Web Site

  
 
Glossary

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  V  >> Glossary Index 

N

 An audio file is available.
 View printable page version.
Neoceratopsia
The Neoceratopsia (NEE-oh-sair-uh-TOPS-ih-ah) is a micro-order of the Ceratopsia infraorder. These small-to large-sized horned dinosaurs were mostly quadrupedal, with heads large in relation to their bodies. They bore large beaks, and their skulls demonstate a diversity in frills. The larger families of this group, such as Ceratopsidae, had species with large horns.

Nests
Dinosaurs that laid eggs did so in nests made of sand or mud. As do today's turtles and crocodiles, dinosaurs laid their eggs in concentric circles arranged in tiers. In some cases they laid their eggs in a grouping of nests called a crèche. The size of the nest depended, of course, upon the size of the dinosaur. In one instance, a 15 feet (4.6-meter)-wide nest has been found. It was the discovery of a hadrosaur crèche in Montana that provided evidence of nuturing behavior in dinosaurs. Remains of Maiasaura nestlings revealed worn teeth, which suggests that they were fed by their parents until they were able to leave the nest. In addition, broken shells in the bottom of the nests were in such small pieces that the dinosaurs who hatched from them must have stayed to walk and lie on the pieces until they were broken in very small fragments. These facts among others led to a revision of our view of dinosaur behavior.

Niobrara
Sea Niobrara (nye-o-BRAR-ah) Sea is the name of a shallow sea that once stretched from North America to the Gulf of Mexico. During the Cretaceous Period, this sea was over 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) across.

Noasauridae (Noasaurids)
Translation: Northwestern Argentina Lizards
Noasauridae (no-ah-SAWR-ih-day) is a one-member family of Theropoda. Noasaurus, one of the first coelurosaurs to be discovered in South America, is sufficiently different from other coelurosaurs that it was referred to its own family. Noasaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous Period.

Nodosauridae (Nodosaurids)
Translation: Toothless Lizards
Nodosauridae (no-doe-SAWR-ih-day) is one of the two families of Ankylosauria, the other being Ankylosauridae. Distinguishing nodosaurid characteristics included bony armor covering their entire body and bony spikes upon their backs, like ankylosaurids. Unlike ankylosaurids, however, the tails of nodosaurs were not clubbed. Nodosaurs grew up to 20 feet (5.8 meters) long. Nodosauridae flourished during the Cretaceous Period. Nodosaurus, and Sauropelta.


 Jurassic Art
  Database Home
  Order Software











  © 2005 Arts & Letters Corporation
Translate to:   Chasque aquí para traducir inglés a español. Cliquetez ici pour traduire l'anglais en Français. Klicken Sie hier, um Englisch in Deutschen zu übersetzen. Scattisi qui per tradurre l'inglese in italiano. Estale aqui para traduzir o inglês no português.