Maryland Manual On-Line - www.mdmanual.net

MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

STATE SYMBOLS

Maryland State Dinosaur - Astrodon johnstoni

[color drawing, Astrodon johnstoni] In 1998, the Astrodon johnstoni was named the State dinosaur of Maryland (Chapter 404, Acts of 1998). The Astrodon lived in Maryland during the Early Cretaceous period, from 95 to 130 million years ago.
  • Dinosaurs in Maryland (Maryland Geological Survey)
    • Astrodon johnstoni. Illustration by Mark Crowell, 1998.
    Astrodon means "star tooth" and derives from the fossils found in 1858 by Philip Tyson, then Maryland's State Agricultural Chemist. His discovery of two teeth in the Arundel Clay near Muirkirk in Prince George's County was one of the earliest dinosaur finds in this country and the first in Maryland. Tyson gave the teeth to a local doctor and dentist Christopher Johnston, who sliced a tooth into cross sections, discovering a star pattern. In his 1859 article for the American Journal of Dental Science, Dr. Johnston called the species Astrodon.
    [black and white drawing, Astrodon johnstoni]

    Astrodons were sauropods (lizard-foot) of the Saurischian order (lizard-hip). These large dinosaurs weighed up to 20 tons. They had small heads, long necks, and long tails. Strong, solid legs supported their rounded bodies. Adult Astrodons could be 50 to 60 feet long, and more than 30 feet tall. They were herbivorous, probably feeding on conifers, ferns, and other plants.

    Astrodon johnstoni. Drawing courtesy of Maryland Geological Survey. Original drawing by Gregory S. Paul, 1988.

    Maryland Government
    Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
    Maryland Departments
    Maryland Independent Agencies
    Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
    Maryland Universities & Colleges
    Maryland Counties
    Maryland Municipalities
    Maryland at a Glance

    Maryland Manual On-Line

    Search the Manual
    e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us


    The use of any user name and password on our site is for personal and educational purposes only, and constitutes agreement to abide by any and all copyright restrictions. In most instances the user name and password of aaco; aaco# will work. Contact ref@mdsa.net if you have any questions or have difficulty accessing files.

    Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!

    [ Archives' Home Page  ||  All About Maryland  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
    ||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

    Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

    © Copyright July 13, 2004 Maryland State Archives