Meet the dinosaurs (and pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, birds, etc.)
D&D includes eighteen (18) complete skeletons and a number of partial skeletons. Many are posed in dynamic scenes.
Scene 1: Albertosaurus attacking a juvenile ceratopsian (2 dinosaurs). This realistic scene shows a full-grown Albertosaurus attacking a juvenile ceratopsian (horned dinosaur). Although an adult ceratopsian might be too much for an albertosaur, a juvenile would be a perfect target.
The ceratopsian was discovered in 2016 in the Judith River Formation. It has only two horns, unlike Triceratops (with three), and is a new (and as yet unnamed) species.
Scene 2: Nanotyrannus (1 dinosaur). This rare dinosaur serves as the perfect example for discussing how science works with kids. Is it a juvenile T. rex or a new species?
Scene 3: Quetzalcoatlus (1 pterosaur). The largest animal to ever fly, Quetzalcoatlus (a pterosaur) had a wingspan of over 34 feet, slightly larger than a Cessna 172.
An exhibit favorite, the Quetz towers over visitors – it is 17 feet tall in its standing pose, and it’s eight foot skull pokes out over everyone’s heads.
Scene 4: Flying above are three Pteranodons. One large male (24 ft wingspan) and two smaller females. In addition there is small pterosaur in the case on Mary Anning (Dimorphodon marconyx) for a total of 5 pterosaurs.
In addition, there are five skeletons in the Bird Evolution display, including a Compsognathus and four birds – Archaeopteryx, Confuciusornis, Ichthyornis, and a modern pidgeon. (5 skeletons.)
Partial Skeletons
In addition to the complete skeletons, there are a number of partial skeletons including a giant sauropod leg (11 ft high, set up for a photo opp), a T. rex skull (4 ft long), a T. rex track, an Ichthyosaur skull, the Maidstone Slab (one of the first dinosaur discoveries, a large jumble of Iguanodon bones), and numerous teeth, jaws, and actual bones that kids can touch.
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