The word "lambeosaur" is a combination of two words: "Lambe" and "saur." "Lambe" refers to Lawrence Morris Lambe, a Canadian paleontologist who discovered the first fossilized skull of this dinosaur species. "Saur" means "reptile" in Greek. The correct pronunciation of "lambeosaur" is [lam-bee-oh-sawr], with emphasis on the second syllable. The "eau" in the word is pronounced like "oh," and the "s" at the end is silent, making it a four-syllable word.
A lambeosaur refers to a type of herbivorous dinosaur that belonged to the family Lambeosauridae, which is a subgroup of the larger Hadrosauridae family. These impressive creatures roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 80 to 65 million years ago. Named after the famous paleontologist, Lawrence Lambe, lambeosaurs were notable for their unique cranial crest structure, which varied from species to species.
These dinosaur species possessed elongated tubes or nasal passages that extended from the nostrils to the back of their skulls, forming complex crests of various shapes and sizes. Some lambeosaurs had tall, upright, and backward-rounded crests, while others displayed cranial crests that were more paddle-shaped or even hollow. The purpose of these elaborate structures still remains a subject of scientific debate, but it is widely believed that they played a role in vocalization, visual display for mating rituals, or even as a means of species recognition.
Lambeosaurs, like other members of the Hadrosauridae family, were characteristically large, bipedal or quadrupedal dinosaurs with a long tail, a beak-like snout, hundreds of tightly packed teeth, and hoof-like toes. These herbivores dominated the Late Cretaceous landscape, occupying various habitats across North America, Europe, and Asia. Some well-known lambeosaur species include Parasaurolophus, Corythosaurus, and Lambeosaurus. The discovery of numerous fossils and scientific research have greatly enhanced our understanding of these fascinating creatures, shedding light on their biology, behavior, and role in prehistoric ecosystems.
The word lambeosaur is derived from the Greek word lambein meaning to shine or to flash, and the Greek word sauros which means lizard. The name was given to these dinosaurs because of the large, elaborate cranial crests they possessed, which were thought to be used for visual displays or communication. The crests might have been brightly colored or have had a shiny appearance, which connects to the to shine meaning of the word lambein. Thus, lambeosaur essentially means lizard with a shining crest.