Gryphoceratops

Griff-oh-seh-rah-tops.
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Lilah Turner

Evolutionary Biologist

Lilah Turner investigates how prehistoric animals adapted to changing environments, offering insights into evolution's mechanisms.

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Name

Gryphoceratops ‭(‬Griffin horned face‭)‬.

Phonetic

Griff-oh-seh-rah-tops.

Named By

Michael J.‭ ‬Ryan,‭ ‬David C.‭ ‬Evans,‭ ‬Philip J.‭ ‬Currie,‭ ‬Caleb M.‭ ‬Brown‭ & ‬Don Brinkman‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Ornithischia,‭ ‬Ceratopsia,‭ ‬Leptoceratopsidae.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

G.‭ ‬morrisoni‭

Size

Uncertain due to incomplete remains.

Known locations

Canada,‭ ‬Alberta‭ ‬-‭ ‬Milk River Formation.

Time Period

Santonian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Partial right dentary‭ (‬right lower jaw‭)‬.

In Depth

       Gryphoceratops is something of an enigma since while it seems to be one of the oldest leptoceratopsids it also appears to have been one of the most advanced.‭ ‬Additionally while the type specimen is only that of a right lower jaw,‭ ‬Gryphoceratops may actually be the smallest leptoceratopsid.‭ ‬Another leptoceratopsid called Unescoceratops was also named at the same time as Gryphoceratops.

Further Reading

Further reading- New leptoceratopsids from the Upper Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. Cretaceous Research 35(1):69-80. M. J. Ryan, D. C. Evans, P. J. Currie, C. M. Brown & D. Brinkman – 2012.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT