Two new species of
Ceratopsians (group of horned, plant-eating dinosaurs whose most famous representative is the
Triceratops) have been discovered in Utah, U.S.A. The bigger of them has been named Utahceratops ("Horned face from Utah") and is interesting mainly because of its almost horizontal brow horns, a completely new feature within Ceratopsians. The other one is simply too baroque: it has 15 horns! Kosmoceratops (something like "Ornamented horned face"), has the most decorated head of all Dinosaurs discovered so far.
Artist's reconstructions of the heads of Kosmoceratops (left) and Utahceratops (right), by Lukas Panzarin.
Comparison between the Utahceratops (left) and Kosmoceratops (right) skeletons, by Scott D. Sampson et al. The bones colored in yellow are the ones that were recovered.
Once believed to be used as a defense against carnivores, the horns and all other features that were characteristic of Ceratopsids skulls are now thought to be mainly ornamental. Each species had a very particular set of horns and neck frills that may be used to spot representatives of their own kind, as well as to show off and engage in battle between males during the mating season,
the same way as most Cervids do nowadays.
Like Ceratopsians? This is the second post of this blog related to this group of Dinosaurs. Click
here to see the first one.
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