Shantungosaurus is an impressive dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 77 to 71 million years ago. It was found in the Wangshi Group of the Shandong Peninsula in China.
This dinosaur belongs to a group called hadrosaurids, also known as duck-billed dinosaurs. Shantungosaurus giganteus, its only species, is believed to be one of the largest of its kind. Estimates suggest it could have grown to be about 15 to 17 meters long, which is roughly the size of a large bus! It could have weighed between 13 to 16 metric tons, making it a heavyweight among dinosaurs.
The first recognition of Shantungosaurus happened in 1973, when scientists examined bones that were discovered between 1964 and 1968. They found various parts of its skeleton, which included skull bones, limb bones, and vertebrae. Initial studies showed that it was similar to the North American dinosaur Edmontosaurus. Because of this, scientists believe that these two dinosaurs may have shared a common ancestor.
Shantungosaurus had a unique tooth structure. Its beak was toothless but it had about 1,500 tiny teeth hidden in its jaws. These teeth helped it chew tough plant material. A notable feature of its skull was a large hole near its nostrils, which may have had a flap of skin that helped it make sounds.
Researchers have discovered several other names associated with Shantungosaurus, like Zhuchengosaurus and Huaxiaosaurus. However, after more studies, it became clear that these were not different dinosaurs but just different versions of Shantungosaurus based on age or growth stage.
Overall, Shantungosaurus was a giant plant-eater that roamed the Earth millions of years ago, and its discovery helps scientists understand the diversity of dinosaur life during that time.