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Pachycephalosaurus Facts
Pachycephalosaurus skull:
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- Pachycephalosaurus was a genus of
dinosaur
(for more information see Pachycephalosaurus Classification).
- Currently only one species of Pachycephalosaurus is known:
Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis
(for more information see Pachycephalosaurus Classification).
- Pachycephalosaurus was a herbivore (ate plants).
- Pachycephalosaurus lived in the late
Cretaceous period, between approximately 76 million
and 65 million years ago.
- Pachycephalosaurus lived in what is today North America.
- Pachycephalosaurus was probably about 15 feet (4.6 meters) long, and probably
weighted around 950 pounds (430 kilograms).
- The most noteable feature of Pachycephalosaurus is the thick bony dome on its skull. This was
10 inches (25 centimeters) thick. At the back of the dome were several short bony spikes.
Scientists once believed that this dome could have been used in butting
competitions for mates (modern big-horned sheep engage in similar behavior), or perhaps to defend
against predators. However, some doubt has been cast on these theories by the fact that
Pachycephalosaurus skulls lack shocking absorbing features, do not appear to be strong enough for
such activities, and do not appear to have been damaged either.
- Pachycephalosaurus also had bony spikes around its snout. Because of this feature, many scientists
believe that Pachycephalosaurus could have been related to
ceratopsians such
as which include
Protoceratops,
Psittacosaurus,
Styracosaurus,
and
Triceratops.
However unlike most of its
ceratopsian relatives, Pachycephalosaurus appears to have walked on two legs rather
than four.
- Pachycephalosaurus also had unusual teeth. The teeth were very small and ridged, and not particularly
well suited to chewing fibrous plant material. It is therefore thought that Pachycephalosaurus
ate leaves, fruit, seeds, and perhaps insects.
- The first fossils
of Pachycephalosaurus were discovered in the 1850s. However it was not until more specimens were
found that the animal was named.
- In 1931,
the creature was thought to be a species of
Troodon,
and was therefore named Troodon wyomingensis.
- In 1943,
the genus of Pachycephalosaurus was recognized as separate, and
Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis was the name of the first species in this genus.
- In the 1940s, two other species were also named Pachycephalosaurus grangeri and Pachycephalosaurus reinheimeri. However since 1983, these species have no longer been considered distinct from Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis.
- In 1931,
the creature was thought to be a species of
Troodon,
and was therefore named Troodon wyomingensis.
- The name "Pachycephalosaurus" means "thick-headed lizard".
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