Corythosaurus

Name Origin

Corinthian Helmet Lizard

Family

Hadrosauridae

Classification

Diapsida, Ornithischia, Ornithopoda

Habitat (Discovery Location)

United States, Canada

Period

Approximately 77 to 76.5 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)

Length

Approximately 9 to 10 meters

Weight

Approximately 3 tons

Diet

Herbivore (Plant-eater)

Description

Corythosaurus was a large ornithopod (hadrosaur) that lived on the North American continent during the Late Cretaceous period (approximately 77 to 76.5 million years ago). It is one of the most famous of the “duck-billed dinosaurs.”
Its name means “Corinthian helmet lizard,” and it was named because the large crest on its head resembled the helmets worn by soldiers in the ancient Greek city of Corinth.

The Helmet-Shaped Crest: Its Surprising Function

The most prominent feature of Corythosaurus is the magnificent, fan-shaped (arched) crest that rises from the top of its head.

A Distinctive Crest

Contrary to its unique appearance, this crest had highly advanced functions.

The crest was hard and hollow, with a series of partitioned tubes connected to the nose running through its interior.
Its structure closely resembles that of a French horn.

It is believed that this crest served four primary roles:

1. Resonator

Like many crested dinosaurs, it has been scientifically proven that Corythosaurus could produce loud sounds.
The tubes inside the crest resonated its calls, and a 1994 study indicated that it may have produced low-frequency, trombone-like sounds (similar to a foghorn).
This sound is thought to have been used for communication with its own kind or for intimidating other males.

2. Olfactory Amplification

The inside of the crest was directly connected to the nasal cavity, and it is believed to have been used as a tool to amplify its sense of smell.

3. Air Regulation

It is thought that by passing air through the interior of the crest, it could add appropriate moisture to the air before it entered the lungs.

4. Display

The helmet-like shape is believed to have been used as a visual display to attract mates or distinguish individuals.
This theory is strongly supported by the fact that the highest, most prominent crests are believed to have belonged to adult males.

History of Discovery and Research Progress

The first Corythosaurus fossil was discovered in 1911 (and described in 1914).
It was found by Barnum Brown, who is also famous for discovering Tyrannosaurus, in the Red Deer River region of Alberta, Canada.

The First Specimen

The well-preserved fossil found at this time (missing only part of the tail and forelimbs) was named Corythosaurus casuarius.
The species name is derived from the scientific name of the cassowary, a bird that has a similar-looking crest (casque).

Abundant Specimens

Since then, many skeletal specimens, including over 20 skulls, have been found in the United States and Canada.
These specimens include males, females, and juveniles, making it one of the most well-studied dinosaurs.

Differences in Sex and Growth

These specimens have shown that the shape of the crest differed significantly based on sex and stage of growth.
The crest was not developed in juveniles and appears to have grown larger as they matured.

Valuable Skin Fossils

Furthermore, complete skeletons with skin impressions have been discovered, providing an invaluable source of information for understanding what Corythosaurus looked like in life.

Physique and Ecology

Corythosaurus was quite large for a hadrosaur, reaching a length of 9 to 10 meters and weighing about 3 tons.

Diet

They were herbivorous dinosaurs with over 600 teeth arranged in their mouths (a dental battery), which they used to grind up tough plants.
Fossils have been found with conifers, seeds, and twigs preserved in their abdominal region.

Ancestry

Their ancestor is believed to be the famous Iguanodon.
Although Iguanodon itself did not have a crest, their body shapes are very similar, supporting this lineage.

Tail Characteristics

The caudal vertebrae (tail bones) were stiffened by ossified tendons, and the tail is believed to have had limited mobility.

The tail is believed to have had limited mobility.

Relationship with Close Relatives

In Late Cretaceous North America, Corythosaurus lived alongside other dinosaurs with similar head crests, such as Lambeosaurus and Parasaurolophus.

Distinguishing from Lambeosaurus

Corythosaurus and Lambeosaurus can be distinguished by the shape of their crests.
The crest of Lambeosaurus juts forward slightly, like a pompadour, while the crest of Corythosaurus is a rounded arch.

Thus, Corythosaurus is an extremely important dinosaur in a scientific sense and continues to fascinate many researchers to this day.

Jurassic
Park / World Featured Dinosaur

Role in the Film (Spoiler Alert!)

Appearance in Jurassic Park
It never appears as a living creature in the film.

Instead, it makes a "cameo" as a painting in the Visitor Center's restaurant.

Like Compsognathus, it was later revealed in the official lore to have been on InGen's 15-species list. However, its DNA was supposedly incomplete at the time of the first film. It was later fully restored by Dr. Wu around 1998, allowing it to finally make its live-action film debut in Jurassic Park III.
Appearance in Jurassic Park III
This ornithopod made its series debut in Jurassic Park III, and the film is arguably its most notable appearance.

Early in the movie, they are spotted from the plane as it flies over Isla Sorna (accompanied by impressive music). However, the scene most viewers likely remember is the herd encountered by Dr. Alan Grant and his group as they are fleeing from Velociraptors.

The herd is resting in its territory on a plateau when Grant's group bursts through them in a panic. Realizing the Velociraptors are approaching from behind, the entire herd panics and begins to stampede. While this is essentially their only major scene, the sight of their large, distinctively striped bodies stampeding alongside the human characters left a strong impression on the audience.

Interestingly, they are depicted as coexisting with Parasaurolophus, another ornithopod. In the film, several Corythosaurus are seen mixed in with the Parasaurolophus herd, sharing the same resting area.

Although they seem to share an interspecies bond, this relationship is shown to be not-so-strong. When the predators attack, one Corythosaurus is seen being shoved aside (or "nudged") by a Parasaurolophus during the panic.

According to official lore, Corythosaurus was already on InGen's species list (of 15 species) at the time of the first Jurassic Park. Later, in the lore for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (the 5th film), it was stated that the species went extinct on Isla Nublar after being transferred there, implying that Jurassic Park III would be their final appearance in the series.

However, 21 years later, information from the "DinoTracker" website (related to Jurassic World Dominion) confirmed that a herd was discovered in London alongside Parasaurolophus (though they did not appear in the film itself).

Corythosaurus

Description