**Astrodon: A Giant Dinosaur of the Past**
Astrodon is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived around 112 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
This dinosaur was quite large. It could grow up to 20 meters long, which is about the length of two school buses lined up. It stood around 9 meters tall, about as high as a three-story building, and weighed around 20 tons, which is heavier than an adult elephant.
**Where did Astrodon Live?**
Astrodon fossils have been found in the eastern part of what is now the United States, particularly in an area called the Arundel Formation in Maryland. This area looked very different back then. It was a flat plain with rivers, similar to the coastal regions of Alabama and Mississippi today.
Fossils that might belong to Astrodon have also been found in Oklahoma. This suggests that Astrodon lived in several places where the environment was favorable for large herbivorous dinosaurs.
**Discovery of Astrodon**
The first signs of Astrodon were discovered in 1858 when some dinosaur teeth were found in an iron ore pit. A professor named Christopher Johnston studied these teeth and noticed a unique star-shaped cross-section. Although Johnston named the dinosaur “Astrodon” in 1859, it wasn’t until 1865 that another scientist, Joseph Leidy, gave it the full name Astrodon johnstoni, which means “Johnston’s star tooth.”
Over the years, other scientists debated whether Astrodon was the same as other dinosaurs like Pleurocoelus. Some believed they were different, while others thought they were actually the same dinosaur, just at different growth stages. Today, many scientists think they are indeed the same.
**What Did Astrodon Eat?**
As a herbivore, Astrodon fed on plants. Its long neck allowed it to reach high branches and tall plants, making it easier for the dinosaur to find food.
**The Environment and Other Dinosaurs**
Astrodon shared its environment with a variety of other dinosaurs. In Maryland, it roamed alongside smaller creatures like coelurosaurians, as well as larger predators like Acrocanthosaurus. There were also freshwater sharks and turtles in the area during this time.
In Oklahoma, Astrodon coexisted with other dinosaurs, such as Sauroposeidon and Deinonychus, along with various fish and early mammals.
**Astrodon in Culture**
Astrodon johnstoni holds a special place in Maryland’s history. In 1998, it was named the state dinosaur of Maryland. It was also once the state dinosaur of Texas. You can see life-sized models of Astrodon in museums, like the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Maryland Science Center.
Astrodon is an important part of our understanding of dinosaurs and the ecosystems they lived in, helping us learn about the ancient world.