About Tsintaosaurus
| Scientific Name (Genus) | Tsintaosaurus |
| Meaning of Name |
Qingdao (place in China) lizard
Tsintao (Qingdao) [Place name] - saurus (lizard) [Greek] |
| Classification | Ornithischia, Ornithopoda, Hadrosauridae, Lambeosaurinae |
| Total Length | Approx. 8.3 - 10m |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous (approx. 80 to 70 million years ago) |
| Sub-classification / Species Name |
Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus
*The species name spinorhinus means "spined nose", originating from an initial misunderstanding. |
| Year of Paper Publication | 1958 |
| Genus Name Publication |
The dinosaurian remains of Laiyang, Shantung.
Palaeontologia Sinica, New Series C. Whole Number. 42. by Chung Chien Yang. 1958. |
Characteristics of Tsintaosaurus: The True Identity of the Unicorn Horn
For many years, Tsintaosaurus was introduced in encyclopedias as a "unicorn dinosaur" with a single horn extending vertically from its forehead. However, recent studies using high-resolution CT scanning technology have revealed that its appearance was entirely different.
Why was it mistaken?
The skull of Tsintaosaurus, first discovered in 1958, was damaged by the strong pressure of the geological strata during the fossilization process. As a result, a part of the bone that was originally supposed to connect from the tip of the nose to the back of the head broke and ended up pointing straight up, just like a unicorn's horn.
The field of study that researches the processes from when an organism dies until it is preserved in the strata as a fossil. Bones can be deformed by immense pressure when buried in the ground, and the "single horn" of Tsintaosaurus was a shape accidentally created by this geological pressure.
The True Appearance and the Role of the Crest
In a 2013 study that thoroughly examined existing fossils, it was found that the "single horn" was not an independent horn, but rather part of the bone supporting a massive dome-shaped (petal-like) crest.
Furthermore, in 2020, it was proven that the part that looked like a horn was not hollow, but a solid structure consisting of three layers of closely packed bone. It was once thought to be a breathing tube, but in reality, air seems to have passed through the inside of the crest extending forward from it.
It is believed that Tsintaosaurus used its crest like a trombone, blowing air into it to resonate low-frequency sounds and communicate with distant herd members. Additionally, its unique shape likely played an important role as a visual display for distinguishing companions or appealing to the opposite sex.
Life in a Herd and Ecology
Many fossils of Tsintaosaurus have been unearthed from the strata (Wangshi Group) in Shandong Province, eastern China. Investigations of this stratum have revealed densely packed fossils of dinosaurs caught in sudden massive floods and mudflows.
The excavated fossils included individuals of various ages, from adults to juveniles. From this, it is understood that Tsintaosaurus lived in herds consisting of different age groups.
In addition, their upper and lower jaws were densely packed with hundreds of teeth, allowing them to efficiently grind even hard, fibrous plants.
A structure in which hundreds of teeth are densely packed together like a stone wall without any gaps, creating a powerful file-like chewing surface. When the surface teeth wear down, spare new teeth are constantly pushed up from below to replace them, allowing them to maintain sharp teeth throughout their lives.
It is thought that they normally ate plants near the ground while maintaining a stable posture on all fours, and moved agilely on two legs while balancing with their thick tails when reaching for leaves higher up in trees or escaping from carnivorous dinosaurs. The low-frequency cries emitted from their crests likely also served as an early warning network for the herd.
Tsintaosaurus Affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake
The Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on March 11, 2011, caused immense damage, particularly in the Tohoku region.
A full-body skeletal replica of Tsintaosaurus was exhibited in the lobby of the town hall in Hirono Town, Fukushima Prefecture, located within the 30km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Because approximately 88 million-year-old Late Cretaceous strata are exposed in Hirono Town, it had been displayed in the town hall lobby since 1988 to promote the area as a source of "fossils."
The funds needed to restore the replica damaged by the earthquake were reportedly about 4 million yen. In 2015, funds were raised through crowdfunding (I also contributed 10,000 yen), and the restoration work was carried out.
The restored Tsintaosaurus toured the "Dinosaur Expo 2016" (Tokyo and Osaka) held the following year before returning to Hirono Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
The Tsintaosaurus toured the "Dinosaur Expo 2016" after completing restoration work.
Tsintaosaurus Stamp and Fossil Gallery
