**Tenontosaurus: A Long-Lived Dinosaur**
Tenontosaurus was a type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 115 to 108 million years ago. This dinosaur was part of a group called **ornithopods**, which are known for being plant-eaters.
**What Did Tenontosaurus Look Like?**
Tenontosaurus had a long tail that was both broad and stiff due to tough bony tendons. This dinosaur could grow to impressive lengths. The two known species, **Tenontosaurus tilletti** and **Tenontosaurus dossi**, weighed around 1,000 kilograms, which is almost like the weight of a small car.
Some estimates suggest T. tilletti reached about 6 meters, while T. dossi may have been around 7 meters long.
**How Did It Move?**
Tenontosaurus could walk on two legs or four, which makes it a **facultative quadruped**. This means it could choose how to move around depending on what it was doing. When feeding, it likely preferred to walk on all fours but could stand on two legs as well.
**Discovery History**
The first fossils of Tenontosaurus were found in Montana in 1903. Many more were uncovered over the years, and it wasn’t until 1970 that the dinosaur was officially named by paleontologist John Ostrom. Since then, numerous fossils have been found, especially in North America.
**Diet**
Tenontosaurus was a herbivore. It likely ate low-growing plants like ferns and shrubs. Its powerful beak and specialized teeth allowed it to consume different parts of plants, including leaves and even wood.
**Predators**
Tenontosaurus lived alongside some fearsome predators. Fossils show that it was often found near **Deinonychus**, a smaller but swift carnivorous dinosaur. Although adult Deinonychus were not large enough to hunt a full-grown Tenontosaurus, they may have preyed on the younger ones.
**Living Environment**
The environment where Tenontosaurus lived was varied. It would have wandered through forests and floodplains rich in plant life. In its time, the climate shifted from dry to more humid, which helped Tenontosaurus thrive for millions of years.
Overall, Tenontosaurus was a remarkable dinosaur that adapted well to its changing environment, showcasing its resilience in a prehistoric world filled with challenges.