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Ouranosaurus

Dinosaur profile

Ouranosaurus

Ouranosaurus nigeriensis

HerbivoreEarly CretaceousEuornithopod

Pronunciation

oo-RAH-noh-sore-us

Meaning

brave monitor lizard

Type

Euornithopod

Length

7M

Period

Early Cretaceous

Years

115 - 100 million years ago

Location

Niger

Diet

Herbivore

About Ouranosaurus

Ouranosaurus is a genus of iguanodontid dinosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous period, about 125 million years ago. It was a herbivorous dinosaur that was characterized by its relatively large size, long neck and tail, and four sturdy legs. Ouranosaurus was discovered in the Sahara Desert in the mid-20th century, and its remains have been found in several locations in Africa, including Algeria and Niger. It was named after the Greek god Ouranos, who was the personification of the sky. Ouranosaurus was likely a social animal and may have lived in herds. It is thought to have had a diet that consisted mainly of plants, including ferns, cycads, and conifers. Ouranosaurus is classified as a member of the Iguanodontidae family, which also includes the well-known dinosaurs Iguanodon and Tenontosaurus.

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