Edmontosaurus

Mounted here in a death pose, this duck billed dinosaur was a common member of the very latest Cretaceous communities in Alberta.

Based on the number of their remains, duckbilled dinosaurs must have been very common in Late Cretaceous Alberta. Named for their flattened toothless beaks, duckbills were plentiful and diverse, perhaps moving in large herds across the landscape.

Behind the beak were batteries of hundreds of cheek teeth adapted to chewing tough plant material. The teeth were replaced throughout life. Most hadrosaurs weighed about as much as an elephant, although a few were larger.

Edmontosaurus is one of the largest duckbilled dinosaurs from Alberta. It is a flat-headed duckbill with no crest on the skull. It fed on coarse plant material and may have spent part of its time in the water.

The remains of several Edmontosauruses, along with those of an Albertosaurus, are currently being excavated at our Day Digs quarry. And you are invited to come along!.

This document was prepared by Wayne Hortensius, Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society. All information © 1995 Royal Tyrrell Museum. All Rights Reserved.
Updated: June 4, 1995

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