Triceratops#Nedoceratops

The skull of Nedoceratops, the only known fossil.

• USA

• N. hatcheri ( Lull, 1905)

Nedoceratops (formerly Diceratops ) is a controversial genus of bird Beck dinosaurs from the group of Ceratopsidae within the ceratopsians.

Features

From Nedoceratops only a poorly preserved skull is known, which is similar to that of Triceratops. It is debatable whether it is in fact a separate species. The nasal horn is reduced to a round pillar candles, making the long over eyes horns remained as the eponymous " two horns ". Like all Ceratopsidae he had a formed from the parietal and squamosal neck shield, which, however, unlike Triceratops had openings. These openings give rise for some researchers the status as a distinct genus.

About the rest of the body is not known, he probably resembled that of the other Ceratopsidae. Consequently, it is likely possessed a strong trunk with sturdy legs and have moved quadruped ( on all fours ). Like all ceratopsians he was herbivorous.

Discovery and designation

The fossil skull of Nedoceratops was found in the Lance Formation in Wyoming. John Bell Hatcher explored the Fund, after his early death Richard Swann Lull published in 1905 the first description under the name Diceratops ( "two -horned face "). Type species and only known species is D. hatcheri. Since the name was already taken for a Diceratops Hymenoptera genus, Octávio Mateus and AS Ukrainsky proposed in 2008 before the name Diceratus. Since the name was first published Nedoceratops, he has according to the rules of the International Regulations for Zoological Nomenclature priority over Diceratus.

The Fund is (late Maastrichtian ) dated to the Late Cretaceous to an age 69-66 million years.

System

Nedoceratops is classified within the Ceratopsidae in the Chasmosaurinae, which were characterized by large supraorbital horns and a long neck shield. He is counted for Triceratops Torosaurus clade and is related by cladistic studies most closely related to Torosaurus.