Pachycephalosaurus
PAK-ee-SEF-uh-lo-SAWR-us
Pachycephalosaurus is an herbivorous dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous period. The name Pachycephalosaurus translates to ‘thick-headed lizard’, in reference to the genus’ large, thick skull that experts believe was used in intra-species combat, with rival dinosaurs attacking each other when competing for territory. Growing up to 4.5m in length and weighing almost half a ton, Pachycephalosaurus is one of the largest pachycephalosaurid dinosaurs.
Discovery
American geologist and fossil collector Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden discovered the first Pachycephalosaurus specimen in 1859 when he found a fragment of bone in the Lance Formation, Montana. The fossil was not originally thought to be that of a dinosaur but a reptile or armadillo, and it wasn’t until 1985 that it was formally classified as a new genus, named Pachycephalosaurus.
Palaeoecology
This genus lived around 65-75m years ago in the western United States, co-existing with many other dinosaurs including Edmontosaurus, Triceratops and the fearsome apex predator Tyrannosaurus. It is believed that Pachycephalosaurus lived in wooded areas, feeding on soft plants, fruit and seeds.
Information
- Era
- Late Cretaceous
- Family
- Pachycephalosauridae
- Genus
- Pachycephalosaurus
- Height
- 1.5M
- Length
- 4.5M
- Weight
- 450Kg
- Diet
- Ground Paleobotany
- Egg batch size
- 2 - 6
