Did this duck-billed dinosaur use its elaborate head crest as a natural trombone?

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Corythosaurus, a Late Cretaceous herbivore, sported a tall, hollow helmet-like crest that once baffled paleontologists. While early theories suggested it helped the animal breathe underwater, modern analysis indicates the structure was likely a sophisticated vocalization chamber, allowing the dinosaur to emit low-frequency sounds to communicate with its herd.

Named by Barnum Brown in 1914, the Corythosaurus is a lambeosaurine hadrosaurid that roamed North America approximately 77 to 75.7 million years ago. Its name, meaning 'helmeted lizard,' refers to the distinctive bony crest atop its skull, which resembles a Corinthian helmet or a cassowary's casque. Measuring up to 9 metres in length, this dinosaur was a selective browser, with fossilized evidence showing a diet of conifer needles, seeds, twigs, and fruits.

The function of the crest has been a subject of significant scientific debate. Early researchers mistakenly believed the animal was aquatic, theorizing that the crest served as an air reservoir for diving. However, this was debunked when it was discovered that the crest lacked external openings and that water pressure would have prevented lung inflation. Instead, the complex, S-shaped internal nasal passages suggest the crest functioned as a resonance chamber. By exhaling through these tubes, the Corythosaurus could produce low-pitched, trumpet-like calls, potentially used to attract mates or warn others of predators.

Understanding the Corythosaurus has also required correcting early anatomical errors. Barnum Brown initially misidentified several skull bones, confusing the premaxillae with the nasals and the nasals with the frontals. Furthermore, what were once thought to be webbed feet—supporting the aquatic theory—are now understood to be deflated padding similar to that found in modern mammals. Today, the Corythosaurus is recognized as a terrestrial creature that occupied specific ecological niches alongside other herbivores, using its unique anatomy to thrive in the crowded forests of the Late Cretaceous.

The classification of the genus has also evolved. While up to seven species were once described, modern studies suggest many differences in crest shape and size were actually due to the age and sex of the individuals rather than distinct species. Today, C. casuarius is the primary recognized species, though research continues into how these animals grew and interacted within their environment, providing a clearer picture of one of the most iconic 'duck-billed' dinosaurs.

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