Parasaurolophus ("Near Crested Lizard") was a large member of the hadrosaur family, a very successful group of orthipod dinosaurs often nicknamed "The Duck-Bills", since their jaw-structure resembled a modern day duck's bill. It most likely lived in small to large groups, wandering as they selectively feed upon the tastiest plants. Its most distinctive feature was the elongated horn that curved backward off the top of its head. Hollow and connected with nasal tubes, this horn is thought to have been used to ampifly and modify the calls of this creature, producing distinictive honking sounds, which would have been used to sound the alarm of an approaching predator. It lived in North America from 76.5 to 65 million years ago and became extintic with the rest of the dinosaurs in K-T extiction event.
Its jaws contain hundreds of tiny little teeth that were continuously being replaced, making them perfectly adapted to chewing and breaking down tough, course plant materail. However, unlike most other hadrosaurs, Parasaurolophus and a few of its close cousins were more selective in their diet and prefered to eat only the tastiest and softiest vegitation that was availible.
Parasaurolophus was one of the preferred meals of T-Rex, due to its lack of spikes, claws or armour and its obvious inablilty to defend itself. Its only defence was to listen for a "honking" warning from others of its kind, then run and hope it got away.
Studys of the resonating factor of the horn have suggested and led to the theory that this horn may have been used as a defensive weapon. When attacked, a small group or even a single Parasaurolophus may have actually been able to produce a kinetic soundwave powerful enough disorient or even stun an attacking enemy.
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