DENVER (KDVR) — On Wednesday, a 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil was found 763 feet below a parking lot in City Park, becoming the deepest and oldest fossil ever found within Denver city limits.
The fossil was identified as the vertebrae of an herbivorous dinosaur by a team from Earth & Space Science at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science finds nearly 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil
While its exact species has not been determined, previous fossil discoveries in Colorado could offer some clues.
What dinosaur species have been discovered in Colorado?
Torosaurus, Thornton
The Torosaurus is also known as the “bull lizard” due to its horned head and quadrupedal stance. It resembles the famous triceratops, but has several distinct differences, according to the Natural History Museum.
The Torosaurus is an herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur. It lived 66 to 70 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period.
It measures 7.5 meters in length and has the largest skull of any ceratopsian.
Triceratops, Highlands Ranch
The Triceratops has emerged as one of the most iconic dinosaurs and is known as the “three-horned face” due to its large horns and shield-like head. It is often depicted battling the famous Tyrannosaurus Rex in pop culture.
It is also an herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur that lived 66 to 68 million years ago in the late Cretaceous period.
The triceratops weighed a hefty 11 tons and was nine meters long.
Tyrannosaurus Rex, Littleton
A Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil was discovered during a construction project at a residence in Littleton, generating the story of the only T. rex with a street address.
The “tyrant lizard” is the most famous dinosaur around. The Tyrannosaurus Rex was a carnivorous theropod that was 12 meters long and weighed about seven tons.
It is one of the largest, fiercest animals of all time. It hunted prey and used its mouth full of 60 eight-inch, saw-edged teeth to kill its prey.
Ornithomimus, Front Range
The “bird mimic” is an omnivorous theropod that lived 66 to 74 million years ago in the late Cretaceous period.
It resembles a large, less feathery ostrich and is approximately four meters long.
Allosaurus, Granby
The “different lizard” was a carnivorous theropod that had dagger-like serrated teeth and distinctive horns over its eyes.
It lived 145 to 152 million years ago in the late Jurassic period and was about 10 meters long and weighed about three tons.
Experts are unsure if the Allosaurus hunted large dinosaurs, or was more of a scavenger, and even believe the dinosaur could bite chunks out of another dinosaur without killing it, known as flesh-grazing.
Stegosaurus, Morrison
The “roof lizard” was an herbivorous armored dinosaur that lived 145 to 152 million years ago in the late Jurassic period.
It was nine meters long and possessed large, vertical bony plates on its back and a spiked tail that was used to fend off predators.
The Stegosaurus is believed to have been at odds with the Allosaurus, which may have hunted them.
Several other significant findings occurred in Colorado, including:
Edmontosaurus
Cionidon
Pachyecephalosaurus
Polyonax
Aublysodon
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Colorado is known as a hotspot for discovering dinosaur fossils, and even has a town called Dinosaur.
The state holds a rich history with dinosaur discoveries, which can be seen in places like the Dinosaur National Monument and Dinosaur Ridge.
For more information on Colorado dinosaurs, visit the National Park Service website.
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