zoom_in Click to enlarge

Maiasaura peeblesorum

▲ ▼

description Maiasaura peeblesorum Overview

Maiasaura peeblesorum was a large, plant-eating hadrosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous in what is now Montana. Fossil nesting grounds contain numerous nests, eggs, embryos, hatchlings, juveniles, and adults, providing evidence that these dinosaurs reproduced in colonies and that young remained in nests after hatching. The discoveries associated with Jack Horner and Robert Makela helped renew scientific attention to dinosaur growth, nesting behavior, and possible parental care.

help Maiasaura peeblesorum FAQ

Why was Maiasaura called the "good mother lizard"?

Its name reflects fossils found in nesting colonies, including eggs, embryos, and very young animals. These discoveries were interpreted as evidence that hatchlings remained in nests and received some degree of parental care.

Who discovered Maiasaura?

Laurie Trexler found the first recognized remains in Montana, and Jack Horner and Robert Makela later described Maiasaura peeblesorum. The surrounding nesting area became famous as Egg Mountain.

Did Maiasaura live in herds?

Mass bone beds and densely grouped nesting sites suggest that Maiasaura was highly social. The evidence is consistent with herding and repeated colonial nesting in what is now Montana.

What did a Maiasaura nest look like?

The nests were shallow, bowl-like structures containing multiple eggs rather than carefully constructed bird nests. Fossilized hatchlings found inside had limbs that were not yet fully developed for independent movement.

swap_horiz

Looking for Maiasaura peeblesorum alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward