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Description
Franciscosaurus was an Orthomerid Hadrosauromorph from the Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene of Spain, France and Hungary. Orthomerids were once rather commonplace in Europe during the Eocene and Oligocene, but began to decline by the end of the latter period due to increased competition arriving from Asia. At the Miocene transition, only Franciscosaurus remained. It was 9m long, with a strangely elongated set of jaws and a wide flattened beak at the tips. These are used for eating swamp growing plants, with the animal scooping them up and chewing them with its dense dental batteries. The body is rather stocky and heavy set, while the tail is comparatively short. Overall, the skull is somewhat similar to that of Deinocheirus and Franciscosaurus was at home in humid, sub-tropical forests with access to water. Indeed, the humidification and reforestation of Europe during the Miocene allowed this specialized animal to spread out of its Spanish homeland to colonize the rest of the continent. It was likely a solitary animal, only coming together to mate. A tall, thin dome shaped crest is present on the head, utilized in sexual display and species recognition. The genus became extinct during the later Miocene due to the gradual aridification of its home range.

Description
Franciscosaurus was an Orthomerid Hadrosauromorph from the Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene of Spain, France and Hungary. Orthomerids were once rather commonplace in Europe during the Eocene and Oligocene, but began to decline by the end of the latter period due to increased competition arriving from Asia. At the Miocene transition, only Franciscosaurus remained. It was 9m long, with a strangely elongated set of jaws and a wide flattened beak at the tips. These are used for eating swamp growing plants, with the animal scooping them up and chewing them with its dense dental batteries. The body is rather stocky and heavy set, while the tail is comparatively short. Overall, the skull is somewhat similar to that of Deinocheirus and Franciscosaurus was at home in humid, sub-tropical forests with access to water. Indeed, the humidification and reforestation of Europe during the Miocene allowed this specialized animal to spread out of its Spanish homeland to colonize the rest of the continent. It was likely a solitary animal, only coming together to mate. A tall, thin dome shaped crest is present on the head, utilized in sexual display and species recognition. The genus became extinct during the later Miocene due to the gradual aridification of its home range.