Hadrosaurus

Hadrosaurus holds an important place in history. It was the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton found in North America. It was discovered in 1858 in New Jersey. Its name means "bulky lizard."

An Important Discovery

Before Hadrosaurus was found, many people did not believe dinosaurs were real. The skeleton helped prove that giant reptiles once walked the Earth. It was also the first dinosaur shown standing on two legs in a museum. This changed how people imagined dinosaurs.

Duck-Billed Dinosaur

Hadrosaurus was about 25 feet long and weighed about 3 tons. It had a flat, duck-like bill for eating plants. It could walk on two legs or four legs. It probably spent most of its time walking on all fours but stood on two legs to reach higher plants.

Fun Facts

• Hadrosaurus is the official state dinosaur of New Jersey.
• It was the first dinosaur skeleton mounted for display in a museum in 1868.
• The original fossil was found by a farmer in a muddy pit.

Did You Know?

Hadrosaurus was found in Haddonfield, New Jersey, which is now a suburb. There is a statue of a dinosaur in the town to honor the famous discovery!