A newly found dinosaur called Lokiceratops rangiformis is one of the biggest and fanciest horned dinosaurs ever discovered. It lived over 78 million years ago on an island continent called Laramidia in what is now northern Montana.
This dinosaur was a plant-eater and stood out because of its large, blade-like horns on the frill at the back of its head. Unlike many other horned dinosaurs, Lokiceratops didn’t have a horn on its nose.
Instead, it had the largest frill horns ever seen on this type of dinosaur. Scientists think these horns might have developed due to preferences in mating among dinosaurs, as reported by SciTechDaily, seeing as how their looks changed over time.
The unique horn pattern of this dinosaur led to its name, Lokiceratops rangiformis, which means “Loki’s horned face that looks like a caribou.” The new species was officially announced on June 20th in the scientific journal PeerJ.
Lokiceratops inhabited the swamps of Laramidia 78 million years ago
More than 78 million years ago, Lokiceratops lived in the swamps and floodplains along the eastern shore of Laramidia, an ancient island continent that now makes up the western part of North America. This landmass formed when a vast seaway split the continent around 100 million years ago.
Over time, geological processes such as mountain formation and changes in climate and sea levels transformed the once lush and tropical environment of Laramidia, where Lokiceratops and other dinosaurs flourished, as reported by SciTechDaily.
New dinosaur described!!!!!! Lokiceratops rangiformis
Reveals rapid regional radiations and extreme endemism within centrosaurine dinosaurs.
Im happy to see Yehue there.#dinosaur #Paleontology #Jurassic pic.twitter.com/Y3f9e8r8s1
— The Darknix (@TheDarknix) June 20, 2024
Lokiceratops belongs to a group of horned dinosaurs called ceratopsids, which emerged around 92 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. This group evolved into a wide variety of species with elaborate ornaments and survived until the end of the dinosaur era.
Lokiceratops rangiformis roamed the Earth more than 12 million years before its well-known relative, Triceratops, making it the largest horned dinosaur of its era. Its name, Lokiceratops, pays tribute to the Norse god Loki, known for wielding blades, reflecting the dinosaur’s prominent blade-like horns.
The second part of its name, rangiformis, describes the differing lengths of its horns on each side of the frill, similar to the asymmetrical antlers of caribou and reindeer, according to SciTechDaily.
Maximum number of horned species existing together
Mark Loewen, co-lead author of the study and a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Utah, stated, “Previously, paleontologists thought a maximum of two species of horned dinosaurs could coexist at the same place and time. Incredibly, we have identified five living together at the same time.”
“The skull of Lokiceratops rangiformis is dramatically different from the other four animals it lived alongside,” he further added.
Lokiceratops measured about 22 feet in length, which is approximately 6.7 meters. It weighed around 11,000 pounds. This is equivalent to five metric tons.