Homalocephale

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***Homalocephale*** is a genus of pachycephalosaurid dinosaur that originated from Late Cretaceous Asia. The smallest pachycephalosaur, *Homalocephale* is available in the *Herbivore Dinosaur Pack* and can be unlocked by progressing through the Security Division on Isla Tacaño.

## Characteristics

The smallest species of herbivorous dinosaur in the *Evolution* series, measuring around 2.3 meters in length and around 45kg in weight, *Homalocephale* is a herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period known for its distinctive, flat, wedge-shaped skull, small arms and long, agile legs. Its name translates to "*Even Head*" refers to the dinosaur's low-domed skull. This skull differentiates *Homalocephale* from dinosaurs like *Pachycephalosaurus*, which exhibit a highly thickened cranial roof. *Homalocephale* has excellent eyesight and long legs that help it to locate and escape predators, while its thick, flat skull and wide pelvis protect it from attack. The base genome of the *Homalocephale* is a gray color and warm underbelly with light colored stripes covering its entire body.

### Behaviour

*Homalocephale* can live in an enclosure of up to twenty other dinosaurs, and tolerate a social group of up to ten other *Homalocephale*. Unlike others in its family, it cannot defend itself and should not be mixed with most carnivores.

In terms of diet, *Homalocephale* enjoy Horsetails primarily, though also receive benefits from Grasses and Cycads. Conversely, they are harmed by Tree Ferns, Conifers, and Ginkgo plants. Due to its small size, *Homalocephale* has to hop onto the platform of a Ground Herbivore Feeder to eat.

## Paleontology

*Homalocephale* was first classified as a new genus in 1974 by Polish paleontologists Halszka Osmólska and Teresa Maryańska (who specialize in Mongolian dinosaurs), based on a small number of fossils, including a partial skull, found in Mongolia. Many paleontologists believed the bones were actually from a juvenile *Prenocephale*, rather than a genus in its own right. At the same time, Maryańska and Osmólska also described the genus and species *Prenocephale prenes*. There are suggestions that *Homalocephale calathocercos* and *Prenocephale prenes* could just be different ages or genders of the same species, but Maryańska and Osmólska noted enough anatomical differences between that they considered them different taxa.

*Homalocephale* is known from a partial skull and parts of the legs and vertebrae. It has a flattened, wedge-shaped skull and an unusually broad pelvis compared to other dinosaurs. This at first lead many paleontologists to believe it gave birth to live young, however it seems more likely that it protected vital organs during headbutting contests. It had long legs, indicating it was a fast runner and large eyes, which meant sight was one of its main senses.

*Homalocephale*, like *Dracorex* and *Stygimoloch*, has been the centre of some controversy. Many paleontologists, on re-examining the fossils and comparing with other pachycephalosaur genera, have suggested that these smaller genus with flattered heads represented juveniles or sub-adults of larger genus. A 2010 paper argued that *Homalocephale* should be accepted as a juvenile growth stage of the related *Prenocephale*, which was slightly larger and lived in the same time and place. However, the 2017 discovery of a series of juvenile *Prenocephale* skulls has since reaffirmed *Homalocephale's* validity as a genus.

*Prenocephale*, *Tylocephale*, and *Homalocephale* were discovered in 1974 during a joint Polish and Mongolian expedition across Mongolia's Cretaceous formations.

### Paleoecology

*Homalocephale* lived in what is modern day Mongolia - which nowadays is mainly dry deserts - but at the time during the Late Cretaceous period around 68-72 million years ago, it would have meant a habitat consisting of high altitude forests. Pachycephalosaurid diets are not well documented, but they are largely considered to be herbivorous, possibly omnivorous, with a diet including plants and insects. As researchers have noted a variety of wear patterns on pachycephalosaurid teeth, we do at least know that diets varied significantly from species to species. In the case of *Homalocephale*, it roamed the forested areas of Mongolia in search of vegetation at ground level. These densely wooded areas may also have helped *Homalocephale* to hide from larger carnivores that shared this environment.

## Skins

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 ALPINE

 JUNGLE

 RAINFOREST

 STEPPE

 WETLAND

## Gallery

VideosSpecies Profile - Homalocephale
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