Pachyrhinosaurus

The first Pachyrhinosaurus fossils were actually discovered way back in‭ ‬1880,‭ ‬but they did not get the attention they deserved until the late‭ ‬1940s which would result in the establishment of the type species in‭ ‬1950.‭ ‬The most significant discovery relating to Pachyrhinosaurus however was the excavation of the Pipestone Creek bone bed in the late eighties‭ (‬originally discovered by Al Lakusta in‭ ‬1972‭) ‬which ultimately yielded three and a half thousand Pachyrhinosaurus bones as well as fourteen skulls.‭ ‬These bones represent individuals of all ages from fully grown adults to juveniles,‭ ‬suggesting that ceratopsians like Pachyrhinosaurus moved around in herds,‭ ‬possibly as a protection against large tyrannosaurid predators like Albertosaurus.‭One explanation for this bone bed occurring is that the Pachyrhinosaurus were crossing a river that may have been swollen with flood water,‭ ‬resulting in treacherous conditions that claimed the lives of many of the herd.‭ ‬Similar bone beds are also known for other ceratopsian dinosaurs like Centrosaurus and Styracosaurus.‭ ‬Specimens from this bone bed display a mix of convex‭ (‬curved outward‭) ‬and concave‭ (‬curved inward‭) ‬bosses.‭ ‬While speculation for this has been cited as representing male and female specimens,‭ ‬the differences may have been caused by erosion of the material.‭ ‬Individuals from this bone bed were named Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai after Al Lakusta.
Category:Dinosaurs
Category:Extinct Animals
Category:Cretaceous Animals
Category:Canadian Animals
Category:Alaskan Animals
Category:American Animals
Category:Arctic Animals