Shantungosaurus is a giant dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 77 to 66 million years ago.
This dinosaur was found in the Shandong Peninsula of China and belongs to a group known as hadrosaurids, often called “duck-billed dinosaurs” because of their unique heads.
Shantungosaurus is special because it is one of the largest hadrosaurids ever discovered. It could grow to lengths of about 15 to 17 meters, which is around the size of a school bus, and it could weigh between 13 to 16 tons, similar to a large elephant.
The first time Shantungosaurus was described was in 1973, using remains that had been found between 1964 and 1968. Scientists have unearthed several incomplete skeletons, including skull bones, limb bones, and vertebrae.
At one time, some remains were thought to belong to a different dinosaur called Zhuchengosaurus. However, further research showed that they were actually part of Shantungosaurus and represented growth stages rather than a separate species.
In terms of its appearance, Shantungosaurus had a large skull that could measure about 1.63 meters long, and its beak lacked teeth, but it had roughly 1,500 tiny teeth in its jaws for chewing plants. It also may have had a large hole near its nostrils that could be covered by skin, allowing this dinosaur to make sounds.
Recent studies showed that Shantungosaurus is closely related to the North American dinosaur Edmontosaurus, linking these two species across continents.
Overall, Shantungosaurus is an incredible example of the large dinosaurs that roamed the planet millions of years ago, showcasing the diversity and adaptability of prehistoric life.