Research summary
Classification used here: Duck-billed dinosaur. Fossils assigned to Maiasaura are known from Late Cretaceous (about 80–75 million years ago) and have been found in Two Medicine Formation, Montana, United States. The museum uses 7–9 m (about 23–30 ft) as the reference body length and describes the diet as plant-eater. Maiasaura was a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur. It could walk on its hind legs or move on all fours. Fossilised nests, eggs, young animals and adults make it important for studying how dinosaurs reproduced and grew. Claims that adults fed their young for a long time are still scientific interpretations and should be treated with care.
Fossil evidence and reconstruction limits
- The 7–9 metre range is an approximation for adults or large individuals; this model does not represent one particular specimen.
- The nesting sites strongly support group nesting, while the method and duration of parental feeding remain debated.
- The model’s colour and soft tissues are cautious artistic reconstructions.
Scientific sources
Leon Made This compiled these research notes from public museum resources and scientific papers while preserving uncertainty in the reconstruction. Last reviewed 2026-08-07.
