Name:
Mojoceratops
(Mojo horned face).
Phonetic: Mo-jo-seh-ra-tops.
Named By: Nicholas R. Longrich - 2010.
Synonyms: Possibly Eoceratops,
canadensis, Chasmosaurus kaiseni.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Ornithoschia, Ceratopsia, Ceratopsidae, Chasmosaurinae.
Species: M. perifania (type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Uncertain due to incomplete fossil material,
but possibly up to 5 - 6 meters long based upon comparison to
Chasmosaurus - refer to main text for details.
Known locations: Canada, Alberta - Dinosaur
park Formation.
Time period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Eight partial skeletons.
Mojoceratops was discovered by a close examination of some skulls that had been assigned to the more well Chasmosaurus. The more the skulls were studied the more differences were discovered, resulting in the creation of a new genus. The palaeontologists who were looking the skulls over initially came up with name Mojoceratops when they were brainstorming ideas. However when they realised that a mojo is actually a charm for attracting members of the opposite sex they found the name to be very fitting as ceratopisan most probably used their frills for that exact purpose. Additionally the frill dips in the middle making the two halves form a structure that loosely resembles a heart shape.
Further reading
- Mojoceratops perifania, A New Chasmosaurine
Ceratopsid from the Late
Campanian of Western Canada. - Journal of Paleontology 84 (4): 681–694.
- Nicholas R. Longrich - 2010.