**Augustynolophus: An Extinct Dinosaur**
Augustynolophus is a type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago, during the Late Cretaceous period, around 70 to 66 million years ago.
**What Kind of Dinosaur Was Augustynolophus?**
This dinosaur was a herbivore, which means it ate plants. It belonged to a family called Hadrosauridae, also known as “duck-billed dinosaurs.”
Augustynolophus was quite large, measuring about 8 meters long, which is the same as a small bus, and weighed around 3 tons, similar to a large car.
**Where Was Augustynolophus Found?**
Fossils of Augustynolophus were discovered in California, specifically in a place called the Moreno Formation. This area is known for being rich in dinosaur fossils.
**History of Discovery**
The name Augustynolophus combines the Augustyn family, who supported a museum in Los Angeles, and “lophus,” which means “crest.” The dinosaur was originally called Saurolophus morrisi, named after paleontologist William Morris.
When scientists studied it more closely, they found that Augustynolophus was different enough to be given its own name.
So far, only two specimens of Augustynolophus have been found, both in California. The first one, discovered in 1943, included most of its skull and some bones from its limbs. The second specimen, found in 1939, was smaller and may have belonged to a young dinosaur.
In 2017, Augustynolophus was named the official state dinosaur of California.
**What Did Augustynolophus Look Like?**
Augustynolophus had a unique head with a distinct crest, which was probably used for communication or display, much like some modern birds.
As a hadrosaur, it could chew its food well, which is unusual for dinosaurs. This helped it eat a variety of plants available in its environment.
**The Ecosystem of Augustynolophus**
Augustynolophus lived in an area that was at times surrounded by water. It coexisted with many marine creatures like turtles, mosasaurs (large marine reptiles), and plesiosaurs (another type of marine reptile).
Despite California’s rich fossil history, many of its dinosaur fossils, including those of Augustynolophus, remain not fully explored, which makes the study of this period challenging.
**In Summary**
Augustynolophus is an important part of California’s dinosaur history. This dinosaur teaches us about life millions of years ago when it roamed the land, munched on plants, and shared its environment with fascinating marine animals.