Xenoceratops (Alien Horned Face)

Basic facts

  • 19.6 feet (6m) length

  • Late Cretaceous

  • Canada

  • Herbivore

Xenoceratops is a genus of dinosaur belonging to the family Ceratopsidae. It lived approximately 80 to 78 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous, in what is now Alberta, Canada. The first fossils of Xenoceratops were discovered in the early 20th century, and subsequent findings have provided paleontologists with valuable insights into this remarkable horned dinosaur.

Xenoceratops was a medium-sized ceratopsian dinosaur, estimated to have reached lengths of around 5 to 6 meters. It was distinguished by its unique array of horns and frill ornamentation. Its skull featured a prominent nasal horn and smaller horns above its eyes. The frill at the back of its skull displayed a unique arrangement of spikes and bony projections.

Xenoceratops possesses unique features in its frill's bony ornamentation, setting it apart from other ceratopsids. Notably, the two bony projections closest to the midline of the frill are thick knobs, oriented towards the midline. Adjacent to each knob is a single long, flattened, and straight spike pointing laterally and to the rear. The anterior corners of the parietal boast a large triangular knob. In contrast to most other centrosaurines, the midline bar of Xenoceratops' frill lacks bumps or other ornamentation.

Xenoceratops likely had a nasal and brow horn configuration similar to that of other basal centrosaurines.