Corythosaurus, << kaw RIHTH uh SAWR uhs, >> was a large plant-eating dinosaur known for the hollow, semicircular crest on its head. Its name means helmet lizard in Greek. The dinosaur lived about 76 million to 72 million years ago, near the end of the Cretaceous Period. It inhabited what is now northwestern North America.
The bulky body of Corythosaurus weighed 3 to 5 tons (2.7 to 4.5 metric tons). The dinosaur grew 30 to 33 feet (9 to 10 meters) long and stood over 10 feet (3 meters) tall at the hips. It probably traveled on its hind legs, which were longer than its forelimbs. A stiff, heavy tail helped the animal balance when sprinting from predators. Corythosaurus probably used its long, flexible neck to eat tree leaves and fruits. It may also have dropped to all fours to graze on low-growing plants. The sides of its jaws held 35 to 45 rows of flattened teeth for grinding up tough plants.
Scientists do not know exactly how Corythosaurus used its crest. According to some, the dinosaur may have blown air through the crest to make hornlike noises. Others speculate that Corythosaurus used the crest as decoration to attract mates or as a cooling system to help the animal get rid of excess heat.
