Buzz
Daderot via Wikimedia Commons // CC0
This week’s dinosaur might not be a household name, but chances are you’ve encountered it in museums. From Philly to Ontario and even western Kansas, Corythosaurus is a star exhibit in numerous North American museums. Does your local museum feature one? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
1. Corythosaurus Thrived on a Woody Diet.
Corythosaurus fossils have been discovered exclusively in Alberta, where numerous well-preserved skeletons have been unearthed over the past century. One remarkable specimen even contains fossilized plant matter in its stomach, showing that this herbivore feasted on ancient twigs.
2. Researchers Once Believed Its Feet Had Webbing.
Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain
Fossilized fleshy pads around some Corythosaurus feet were initially misunderstood. While modern science confirms these pads supported its weight on land, early 20th-century paleontologists thought they were webs for swimming. This led to inaccurate depictions, such as the one above, portraying Corythosaurus as a duck-like, water-dwelling creature.
3. Corythosaurus Shares a Connection With Ancient Greek Helmets.
Famed fossil hunter Barnum Brown, who also uncovered T. rex, named this dinosaur in 1914. Inspired by its distinctive head crest, which resembled the curved helmets of Corinthian soldiers from 2700 years ago, he christened it Corythosaurus, or “Corinthian helmet lizard.”
4. It Might Have Been Active During Twilight Hours.
If you’re a mammal, you might not be familiar with “sclerotic rings,” bony structures found in the eyes of many reptiles, birds, and dinosaurs. These rings likely provide support to the pupil, though their exact function remains unclear. Interestingly, nocturnal animals typically have larger pupils compared to their diurnal counterparts.
Paleontologists Lars Schmitz and Ryosuke Motani have studied sclerotic rings to determine the activity patterns of dinosaurs. Their research indicates that Velociraptor was nocturnal, Archaeopteryx thrived in daylight, and Corythosaurus was most active during dawn and dusk.
5. The American Museum of Natural History in NYC Features Two Skeletons in Their Original “Death Poses.”
While mounted skeletons are impressive, some fossils are best displayed as they were discovered. At this iconic New York museum, visitors can observe two complete Corythosaurus specimens, preserved in the same position they were found in the ground. A fascinating sight, isn’t it?
6. Crest Development Began in Adolescence.
A 2013 survey revealed that Corythosaurus crests only started forming once the skull reached half its adult size, based on comparisons between juvenile and adult specimens.
7. We Have Detailed Knowledge of Its Skin Texture.
Several Corythosaurus skeletons, including one at the AMNH, feature well-preserved skin impressions. These show that the scales on its inner thighs were smaller than those on its sides, with the largest scales found on the tail tip. Most scales had a polygonal shape.
8. Dinosaurs Like Corythosaurus Were Built for Long-Distance Running.
When faced with a hungry tyrannosaur, what could a “duck-billed” dinosaur do? Last year, Scott Persons from the University of Alberta tackled this question. His conclusions support the idea that slow and steady might just win the race.
Research shows that Corythosaurus and other hadrosaurs took shorter strides compared to predators like T. rex. While this made them easy targets in short sprints, they had an advantage in endurance. Over long distances, hadrosaurs conserved energy better, allowing them to outlast their predators, who would tire more quickly.
9. It Had an Exceptional Ability to Hear Low-Frequency Sounds.
A 2008 CT scan by Ohio University revealed that Corythosaurus possessed a sensitive inner ear, capable of detecting low-frequency sounds. This aligns with the theory that its hollow crest, connected to nasal passages, acted as a resonating chamber. These structures may have allowed the dinosaur to produce and hear deep calls that carried over long distances.
10. One Species of Corythosaurus Was Named After a Fierce Bird.
Take a word of advice: Avoid provoking cassowaries. Despite their generally calm demeanor, these 130-pound birds can jump nearly seven feet high, reach speeds of up to 31 mph, and use their razor-sharp, 4-inch claws to inflict serious harm—even fatal injuries.
The most well-known Corythosaurus species, Corythosaurus casuarius, was named after the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) due to their similar head crests. Beyond their names, these two species might share another intriguing trait. Listen to this remarkable audio clip:
That eerie, deep call is just the beginning: Cassowaries produce the lowest recorded bird calls on Earth. Some biologists believe their unique crests play a role in creating these powerful, far-reaching sounds. It’s a fascinating parallel to Corythosaurus…
