Brachylophosaurus

Phylogeny: Dinosauria > Ornithischia > Genasauria > Neornithischia > Cerapoda > Ornithopoda > Iguanodontia > Ankylopollexia > Styracosterna > Hadrosauriformes > Hadrosauroidea > Hadrosauridae > Saurolophinae > Brachylophosaurini

Overview: Hadrosaur head crests could vary widely in form between the two major subfamilies in the Hadrosauridae. The most extravagant were on those in the lambeosaurine lineage, examples including Parasaurolophus or Corythosaurus, but there were some notable crested members of the saurolophine lineage as well. One of these was Brachylophosaurus, the “short-crested lizard”. Just as its name would imply, the crest of this animal was modest and easy to overlook at a glance. The crest was formed out of the creature’s nasal bone, like those of most hadrosaurs, in its case taking the form of a flat, paddle or tongue-like crest over the top of the head. This may’ve been the base of a larger crest made of keratin or soft tissue, or possibly acted as a surface for competing males to engage in shoving matches during mating season or over territory.

Brachylophosaurus is the namesake of the tribe Brachylophosaurini, which also included slightly famous dinosaur genera like Probrachylophosaurus and Maiasaura. Similar head crests could be seen on these animals, though they often took on slightly different forms. In terms of its overall appearance, Brachylophosaurus was a typical hadrosaurid, being a sturdily built animal that was able to walk both as a quadruped and biped. The front of its snout was equipped with a keratinous beak, while grinding teeth lined the back of its jaws. The general anatomy of Brachylophosaurus is well understood, being based on some very complete fossils, including “mummified” specimens that preserve impressions of skin and soft tissue in the surrounding rock. Brachylophosaurus likely had to contend with large tyrannosaurid predators like Daspletosaurus or Gorgosaurus.