CretaceousHerbivoreLarge
Maiasaura
MY-ah-SORE-ah
"Good mother lizard"
Overview
Maiasaura became famous for providing the first strong evidence that dinosaurs cared for their young. Nests with eggs, hatchlings, and juveniles found together in Montana revealed that at least some dinosaurs were attentive parents.
Vital Statistics
Length
9 m
Height
3 m
Weight
2.5 t
Est. Speed
25 km/h
Discovered
1979
Named by
Jack Horner & Robert Makela
Countries Discovered
United States
Fossil Locations
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap
📍 Two Medicine Formation, Montana
Interesting Facts
Maiasaura nests contained up to 17 eggs arranged in a spiral pattern.
Fossil hatchlings had worn teeth but undeveloped limbs, suggesting parents brought food to the nest.
A massive bonebed in Montana, called 'Egg Mountain', contains thousands of Maiasaura specimens.
Maiasaura was the first dinosaur to have its post-natal growth studied in detail.
Closest Relatives
BrachylophosaurusProsaurolophusEdmontosaurusGryposaurus