Saurolophinae

Saurolophinae is a subfamily of hadrosaurid dinosaurs, a group of ornithopod dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 75 to 66 million years ago. They are characterized by their distinctive, elongated, and often curved crests on their skulls, which are believed to have been used for display and possibly for vocalization. Saurolophinae includes several well-known genera, such as Saurolophus, Protoceratops, and Edmontosaurus.

The subfamily is known for its diverse range of species, which inhabited various environments, including coastal regions, river valleys, and open plains. They were herbivorous, feeding on a diet of plants, and were among the largest herbivorous dinosaurs of their time. Saurolophinae had a unique combination of features, including a long, low skull, a beak-like mouth filled with small, sharp teeth, and a long, whip-like tail.

Fossils of Saurolophinae have been found on all continents, indicating that they had a widespread distribution. The subfamily went extinct along with the non-avian dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period, likely due to the asteroid impact that caused the mass extinction event. Despite their extinction, Saurolophinae have left a significant impact on our understanding of dinosaur evolution and behavior.