it was not until 1865 that another scientist, Joseph Leidy, officially named it Astrodon johnstoni.
Over the years, other names were used for similar dinosaur fossils, such as Pleurocoelus, but later research showed that these were actually the same as Astrodon. There has been some debate among scientists about whether Astrodon and the Pleurocoelus fossils should be classified as the same species.
Astrodon lived in a landscape that was likely similar to the modern coastal regions of Alabama and Mississippi. The area was a flat plain with streams running through it.
During its time, Astrodon shared its environment with many other dinosaurs. Some of these included smaller dinosaurs, like the ankylosaur Priconodon and larger predators like Acrocanthosaurus. Additionally, various other animals such as sharks, turtles, and even early mammals also lived in this area.
In 1998, Astrodon became the state dinosaur of Maryland and has been featured in exhibits in various museums, showcasing what this giant dinosaur might have looked like.