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camp-toe-SORE-us                CAMPTOSAURUS                     [Bent Lizard]
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     The Camptosaurus was the most common dinosaur other than the giant
sauropods.  It was a predecessor of the duck-bills and probably traveled in
large herds.  It lived during the Late Jurassic Period and ate low plants.
Scientists have found Camptosaurus specimens of all sizes, ranging from
turkey-sized to seventeen feet long.  The largest weighed about a half ton.
     The Camptosaurus was named the "bent lizard" because it walked
about on its hind legs and had to bend down to feed.  The great beast used 
the strong fingers on its front legs to push itself back up on its hind legs 
after it was done browsing.
     The Camptosaurus had a horny beak instead of front teeth.  After a
plant had been nipped off it was pushed toward the chisel-shaped teeth
at the back of the jaw where it was ground up for digestion.
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