JOPLIN, Mo. — Like most states in the U.S., Missouri has a complicated geological past. Several times throughout history, the land that is now the state of Missouri was completely underwater. At times, only some parts of the state were submerged while other portions were dry. Fortunately, sedimentation took place during the latter part of the Mesozoic period, so scientists have some evidence of dinosaurs that lived in Missouri.
But scientists have only found proof of roughly four different types of dinosaurs, even though others probably lived in Missouri. This first one, though, is the dinosaur that Missouri state officials chose to represent their state.