Bonapartesaurus rionegrensis

† Bonapartesaurus rionegrensis was a Late Cretaceous saurolophine hadrosaur from the Allen Formation of Río Negro Province, Argentina. This large herbivore represents evidence for the dispersal of hadrosaur dinosaurs from North America to South America during the Campanian, possibly via a temporary land connection. Named in honor of José Bonaparte, pioneer of South American paleontology.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Bonapartesaurus rionegrensis was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Bonapartesaurus rionegrensis lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.