Chasmosaurus - Oscellated - Day 16

[dino_a_day]

The Chasmosaurs, including Chasmosaurus belli, are a large group of gigantic ceratopsian dinosaurs from Cretaceous North America (with only one known exception from China). While some ceratopsians have large, elaborate horns, Chasmosaurus only had a few small ones above the nose and eyes and around the edges of its frill, while the frill on Chasmosaurus was one of the largest known for all ceratpsian dinosaurs. This suggests that rather for defense against predators, the frill was used for display, and may have been boldly patterned and colored for attracting mates.

Comments

[needled_ink_1975]

When I was a little kid, Ceratops was my favourite dino. I was really excited when I moved to a new school that had a better library, and found out that there were several different kinds of ceratopsians (this particular point leads me to roll my eyes when those a lot younger than me claim that it's 'hard' to Google stuff. Dudes, back in my day... [seven miles in the snow, over a mountain, etc *wry grin*]). Anyway, there have been scores of new dinosaur species discovered since I was around 6, but the ceratopsians are still the coolest for me, so you put a big grin on my face.

Hope the moving's going/gone okay.

–Nici

[dino_a_day]

Yay! Yes, I clearly have a thing for theropods, but ceratopsians have always fascinated me as well, with their elaborate frills and horns. Definitely looking forward to doing more of them in the future.