Mardi 24 Septembre, 19h
Maximus,exceptional authentic dinosaur skeleton ThescelosaurusNeglectus, Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, Upper Cretaceous (70 millionyears, Maastrichtian), length 299 cm, h. 99 cm
The Thescelosaurus is described as a smallornithopod dinosaur. The origin of the name "Ornithopoda" isexplained by the similarity between the dinosaur legs of this suborder andthose of modern birds. Indeed, "Ornithopoda" literally means"bird's feet".
Thissmall dinosaur lived in North America during the Upper Cretaceous and wastherefore one of the last dinosaurs to have walked the Earth before the CretaceousTertiary extinction. This happened 66 million years ago when a gigantic meteorcrashed in to earth’s Yucatan peninsula and put a definitive end to the reignof the dinosaurs.
Severalpartial skeletons of Thescelosaurushave been found and suggest that this dinosaur reached a maximum size of 4 metresin adulthood. The first partial specimen was found in 1891 in Wyoming.Unfortunately, the front of the body and the skull had disappeared througherosion. Several decades passed before more specimens were discovered.
Itsstrong hind legs and robust tail show that this animal was a fast and agilerunner. Undoubtedly, it could change direction very suddenly with the balance ofhis powerful tail. It had small hand-like paws and a thin, elongated skull,equipped with very particular teeth adapted to an herbivorous diet.
Theskeleton of "Maximus" was discovered last year in South Dakota, inthe Hell Creek formation. His bones were discovered in an old river bed,scattered among a cluster of dinosaur skeletons including Hadrosaurus, Triceratopsand even Tyrannosaurus Rex bones.
Thedimensions of his bones indicate that "Maximus" was a young adult Thescelosaurus. The skeletons of small dinosaursare easily destroyed through natural erosion. This is therefore a rare andexceptional discovery.
Thequality, detail and colour of the bones are unique. The bones do not show anysigns of deformation or geological compression. This specimen is alsodistinguished by its excellent conservation. Nearly 70%-75% of the skeleton hasbeen unearthed and many skull parts have been discovered.
It isvery rare to obtain such a high percentage of bone from the same individual. Askeleton, usually called "complete", often contains at least 50%plastic or is a combination of several different dinosaurs.
Description
Maximus,exceptional authentic dinosaur skeleton ThescelosaurusNeglectus, Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, Upper Cretaceous (70 millionyears, Maastrichtian), length 299 cm, h. 99 cm
The Thescelosaurus is described as a smallornithopod dinosaur. The origin of the name "Ornithopoda" isexplained by the similarity between the dinosaur legs of this suborder andthose of modern birds. Indeed, "Ornithopoda" literally means"bird's feet".
Thissmall dinosaur lived in North America during the Upper Cretaceous and wastherefore one of the last dinosaurs to have walked the Earth before the CretaceousTertiary extinction. This happened 66 million years ago when a gigantic meteorcrashed in to earth’s Yucatan peninsula and put a definitive end to the reignof the dinosaurs.
Severalpartial skeletons of Thescelosaurushave been found and suggest that this dinosaur reached a maximum size of 4 metresin adulthood. The first partial specimen was found in 1891 in Wyoming.Unfortunately, the front of the body and the skull had disappeared througherosion. Several decades passed before more specimens were discovered.
Itsstrong hind legs and robust tail show that this animal was a fast and agilerunner. Undoubtedly, it could change direction very suddenly with the balance ofhis powerful tail. It had small hand-like paws and a thin, elongated skull,equipped with very particular teeth adapted to an herbivorous diet.
Theskeleton of "Maximus" was discovered last year in South Dakota, inthe Hell Creek formation. His bones were discovered in an old river bed,scattered among a cluster of dinosaur skeletons including Hadrosaurus, Triceratopsand even Tyrannosaurus Rex bones.
Thedimensions of his bones indicate that "Maximus" was a young adult Thescelosaurus. The skeletons of small dinosaursare easily destroyed through natural erosion. This is therefore a rare andexceptional discovery.
Thequality, detail and colour of the bones are unique. The bones do not show anysigns of deformation or geological compression. This specimen is alsodistinguished by its excellent conservation. Nearly 70%-75% of the skeleton hasbeen unearthed and many skull parts have been discovered.
It isvery rare to obtain such a high percentage of bone from the same individual. Askeleton, usually called "complete", often contains at least 50%plastic or is a combination of several different dinosaurs.