An artist's reconstruction of Aquilops in its environment in ancient Montana. (Copyright Brian Engh, courtesy of Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology)
Posted on 12/26/2014 7:25:41 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Paleontologists working in southern Montana unearthed a 3-inch beaked skull with pointed cheeks, which they believe is the oldest definitive evidence of a horned dinosaur in North America. Though small, the skull helps fill gaps in the evolutionary history of horned creatures on this continent...
Fossil remains of horned dinosaurs, called neoceratopsian, have been found throughout North America, but the fossil record of these creatures is incredibly limited further back in time. That's been a hang-up for paleontologists because the late Early Cretaceous period (roughly 113 to 105 million years ago) was a time of important diversification for horned dinosaurs.
In Asia, a collection of well-preserved fossils spells out this evolutionary history vividly, but fossil evidence in North America was limited to isolated teeth and bits of skulls.
The tiny skull paleontologists found in Montana's Cloverly Formation is the first horned dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous that could be identified to the species level. The dinosaur, named Aquilops americanus, had a beak-like nose and sharply pointed cavities over its cheeks. The prehistoric horny creature probably grew to be the size of a crow...
Aquilops bears a striking resemblance to the horned dinosaurs that were living in Asia during the same period of time. Therefore, paleontologists believe a series of migratory events between Asia and North America ensued during the Early Cretaceous, which enriched the diversity of neoceratopsian species.
The exact route these wandering dinosaurs traveled to and from Asia in unclear, though researchers say Aquilops probably made it to North America across the Beringian land bridge...
The study's authors say species in Asia and North America were isolated and connected multiple times in the past, based on the dispersal and kinds of fossils found on each continent.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.discovermagazine.com ...
An artist's reconstruction of Aquilops in its environment in ancient Montana. (Copyright Brian Engh, courtesy of Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology)
Mmmmmmm.....tastes like Chicken, I bet!!!
Imagine the size of the tub of cole slaw!
Yep....actually, I like to see articles about dinos, etc. I used to love building models of them as a boy. But back then, they were simpler to remember.
Now it seems every PhD candidate and professor wants to redefine them into a vast array of obscure distinctly different categories. It’s to much for my old fart brain to keep up with now.
I fully expect T-Rex to be redefined to a category of dinosaur that is/was physically challenged because of the short arms, whereas PETA will be rioting against Hollywood when one is depicted as a bloodthirsty critter instead of the physically challenged, misunderstood regal animals they were.
Here I thought it was going to be a pic of Nancy Pelosi...
Dirty old Dinosaur
Dinosaurs were identified in just the past two centuries, although in antiquity such fossils were perceived as the bones of giants, titans, and the like. Mammoths were interpreted as cyclops. As more varieties are discovered, there’s bound to be a change in classifications. But I know what you mean about trying to keep track of these changes as one gets older, it’s challenging at best. :’)
LOL!
I wondered where Bill Clinton was these days.
Laz is neither that old or small.
How many times *do* I have to reiterate “I am not ready to show fossilized proof of a unicorn to the world”?
Now someone else will take credit for my discovery....
(the horny creature) “grew to the size of a crow”
It can’t be Slick Clinton.
Monica L. testified that he grew to be about the size of a thumb.
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