MoAW Weekly Spotlight - Maiasaura Peeblesorum

March 26, 2021

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Spotlight:

MAIASAURA PEEBLESORUM

The Gentle Mother Lizard

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"When I was growing up in Montana, I had two dreams: I wanted to be a paleontologist and I wanted to have a pet dinosaur and so that's what I've been striving for all of my life." Jack Horner (Discovering Maiasaura peeblesorum)

Order Ornithischia,

Family Hadrosauridae

Maiasaura peeblesorum

Late Cretaceous, Montana

These gentle duckbilled dinosaurs left in the fossil record a very detailed picture of their way of life. Herds of Maiasaura (“Mother Lizard”) appear to have nested together in vast colonies along the shores of the Cretaceous rivers of Montana.

Juveniles and hatchlings of varying ages have been found in these nests, exhibiting evidence of prolonged parental care. Fossilized regurgitations were found proving that mother Maiasauras would masticate foliage to dispense into their babies' mouths much like birds.

The eggs were carefully arranged in regular patterns in large, dug-out mounds, each an adult body length from the next. Adults, which grew to lengths of 30 feet, appear to have returned to these nesting sites year after year.

Browsing on their hind legs among the tree branches or cropping the undergrowth on all fours, these peaceful herbivores were defenseless against the ferocious weapons of their predators.

Migratory hadrosaurs such as Maiasaura appear to have fed and protected their young until they were old enough to join the herd. Discovered in 1976 by John R. Horner. Museum of the Rockies.

Coprolites

Hadrosaur

Cretaceous, Canada

These coprolites, also known as "dino poop," were discovered in association with the fossilized remains of duck-billed dinosaur nests in Saskatchewan. Under an electron microscope, paleontologists can glimpse fossilized bacteria that helped to digest the leafy plants they ate. Private collection.

MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities while establishing museum diversity for the Coachella Valley.

MoAW is a member of the American Alliance of Museums and the California Association of Museums.

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So many reasons to join MoAW, you help keep the museum open, allow us to acquire new artifacts, plan and present programs including the Second Friday Fantasy, and help local students learn about ancient civilizations and human origins.

As a member of MoAW, you're specially invited to join us on curated and exclusive travel experiences close to home and around the world! The Museum of Ancient Wonders has partnered with the Museum Travel Alliance (MTA), a consortium of museums whose patrons and members are passionate about cultural travel. This partnership brings you access to dozens of exciting and enriching journeys in sublime art destinations, all led by world-renowned curators and scholars.

In 2021 and beyond, delight in behind-the-scenes, art-filled itineraries in intriguing locales both near and far, from hidden gems in New York City to the millennia-old marvels of ancient Egypt, behind the scenes tours of museums around the world, after hours visits to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, entry to private homes, castles and estates.

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