About Corythosaurus
| Scientific Name (Genus) | Corythosaurus |
| Meaning of Name |
Corinthian helmet lizard
korys (Corinthian helmet) [Greek] - saurus (lizard) [Greek] |
| Classification | Ornithischia, Ornithopoda (Hadrosauridae, Lambeosaurinae) |
| Total Length | Approx. 7.7 - 10m |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous (Campanian: approx. 77 - 75 million years ago) |
| Sub-classification / Species Name |
Corythosaurus casuarius Corythosaurus intermedius |
| Year of Paper Publication | 1914 |
| Genus Name Publication |
Corythosaurus casuarius, a New Crested Dinosaur from the Belly River Cretaceous, with Provisional Classification of the Family Trachodontidae.
American Museum of Natural History Bulletin. 33. by Barnum Brown. 1914. |
Features
The most striking feature of Corythosaurus is the large, semi-circular crest on the top of its head.
It was a large herbivorous dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous period (about 77 to 75 million years ago).
This crest was not well-developed in juveniles but swelled as they grew, and it is thought that males had much larger crests than females.
In the past, they were considered semi-aquatic animals that swam in swamps, and the crest was said to be a snorkel-like breathing organ or an air tank. However, it is now clear that they lived entirely on land, and this "aquatic hypothesis" has been definitively rejected.
Recent studies using CT scans have revealed complex cavities connected to the nasal passages inside the crest. By blowing air through them, they seem to have produced loud, low-pitched calls, working on the same principle as brass instruments like a trombone. The huge crest is thought to have been used for visual recognition of individuals and vocal communication, maintaining a high level of sociality within the herd.
Appearance and Diet Revealed by "Dinosaur Mummies"
Corythosaurus fossils have been found in such excellent preservation that they are called "dinosaur mummies." These fossilized skin impressions show that their bodies were not covered in overlapping scales like snakes or lizards, but rather paved in a mosaic of polygonal, wart-like scales of various sizes.
In addition, their "last meal" has been found fossilized in the stomach area, clearly proving that they ate conifer needles, twigs, and seeds. At the back of their mouths was a file-like structure called a "dental battery," where hundreds of tiny teeth overlapped in layers, efficiently grinding up tough plant fibers.
Studies of the bony rings (sclerotic rings) inside their eyes suggest that Corythosaurus was likely not strictly diurnal, but "cathemeral," frequently alternating between short periods of activity and rest day and night. To maintain their massive bodies weighing several tons, they apparently needed to keep eating plants even during the night.
New Discoveries: Expanded Habitat and Connection to Asia
For many years, definitive Corythosaurus fossils had only been found in Alberta, Canada, leading to the belief that their habitat was restricted to northern regions. However, in 2022, a research group including scientists from Okayama University of Science in Japan identified fossils excavated in Montana, USA, as belonging to Corythosaurus. This proved that they lived over a much wider area.
Furthermore, in 2025, a lower jaw bone of a "Deinocheirid," known as giant ostrich dinosaurs, was discovered in the same batch of fossils. Previously, Deinocheirids were thought to be dinosaurs unique primarily to Asia.
The discovery of this fossil alongside Corythosaurus provides a major breakthrough, indicating that the North American and Asian continents were connected by land (the Bering Land Bridge) during the Late Cretaceous, allowing herbivorous dinosaurs to migrate across continents and interact dynamically over vast areas.
Discovery and Unusual Episodes
Source: Corythosaurus casuarius, a New Crested Dinosaur from the Belly River Cretaceous, with Provisional Classification of the Family Trachodontidae.
American Museum of Natural History Bulletin. 33.
by Barnum Brown. 1914.
Corythosaurus was first discovered in 1911 in Alberta, Canada. The specimen (AMNH 5240), found by the famous fossil hunter Barnum Brown, was an incredibly valuable find, consisting of a nearly complete skeleton as well as some skin impressions. It was later described as a new species by Brown in a 1914 paper.
The history of Corythosaurus excavation also includes a tragic event shadowed by World War I. In 1916, two magnificent full skeletons with perfectly preserved skin impressions were excavated and sent to a museum in the UK. However, the cargo ship carrying them, the SS Mount Temple, was attacked and sunk by German forces, and these fossils still rest at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean today.
On the other hand, there are fossils that achieved a miraculous reunion. A Corythosaurus skull that had been stored in a museum for many years, and a "headless torso skeleton" that had been left as an outdoor exhibit in a Canadian park, were found upon investigation to actually belong to the same individual excavated about 100 years ago. In 2012, the head and torso were successfully reunited, drawing widespread attention.
Corythosaurus Stamp and Fossil Gallery
