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Aralosaurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Ornithischia
Suborder: Ornithopoda
Infraorder: Iguanodontia
Superfamily: Hadrosauroidea
Family: Hadrosauridae
Subfamily: Hadrosaurinae
Genus: Aralosaurus
Species: A. tuberiferus
Binomial name
Aralosaurus tuberiferus
Rozhdestvensky, 1968
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Aralosaurus (ar-ahl-o-SORE-us) meaning "Aral Sea lizard", because it was found in the Aral Sea when it began to shrink noticeably (Greek sauros = lizard). Several other relatives, such as Jaxartosaurus have also been found in the surrounding area where Aralosaurus was found. Aralosaurus was a type of Hadrosaur, recognisable by a small, bony peak on its nose, much like its relatives Maiasaura and Gryposaurus. However, some paleontologists have stated that Aralosaurus is actually a Lambeosaurine.
Aralosaurus was about the size of an elephant, being up to 9 m long, but was over 5,000 kilograms in weight. Although very little is known about Aralosaurus (only one near complete skull has been found); it was identified by a beak with nearly 1,000 small teeth for breaking up plant matter and the nasal peak before the eyes common to most Hadrosaurs. This bump may have also been used as a weapon in duels between males by head butting into one another, much like modern day animals such as rams and goats. The bump, according to some scientists, would have also been used a sound amplifier, used to amplify calling sounds between members of its herd. It had a thick tail, bulky body and powerful hind legs, all also common with other Hadrosaurs. Its back legs would have undoubtedly proved useful when running from predators.
Aralosaurus was a herbivore that lived in the late Cretaceous period, around 95 to 80 million years ago, and was capable of both bipedal and quadrupedal movement. Egg clusters show that Aralosaurus lived in herds and had locations for laying eggs where they would be safe.
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