A Corythosaurus was a duck-billed dinosaur with a large bony crest on its head. Its name means “Helmet lizard.” This is because the bony crest looked like the Corinthian helmets worn by ancient Greek soldiers.
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Some Quick Facts About the Corythosaurus

Name | Corythosaurus casuarius (meaning “Helmet lizard”) |
Type of dinosaur | Hadrosauridae dinosauria |
Territory | Swampy, forested plains of North America |
Size | Big dino 25-33 feet long, 9-12 feet tall |
Color | Olive green or gray. The crest might have been red or another bright color |
Interesting Characteristics | Duck-billed dinosaur with a bony crest on its head |
Diet | Herbivore |
Major Threats | Large carnivores, climate disasters |
The Corythosaurus is a duck-billed dinosaur called a Hadrosaur. This amazing dino had a bony crest on its head that looked a bit like a helmet! This crest was a nasal passage the Corythosaurus used like a horn to communicate with other Hadrosaurs.
How many teeth did the Corythosaurus have?
The Corythosaurus had no teeth in the front of its beak but had hundreds of teeth in the cheek area of its mouth. These teeth were small and sharp for grinding plant material. When they fell out, the Corythosaurus just grew more!
The Corythosaurus’ teeth interlocked, forming what paleontology calls a dental battery. These teeth worked together to chew the food. The Corythosaurus lost and grew new teeth almost constantly.
What Dinos are Related to the Corythosaurus?

The Corythosaurus is closely related to any Hadrosaur in the Lambeosaurine family. This includes a Parasaurolophus from North America. Parasaurolophus and Corythosaurus even lived together in some areas.
Another cool dino related to the Corythosaurus is the Olorotitan. This little-known dino with a hatchet-like crest came up around 2001 in eastern Russia. This dino was named Olorotitan or “Titanic swan” because it has a long neck compared to other Hadrosaurs.
When and Where Did the Corythosaurus Live?

The Corythosaurus lived between 80-66 million years ago at the end of the Late Cretaceous period. This is called the Campanian stage of the Cretaceous period. The Corythosaurus lived in North America, which was swampy and covered in ancient plant life.
Paleontologist Barnum Brown found the first known Corythosaurus fossil in Alberta, Canada, in 1911. Corythosaurus fossils have also been found in Montana. Skin impressions were the most amazing find. These survived over 66 million years!
What Dinos Did the Corythosaurus Live With?
During the Corythosaurus’ lifetime, there were dozens of cool dinos in North America. The Corythosaurus lived with Theropods, Ceratopsians, and several Hadrosaurs who were also part of the Lambeosaurinae family. Dinos that shared North America with the Corythosaurus include carnivores and omnivores like:
- Albertosaurus
- Chirostenotes
- Daspletosaurus
- Gorgosaurus
- Tyrannosaurus rex
The herbivores of North America stayed in large mixed herds for protection from predators. Ornithopoda was especially known to stay in large groups. Ornithopods were bipedal herbivores like the Corythosaurus that often cared for juvenile dinos.
The Ceratopsians and other armored dinos also lived with Hadrosaurids. This was great for the vulnerable Hadrosaurs because dinos like Ankylosaurus and Triceratops would fight off attacking carnivores. Some herbivores that lived with the Corythosaurus were:
- Ankylosaurus
- Centrosaurus
- Edmontosaurus
- Euoplocephalus
- Lambeosaurus
- Pachycephalosaurus
- Parasaurolophus
How did the Corythosaurus protect its eggs?
The Corythosaurus protected its eggs by building a nest and covering it. Paleontologists don’t know much about how dinos took care of their eggs or raised their young, but scientists learn new things every day.
So far, we know that the Corythosaurus and other Hadrosaurs laid up to 20 eggs in a nest made of dug-out mud. Once the eggs were laid, the Corythosaurus covered them with leaves, pine needles, and other plants to help incubate them. This is similar to how some turtles and lizards protect their eggs.
The Corythosaurus was a cool dino that used its bony crest to communicate and attract mates. There are only two species known so far: C. casuarius and C. Intermedius. These dinos from the original 1900s discoveries can stand in the American Museum of Natural History exactly how they were found!