Giant Horned Dinosaur Discovered in Ancient Swamps in Montana; What Makes Lokiceratops Rangiformis Extraordinary Species?

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons/ Mark Loewen)

Around 78 million years ago, in the badlands of northern Montana, a four-legged herbivore dinosaur once roamed the subtropical coastal plain.

Most Ornate Horned Dinosaur

On June 20, scientists reported the identification of a new dinosaur which was named after the trickster god of Norse mythology. The previously unknown species has been on display at the Museum of Evolution in Maribo, Denmark for more than one year.

While on display at the museum, the dinosaur was nicknamed Loki. This year, it was finally named Lokiceratops rangiformis, a homage to Norse god Loki and a reference of shapes found on its skull. The name roughly translates to "Loki's horned face that looks like a caribou."

Its fossil was discovered in 2019 by commercial paleontologist Mark Eatman. It was found on private land in northern Montana about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of the US-Canada border. Eatman unearthed around 75% of the skull, in addition to some parts of the limbs, hips, and shoulder bones.

Lokiceratops rangiformis is one of the largest and most ornate horned dinosaurs ever discovered. Some of its remarkable features are its 3-foot-long (91.4-centimeter-long) frill with a pair of huge blade-like horns extending from the back of its head and two long horns that protrude from above its eyes.

According to paleontologist Joseph Sertich from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Lokiceratops rangiformis likely behaved in a way similar to modern rhinoceros and elephants. It might have used its sharp beak and cheek teeth to cut and slice tough vegetation.

The newly discovered dinosaur is also a member of a group of horned species called centrosaurines which belong to the ceratopsids. This family emerged around 92 million years ago and was able to survive the mass extinction event that took place 66 million years ago when all non-avian dinosaurs disappeared.

Experts estimate that the dinosaur measured around 22 feet (6.7 meters) long and weighed 11,000 pounds (4,989.5 kilograms). It was described as a four-legged plant-eater with a huge upper and lower beak and a mouth filled with over 200 teeth.

READ ALSO: Musankwa Sanyatiensis: New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Zimbabwe Sheds Light on Early Evolution

Evolutionary Insights From the Horned Dinosaur

According to Joseph Sertich from Colorado State University, the skull ornaments of Lokiceratops rangiformis are some of the keys to unlocking the diversity of horned dinosaurs. He also believes that its features demonstrate the contribution of evolutionary selection to the richness of Cretaceous ecosystems.

Since Lokiceratops rangiformis was discovered from the same rock layer as four other dinosaur species, it indicates that five different dinosaurs lived together 78 million years ago in the swamps of Laramidia, an island continent which was formed when the North America was divided. Although these species were closely related, they have not been found outside the region.

Sertich also added that these ancient animals were geographically limited, unlike the broad range of huge wild mammals that used to roam the American continent. The discovery of Lokiceratops rangiformis offers evidence that these species rapidly evolved within a small area, a process that is typically observed in birds.

RELATED ARTICLE: Fossil Record of Dinosaurs and Mammals Challenges Bergmann's Rule, Debunks Role of Latitude as Predictor of Body Size Diversity

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