SIU Protoceratops

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

SIU Protoceratops SIU's First Dinosaur Needs a Name! (And we need your help to choose one!) Need more inspiration to come up with a great name for our dinosaur? Perhaps a little background or a few "fun facts" will help. First, our dinosaur is a Protoceratops (pronounced Proto-Sarah-Tops). Its difficult to determine the sex of many dionsaurs just from the bones but as far as we can tell, our dinosaur is female. She lived in what is now Mongolia, about 70 million years ago, towards the end of the time in the Earth's history when dinosaurs dominated the land. The skeleton on display is life size, so when she was alive * she would have been about 6 feet long, which is small by most dinosaur standards. She walked on four legs, as an adult it would have weighed about 400 pounds and despite her fearsome appearance, she only ate plants. As you can see from the pictures and from the skeleton on display in Parkinson, she had a large beak, much like a bird's beak (did you know that birds evolved from dinosaurs?). She also also had small bony horns on her nose and cheeks and a small "frill" or "shield" at the back of her head. A real beauty in her time! She used her beak to bite off tough plants that other dinosaurs could not eat. Her shield was not strong enough to have been much use for defense, so it was probably mostly for display, especially for attracting mates. She was a social animal that lived in herds of up to one hundred or so individuals. Like other dinosaurs, she laid eggs in nests on the ground and was a good parent. In fact, scientists have found fossils of Protoceratops nests with young from several different clutches, indicating that young stayed in the nest for a considerable time as they grew up, which shows that their parents must have been providing for them. There is even evidence that care of the young was shared among the herd. One fossil has been found in which several dozen young died together along with one sub-adult "babysitter". Protoceratops is one of the smallest of an entire family of dinosaurs that includes much larger, and probably more familiar creatures like Triceratops and a host of similar animals. If you grew up watching "The Land Before Time", Cera, aka Sarah, was a baby Triceratops. Triceratops has also been cast in Jurassic Park and every dinosaur toy set includes one as well! You can see models of the skulls Triceratops and some of Protoceratops' other cousins in the display cases in Parkinson. Like Protoceratops, all of these creatures were quadrupeds (walked of four legs), ate plants, and had beaks, neck frills and horns; but most were much larger (up to 30 feet long and weighting as much as 9 tons!) and had much more developed horns, so in a sense, Protoceratops was sort of the runt of the family! Protoceratops was small, and like many small modern herbivores (think wild sheep or goats), it was certainly vulnerable to predators, but she was not defenseless. Her main predator was another well-known dinosaur that you may be familiar with: Velociraptor. (If you only know Velociraptor from the Jurassic Park movies, you may be surprised to learn that these predators were actually much smaller than they were shown. The real animal was only about 6 feet long (mostly tail), less than 2 feet high and weighed about 30 pounds. And, it had feathers!) We know that Velociraptors hunted Protoceratops. In fact, one of the most famous fossils ever found is the bones of a Velociraptor locked in battle with a Protoceratops. In that fossil, which is shown below, the Protoceratops has the Velociraptor's arm in its beak and the Velociraptor has its "killing claw" striking at the Protoceratops' side! Apparently they were fighting near the base of a sand dune and their struggle cased a small landslide that buried them both, trapping them in that position for 70 million years! There are lots of other fun facts about Protoceratops that might help you come up with a great name for our dinosaur. Protoceratops' full scientific name is Protoceratops andrewsi. The andrewsi part of the name comes from the name of the first modern scientist to discover the bones of these animals: Roy Chapman Andrews. Andrews was a swashbuckling adventurer, explorer and scientist that led numerous expeditions to remote locations around the world, including the Gobi Desert where Protoceratops was discovered. He later became the inspiration for the character Indiana Jones. That's right, in real life, Indiana Jones was a geologist! Andrews may have been the first to describe Protoceratops in scientific terms, but he was by no means the first human to discover them. In fact, traders and travelers from Ancient Greece and the Near East were well aware of the bones that could be found in the deserts of western Asia, and they brought back their tales when they returned from the Silk Road. Not understanding that the world is old and that animals can go extinct, they assumed that they had found the bones of animals that still existed somewhere. (And no doubt local nomads were not shy about bragging of their bravery for having slain such beasts!) What these ancient adventurers saw were animals that were about the same size as a lion, but which laid eggs and had a huge beak instead of fangs. With this information they imagined a hybrid animal with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle - and from this the legend of the Griffin was born. (There are lots of other examples of ancient people misinterpreting fossils as the bones of mystical creatures too.) Everything above is just a few "fun facts" to try to help you think of great names for our dinosaur. There is much more information available online about Protoceratops and similar dinosaurs that you can easily locate with your favorite search engine. If you find this stuff interesting and would like to know more, the Department of Geology offers a number of classes that might interest to you as well: Geology 121 - The History of the Earth (offered each Fall) Geology 128 - The Dinosaurian World (offered each Spring) Geology 221 - The Earth through Time (offered Each Spring) Geology 329 - Geomythology (offered each Fall) You do not have to be a Geology major to take any of these classes. Geol 121, 128 and 221 all meet the University core curriculum science requirement (when taken with their corresponding laboratory section) and Geology 329 satisfies the core curriculum humanities requirement. Have fun with this! Be creative! We are looking forward to seeing the names you suggest. * Note the skeleton on display in Parkinson is a cast. After 70 million years, the actual bones are much too fragile to mount and display. So, in order to be able to show you what they are like, exact casts of the original bones are made and it is these that are used for displays both here and in museums elsewhere. The cast is an exact duplicate of the original fossil, right down to the fine details - even the sand that has stuck to the bones is recreated. .
Recommended publications
  • Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (Or Psittacine Circovirus, PCV)
    Psittacine beak and feather disease (or psittacine circovirus, PCV) Published by The recent diagnosis of psittacine beak and feather disease in wild Biosecurity Unit parrots is a cause of concern to the Department of Conservation. It Department of Conservation was diagnosed in a wild eastern rosella in the Wellington region in PO Box 12–416 Wellington, New Zealand August 2003. This disease is caused by a highly infectious virus and April 2004 affects the skin, feathers and immune system of parrots. There is po- tential for the disease to be transmitted to other wild parrots, in par- ticular New Zealand’s native species, such as the endangered kakapo and kaka. The potential impact of this disease on these spe- cies is unknown as it has affected parrot species in other countries in unpredictable patterns. However, the disease, also known as psit- tacine circovirus (PCV), could decimate the already depleted populations of our treasured native parrots and it therefore repre- sents a significant threat to biodiversity. What is psittacine beak and What happens if birds are feather disease? infected with this disease? Psittacine beak and feather disease Three forms of the disease exist: per- (also known as psittacine circovirus, acute (very sudden onset), acute (sud- PCV) is a highly infectious viral dis- den onset) and chronic (long term). ease of parrots that can cause high ju- The peracute form affects neonatal venile mortality, or long-term immu- (baby) parrots and causes septicae- Parrot infected with psittacine nological suppression, feather abnor- mia, pneumonia, enteritis (inflam- beak and feather disease. Photograph: Mary Wagner malities and (in cockatoos) beak rot.
    [Show full text]
  • Beak and Feather Disease Viru
    Fact sheet Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is the causative agent of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), an endemic disease in Australia’s wild parrot populations. Descriptions of parrots with feather loss consistent with the disease date back to the late 1800s (Ashby 1907). The virus is believed to have originated in Australia sometime following the separation of the continent from Gondwanaland, with spread to other parts of the world with modern movement of parrots as pet and aviary species . It has the potential to impact on several endangered Australian and non-Australian parrot populations and is listed as a key threatening process by the Australian government. Of late, the virus also has been identified in various non-psittacine species . Beak and feather disease virus is a 14 to 16 nm non-enveloped icosahedral DNA virus belonging to the family Circoviridae. Formerly, it was believed that the circoviruses recovered from a diverse range of psittacines were all antigenically similar. Doubt was cast on this theory when a virus that appeared to be serologically and genetically different was isolated from cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) (Shearer et al. 2008). More recent research appears to indicate that psittacine circoviruses can be divided into two species and multiple viral strains. Based on work by Varsani et al. (2011), BFDV contains 14 strains, while budgerigar circovirus (BCV), a newly defined species to date only found in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulates), contains three strains. However, it is likely that this number will continue to increase as shown by the discovery of two new distinct BFDV lineages in orange-bellied parrots (Neophema chrysogaster) (Peters et al.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Shorebird Profiles
    List of Shorebird Profiles Pacific Central Atlantic Species Page Flyway Flyway Flyway American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) •513 American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) •••499 Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) •488 Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) •••501 Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)•490 Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) •511 Dowitcher (Limnodromus spp.)•••485 Dunlin (Calidris alpina)•••483 Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemestica)••475 Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)•••492 Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) ••503 Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)••505 Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) •497 Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa)••473 Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)•••479 Sanderling (Calidris alba)•••477 Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)••494 Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)•••507 Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)•509 Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) •••481 Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) ••515 All illustrations in these profiles are copyrighted © George C. West, and used with permission. To view his work go to http://www.birchwoodstudio.com. S H O R E B I R D S M 472 I Explore the World with Shorebirds! S A T R ER G S RO CHOOLS P Red Knot (Calidris canutus) Description The Red Knot is a chunky, medium sized shorebird that measures about 10 inches from bill to tail. When in its breeding plumage, the edges of its head and the underside of its neck and belly are orangish. The bird’s upper body is streaked a dark brown. It has a brownish gray tail and yellow green legs and feet. In the winter, the Red Knot carries a plain, grayish plumage that has very few distinctive features. Call Its call is a low, two-note whistle that sometimes includes a churring “knot” sound that is what inspired its name.
    [Show full text]
  • Seabird Protection & Avoidance Tips
    Seabird Protection & Avoidance Tips Seabirds live in a variety of habitats in and around shallow water and coastal environments. They represent a vital part of marine ecology and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In fact, most of the 312 species of seabirds you may encounter while fishing are likely to be protected by law, with some classified as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. NOAA Depending on the geographic region, fishermen in the U.S. can FISHERIES observe species of Albatross, Cormorants, Gannet, Loons, Pelicans, Puffins, Sea Gulls, Storm-Petrels, Shearwaters, and SERVICE Terns, among others. Office of Sustainable Fisheries Be Aware of Seabird Behavior Seabirds feed on smaller fish that most anglers use for bait, so they typically won’t challenge a fisherman for his catch, however, the seabird’s hunting methods still put them in danger of getting hooked or entangled in a fisherman’s line. Many seabirds feed on krill, fish, squid or other prey items at the ocean's surface, while some, such as Cormorants, are known to dive to depths of more than 100 ft below the waves to catch a fish. In another technique, seabirds in flight will “plunge dive” into the water in pursuit of a fast-moving fish. Brown Pelicans, for example, can make vertical dives from more than 70 feet above the water when chasing their prey. Young seabirds, especially young pelicans, are particularly susceptible to being ensnared by fishing line. What If I Accidentally Hook a Seabird? HOW CAN I HELP SEABIRDS? In the unfortunate event of a hooked seabird, don't cut or break the line.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Beaks Bird Feet You Can Tell a Lot About What a the Feet of a Bird Can Tell Us Bird Eats by Its Beak Type! About Where the Bird Lives And
    Bird Beaks Bird Feet You can tell a lot about what a The feet of a bird can tell us bird eats by its beak type! about where the bird lives and How many types can you find? what it eats! How many types can you find? Junior Bird List For the Laguna de Santa Rosa List of most common birds found on City reclamation ponds, marshes and farms EAGLES, KITES, FALCONS & HAWKS WOODPECKERS Aerial Marsh Osprey Northern Flicker Oak Woodland Pond White-tailed Kite Nuttall’s Woodpecker Streamside Grassland SONGBIRDS Red-shouldered Hawk Summer Winter Black Phoebe Red-tailed Hawk Fall Permanent Scrub Jay American Kestrel American Crow GROUSE, TURKEY & QUAIL GREBES Violet-green Swallow California Quail Pied-billed Grebe Cliff Swallow RAILS & CRANES PELICANS & CORMORANTS Marsh Wren American Coot American White Pelican SHOREBIRDS & GULLS Western Bluebird Double-crested Cormorant Killdeer American Robin HERONS, EGRETS & VULTURES Black-necked Stilt European Starling Great Blue Heron American Avocet Yellow-rumped Warbler Great Egret Mew Gull California Towhee Snowy Egret Ring-billed Gull Golden-crowned Sparrow Turkey Vulture DOVES White-crowned Sparrow SWANS, GEESE & DUCKS Rock Dove Red-winged Blackbird Canada Goose Mourning Dove Western Meadowlark Mallard SWIFTS & HUMMINGBIRDS House Finch Northern Shoveler Anna’s Hummingbird Goldfinch Bufflehead KINGFISHERS Northern Mockingbird Ruddy Duck Belted Kingfisher Common Yellowthroat .
    [Show full text]
  • Dinosaurs Alive Seamless Page 1 of 17
    DINOSAURS ALIVE SEAMLESS PAGE 1 OF 17 01:00:09.09 GRAPHICS ON SCREEN Giant Screen Films Presents a Production of David Clark Inc. Giant Screen Films Maryland Science Center Stardust Blue LLC. 01:00:17.24 GRAPHICS ON SCREEN In Association with American Museum of Natural History and Hugo Productions With Generous Support from The National Science Foundation Narrated by Michael Douglas 01:00:56.07 Host VO 80 million years ago, two dinosaurs, a crested Protoceratops and a sharp-clawed Velociraptor, fought to the death. 01:01:11.27 Host VO Somehow, as they died in the sands of the Gobi Desert, their battle was frozen in time. The Velociraptor flat on its back, its clawed arm caught in the jaws of the Protoceratops, an extraordinary fossil, a mysterious glimpse of life and death in the Age of Dinosaurs. 01:01:42.03 GRAPHICS ON SCREEN Dinosaurs Alive 01:02:03.25 Host VO For more than 150 million years, dinosaurs roamed every corner of the planet. Only a very few left evidence of their existence, their fossilized bones. 01:02:18.21 Host VO And those bones never cease to fascinate us. 01:02:34.11 Host VO Dinosaurs came in amazing shapes and sizes. Some were the largest animals ever to walk the earth. 01:02:52.08 Host VO Paleontologists, the scientists who study prehistoric life, are discovering more dinosaurs now than ever before. And this fossil evidence is allowing them to reconstruct not only their strange skeletons but also their lives. 01:03:11.29 Host VO An example is this gigantic long-necked, plant- eater known as Seismosaurus.
    [Show full text]
  • Beak Evolution in Some Dinosaurs Likely Associated with Diet, Not Flight, Study Shows 2 December 2013
    Beak evolution in some dinosaurs likely associated with diet, not flight, study shows 2 December 2013 played an important role in stabilizing the skeletal structure during feeding, making the skull less susceptible to bending and deformation. Lead author Dr Stephan Lautenschlager of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences said: "It has classically been assumed that beaks evolved to replace teeth and thus save weight, as a requirement for the evolution of flight. Our results, however, indicate that keratin beaks were in fact beneficial to enhance the stability of the skull during biting and feeding." Credit: Copyright: Dr. Stephan Lautenschlager Beaks are a typical hallmark of modern birds and can be found in a huge variety of forms and shapes. However, it is less well known that keratin- covered beaks had already evolved in different groups of dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Period. Employing high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT scanning) and computer Credit: Copyright: Dr. Stephan Lautenschlager simulations, Dr Stephan Lautenschlager and Dr Emily Rayfield of the University of Bristol with Dr Perle Altangerel (National University of Ulaanbaatar) and Professor Lawrence Witmer Co-author Dr Emily Rayfield, Reader of (Ohio University) used digital models to take a Palaeobiology at Bristol said: "Using Finite Element closer look at these dinosaur beaks. Analysis, a computer modelling technique routinely used in engineering, we were able to deduce very The focus of the study was the skull of accurately how bite and muscle forces affected the Erlikosaurus andrewsi, a 3-4m (10-13ft) large skull of Erlikosaurus during the feeding process. herbivorous dinosaur called a therizinosaur, which This further allowed us to identify the importance of lived more than 90 million years ago during the soft-tissue structures, such as the keratinous beak, Cretaceous Period in what is now Mongolia, and which are normally not preserved in fossils." which shows evidence that part of its snout was covered by a keratinous beak.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating and Treating the Gastrointestinal System
    CHAPTER 14 Evaluating and Treating the Gastrointestinal System STACEY GELIS, BS c, BVS c (Hons), MACVS c ( Avian Health) The avian gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has undergone a multitude of changes during evolution to become a unique anatomical and physiological structure when compared to other animal orders. On the one hand it has evolved to take advantage of the physical and chemi- cal characteristics of a wide variety of food types.1 On the other hand, it has had to do so within the limitations of the requirements for flight.2 To this end, birds have evolved a lightweight beak and muscular ventriculus, which replaces the heavy bone, muscular and dental structure characteristic of reptiles and mammals. The ventriculus and small intestine are the heaviest struc- tures within the gastrointestinal tract and are located near the bird’s centre of gravity within the abdomen. Greg J. Harrison Greg J. The overall length of the GIT is also less than that of a comparable mammal, another weight-saving flight adap- tation. Interestingly, these characteristics are still shared with the flightless species such as ratites and penguins. In addition, the actual digestive process needs to be rapid to support the high metabolic rate typical of flighted birds.3 Gastrointestinal adaptations to the wide range of ecolog- ical niches that birds occupy mean that birds can take advantage of a huge variety of foodstuffs. The GIT hence shows the greatest degree of diversity of all the organ systems between different avian taxa. However, the pres- sures of convergent evolution have also meant that many distantly related species have developed a similar gastrointestinal anatomy to take advantage of particular food niches.3,4 Examples of these will be presented in the discussion of each section of the GIT.
    [Show full text]
  • Press Release
    Press Release For Immediate Release January 2, 2012 Media Contact Cynthia Ehlinger Marketing Associate 203 413-6756 | [email protected] Take a Walk Through the Dinosaur Age. Chinasaurs: Dinosaur Discoveries from China Opens January 26, 2013 at Bruce Museum Szechuanosaurus Szechuan Province, China Late Jurassic Period, 160 to 144 million years ago Since the first paleontological expedition to Mongolia by Roy Chapman Andrews of the American Museum of Natural History in the 1920s, the allure of discovering exotic Asian dinosaurs has been the dream of every paleontologist. Subsequently, dinosaurs from China have been unearthed revealing their relationships to birds as evidenced by the presence of feathers together with scales. Several of the most spectacular of these dinosaurs are coming to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, beginning January 26 and continuing through April 21, 2013. Chinasaurs: Dinosaur Discoveries from China welcomes visitors to walk among the skeletons, skulls, nests and eggs of more than a dozen of these rare Asian dinosaurs. From the huge 32-foot long, meat- eating Yangchuanosaurus to the gazelle-sized plant eaters such as Psittacosaurus, the prehistoric fossils of the Far East provide an exciting experience for dinosaur enthusiasts. Skeletons of all sizes from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods tell the tale of dinosaur diversification and shifting continents. Maps, video and activity tables help visitors of all ages learn more about the specimens on view. One display features a Jurassic battle between the plated, plant-eating Tuojiangosaurus with a spiked tail and the large meat-eating Monolophosaurus with teeth like steak Page 1 of 3 Press Release knives.
    [Show full text]
  • A Battering Ram?
    A Battering Ram? All evidence suggests that Pachycephalosaur skulls were built to withstand extreme forces 9 inches of solid bone Bone organized in a radial arrangement- structural support Articulation btw back of skull and vertebrae oriented to transfer forces linearly Articulation btw back of skull and vertebral column built to withstand sideways forces Vertebral column has tongue and groove articulations Spinal column is an S-shaped shock absorber BUT There is no ‘locking’ mechanism on skull to keep battering heads aligned Some Pachycephalosaurs have imprinted blood vessels on dome These factors suggests that head- butting may not be likely Intraspecies Competition (typically male-male) Females are typically choosey Why? Because they have more to loose Common rule in biology: Females are expensive to lose, males are cheap (e.g. deer hunting) Females choose the male most likely to provide the most successful offspring Males compete with each other for access to female vs. female chooses the strongest male Choosey females // Strong males have more offspring => SEXUAL selection Many ways to do this... But: In general, maximize competition and minimize accidental deaths (= no fitness) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PontCXFgs0M http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1941236/giraffe_fight/ http://www.youtube.com/watch? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYDx1y38vGw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULRtdk-3Yh4 Air-filled horn cores vs. solid bone skull caps... Gotta have a cheezy animated slide. Homalocephale Pachycephalosaurus Prenocephale Tylocephale Stegoceras Head butting Pachycephalosaurs Bone structure was probably strong enough to withstand collision Convex nature would favor glancing blows Instead, dome and spines seem better suited for “flank butting” So..
    [Show full text]
  • Marketing Guideguide
    MarketingMarketing GuideGuide www.dinosalive.com Table of Contents Introduction 3 Film Positioning Synopsis 4 Fact Sheet 5 Short Descriptions 6 Target Audiences & Messages 7 Key Artwork & Promotional Material Key Artwork 8 Promotional Material & Images 9 Press Relations & Publicity Press Kit & Electronic Press Kit (EPK), Media Screenings 10 Generating Publicity & Media Partnerships 11 Dinosaur Mascot 12 Screenings 13 Promotional Screening 14 Educator Screening 15 Opening Events Local Premiere & Members Events 16 Guest Appearances 17-19 Exhibits 20-22 Group Sales 23 Education & Resources Ed Guide, Classroom Poster & Traveling Trunks 24 Books for Children 25 Books for Adults 26 Advertising 27-31 Merchandise Film Related Items & Suggested Books 32 Contacts 33 ww ww ww .. dd ii nn oo ss aa ll ii vv ee .. cc oo mm 2 Introduction This guide is provided to help you launch Dinosaurs Alive successfully and to sustain strong attendance throughout the film’s run. All of the tools are available on the Films Marketing Website. You can access these by going to www.dinosalive.com and clicking on Theater Resources. Contacts are provided at the back of the Guide. Please feel free to contact us if there is anything you need that you don’t find here or on the marketing website. ww ww ww .. dd ii nn oo ss aa ll ii vv ee .. cc oo mm 3 Synopsis Dinosaurs Alive is a global adventure of science Dinosaurs Alive will also introduce and discovery – featuring the earliest dinosaurs of audiences to the breakthrough the Triassic Period to the monsters of the discoveries taking place under the Cretaceous “reincarnated” life-sized for the giant IMAX ® screen.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Maastrichtian Species of the Centrosaurine Ceratopsid Pachyrhinosaurus from the North Slope of Alaska
    A new Maastrichtian species of the centrosaurine ceratopsid Pachyrhinosaurus from the North Slope of Alaska ANTHONY R. FIORILLO and RONALD S. TYKOSKI Fiorillo, A.R. and Tykoski, R.S. 2012. A new Maastrichtian species of the centrosaurine ceratopsid Pachyrhinosaurus from the North Slope of Alaska. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57 (3): 561–573. The Cretaceous rocks of the Prince Creek Formation contain the richest record of polar dinosaurs found anywhere in the world. Here we describe a new species of horned dinosaur, Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum that exhibits an apomorphic character in the frill, as well as a unique combination of other characters. Phylogenetic analysis of 16 taxa of ceratopsians failed to resolve relationships between P. perotorum and other Pachyrhinosaurus species (P. canadensis and P. lakustai). P. perotorum shares characters with each of the previously known species that are not present in the other, including very large nasal and supraorbital bosses that are nearly in contact and separated only by a narrow groove as in P. canadensis, and a rostral comb formed by the nasals and premaxillae as in P. lakustai. P. perotorum is the youngest centrosaurine known (70–69 Ma), and the locality that produced the taxon, the Kikak−Tegoseak Quarry, is close to the highest latitude for recovery of ceratopsid remains. Key words: Dinosauria, Centrosaurinae, Cretaceous, Prince Creek Formation, Kikak−Tegoseak Quarry, Arctic. Anthony R. Fiorillo [[email protected]] and Ronald S. Tykoski [[email protected]], Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2201 N. Field Street, Dallas, TX 75202, USA. Received 4 April 2011, accepted 23 July 2011, available online 26 August 2011.
    [Show full text]