Dinosaurs Descend Onto the Desert

Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo hosts 23 real-size dinosaurs through April 30. The prehistoric creatures are displayed along the Desert Lives Trail offering guests an expedition into the land of the lost.

The 30-minute self-guided tour includes animatronic dinosaur structures which move, spit water and make various sounds including the infamous roar of a tyrannosaurus rex. Guests will also have the chance to become a paleontologist as they sift through a fossil dig in search of ancient artifacts.

Several of the dinosaurs are custom painted to represent colors and patterns of today’s Arizona desert animals. The unique patterns include a carnotaurus painted like a jaguar, an edomontonia painted like a Gila monster, a coelophysis painted like a Gamble’s quail, a diabloceratops painted like a desert spiny lizard and a citipati painted like a Chiricahua leopard frog.

As part of the exhibit, educational signage will be found with each dinosaur, highlighting size and interesting facts known about that particular species, including how their adaptations compare to modern species.

“Dinosaurs in the Desert” will be open during several of the zoo’s upcoming events, including Roars & Pours, Howl-O-Ween and the Zoo’s annual holiday light show, ZooLights.

Dinosaurs in the Desert

Oct. 3, 2017 – April 30, 2018

Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix

For more information, visit phoenixzoo.org.