A new species of horned dinosaur, which might be a close relative of Triceratops, is now being studied by Canadian scientists. The discovery offers new insights on the early evolution of skull ornamentation among horned dinosaurs.
The researchers dubbed the new species of horned dinosaur as Wendiceratops pinhornensis, also known as "Wendy's horned-face," after the renowned Alberta fossil hunter Wendy Sloboda. She discovered the excavation site where over 200 bones of the new species were collected in 2010 in southern Alberta, Canada.
The new species of horned dinosaur was approximately 20 feet long and weighed more than a ton. Some of its distinguishing features include a series of forward-curling hook-like horns and shield-like frill at the back of its skull. It also has a prominent, upright nasal horn.
Dating revealed that they walked on Earth about 79 million years ago, making it one of the oldest relative of the Triceratops.
"Wendiceratops helps us understand the early evolution of skull ornamentation in an iconic group of dinosaurs characterized by their horned faces." David Evans from the Royal Ontario Museum said in a press release. "The wide frill of Wendiceratops is ringed by numerous curled horns, the nose had a large, upright horn, and it's likely there were horns over the eyes too. The number of gnarly frill projections and horns makes it one of the most striking horned dinosaurs ever found."
Further details of the Wendiceratops were published in the June 8 issue of PLOS ONE.
Wendiceratops is not the only new species being studied by scientists. As HNGN previously reported, the horned dinosaur as Regaliceratops peterhewsi with a nickname of "Hellboy" was discovered along the Oldman River in southeastern Alberta, Canada.
Hellboy has the horned characteristic of the Triceratops but its nose horn is taller and its eyes are smaller. It also has facial horns and shield-like frill at the back of the skull that looks like a crown. It seems to be an evolutionary convergence of the Chasmosaurines, known for their prominent brow horns and long frills lacking long spines, and the Centrosaurines which have single large horns over their noses.
Evolutionary convergence, or convergent evolution, occurs when non-related species evolve to have similar traits in order to adapt to environmental changes. The researchers believe that the species evolved due to sexual selection. They believe that horned dinosaurs that had bigger horns or longer frills were more likely to attract mates. It is uncertain though if the Wendiceraptors also evolved their horns for the same reason.
