Fun Labocania Facts For Kids

The Labocania (species name: Labocania anomala) existed in the Campanian stage in the Late Cretaceous time period and this time period that thesedinosaurs lived in was between 86.3 million years to 70.6 million years ago. This dinosaur species from the Campanian stage is known to have inhabited North America and a skeleton was discovered in Baja California, Mexico. It has been known to live in terrestrial habitats.

Its form of reproduction was sexual and it gave birth by laying eggs. This is a medium-sized carnivore theropod (possibly might be a tyrannosauroid) and its appearance is quite uncertain as our evidence is based on fragmented material. Cranial elements of this species are considered to be robust. Its maxilla teeth were recurved and the flat and pre-maxilla ones did not have a D-shaped cross-section. Research shows that there was a circular scar on the upper end of this dinosaur and research also suggests that this Labocania had an unusually shaped skull. It has been recorded that this dinosaur used to walk with heavy steps.

The Labocania anomala was discovered in an expedition held in 1970. It is named after the La Bocana Roja formation, meaning 'the red estuary'. The specific name is derived from Latin and the species was named by Molnar in 1974. A holotype was found in the layer of the La Bocana Roja formation and is named LACM 20877. Molnar had observed certain similarities between the Tyrannosauroidea and the Labocania.

It is great to learn about this dinosaur, and if you like, you can read about the Tupuxuara and the Ludodactylus, too.

How do you pronounce Labocania?

The English pronunciation of Labocania is 'la-bo-ca-nee-ya'.

What type of dinosaur was a Labocania?

The Labocania genus belongs to the theropod type. It was a carnivorous theropod but there was a possibility that it was a tyrannosauroid.

In which geological period did the Labocania roam the earth?

It is known to have existed in the Campanian age or maybe even in an earlier age.

When did the Labocania become Extinct?

Dinosaurs, in general, have been known to become Extinct around the time period of 65 million years ago.

Where did a Labocania live?

This dinosaur species was known to have inhabited North America and a Labocania skeleton was discovered in Baja California, Mexico.

What was a Labocania's habitat?

Not a lot of details are available about the habitat of the Labocania, but it is believed that this dinosaur used to inhabit terrestrial habitats.

Who did a Labocania live with?

Not much information is available about the social behavior of this dinosaur, including information on who they lived with.

How long did a Labocania live?

Whilst, the age that individual Labocania's lived to is not known, it is almost certain that this dinosaur species lived from 86.3 million years ago to 70.6 million years ago.

How did they reproduce?

It has been noted that these dinosaurs used the sexual form of reproduction and the process involved the male depositing sperm inside the female and the female laying fertilized eggs with developing embryos.

What did a Labocania look like?

This species is considered to be a medium-sized one. It is believed that cranial elements of this theropod were robust and their frontals have been robustly stiffened. Their maxilla teeth were gradually recurving and also flat, and the teeth of the pre-maxilla did not have a D-shaped cross-section. The resemblance of this animal is very uncertain as all research has been done on the basis of fragmented materials. Research shows that there was a circular scar on the top upper end of this dinosaur and research also suggests that this Labocania dinosaur had an unusually shaped skull based on its fossil.

How many bones did a Labocania have?

Since only partial skeletons of these dinosaurs have been discovered, it is difficult to estimate and determine the number of bones they had.

How did they communicate?

Communication among these dinosaurs may have taken place just like it does among other species, that is, through sounds, postures, and gestures.

How big was a Labocania?

Their exact size is difficult to determine, but it has been noted that the Labocania was maybe around 20-27 ft (600-823 cm) long.

How fast could a Labocania move?

The speed of this animal is not known.

How much did a Labocania weigh?

Their weight is estimated to be around 1.5-2.6 tons (1361-2359 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

Males and females of this species do not have any specific names.

What would you call a baby Labocania?

Baby dinosaurs were known as hatchlings.

What did they eat?

Very little information is available about the food of this dinosaur, but it has been noted that its diet was carnivorous.

How aggressive were they?

In general, dinosaurs were considered to be instinctively violent and aggressive.

Did you know...

History states that in 1970, a joint paleontological expedition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and the National Geographic Society. This expedition was led by a geologist named William. J. Morris.

A volunteer named Harley James Garbani discovered a theropod skeleton in Baja California, Mexico from the Late Cretaceous time period.

Ralph Molnar (1974) was the one who named and described the species Labocania anomala.

The generic name of this tyrannosauroid theropod dinosaur is based on the La Bocana Roja formation, meaning 'the red estuary' or 'red lips', and the specific name 'anomalous' from the species type 'Labocania anomala' is derived from Latin and refers to the distinct or long build of this Labocania dinosaur.

The holotype fossil of this Late Cretaceous species was found in the layer of La Bocana Roja formation and is named LACM 20877. It has robust cranial elements.

LACM 20877 consisted of a fragmented skeleton fossil with some elements like the right quadrate, a piece of left maxilla, the left frontal, a dentarium fragment, the chevron, the right pubis middle shaft, the ischia, the pedal phalanx, and the second right metatarsal.

Remains of this theropod dinosaur were known to be mixed with Hadrosauroidea ribs.

Ralph Molnar had noted certain similarities between tyrannosaurids and the Labocania anomala and these Molnar similarities were based on the ischium form that had a low triangular obturator process and a lateral scar on top of the discovered fossil.

The average Labocania height may have been around 71-78.7 in (180-200 cm).

It is thought that this dinosaur may have walked with heavy steps.

Did the Labocania hunt?

It is believed that the Labocania dinosaur may have hunted as it was a carnivore but its hunting techniques and ways are not known.

What terrain did the Labocania live in?

The Labocania existed in the Late Cretaceous time period as stated in history. The exact terrain it lived on it not currently known.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Yinlong facts and Homalocephale facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Labocania coloring pages.

The main image is by Ghedo.