In Depth
Even though it did not have the elaborate horns of some ceratopsians like Einiosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus has become a favourite amongst ceratopsian dinosaur enthusiasts because of the large bony growth called a boss that is present on top of its snout. A second smaller boss was also present over the eyes and is sometimes close to the nasal boss. Pachyrhinosaurus still possessed some small horns, particularly around the edges of the frill. Some of these characteristics are shared amongst the Pachyrhinosaurus species while some are unique to just one species. The first Pachyrhinosaurus fossils were actually discovered way back in 1880, but they did not get the attention they deserved until the late 1940s which would result in the establishment of the type species in 1950. The most significant discovery relating to Pachyrhinosaurus however was the excavation of the Pipestone Creek bone bed in the late eighties (originally discovered by Al Lakusta in 1972) which ultimately yielded three and a half thousand Pachyrhinosaurus bones as well as fourteen skulls. These bones represent individuals of all ages from fully grown adults to juveniles, suggesting that ceratopsians like Pachyrhinosaurus moved around in herds, possibly as a protection against large tyrannosaurid predators like Albertosaurus.
One explanation for this bone bed occurring is that the Pachyrhinosaurus were crossing a river that may have been swollen with flood water, resulting in treacherous conditions that claimed the lives of many of the herd. Similar bone beds are also known for other ceratopsian dinosaurs like Centrosaurus and Styracosaurus. Specimens from this bone bed display a mix of convex (curved outward) and concave (curved inward) bosses. While speculation for this has been cited as representing male and female specimens, the differences may have been caused by erosion of the material. Individuals from this bone bed were named Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai after Al Lakusta.
Further Reading
– Pachyrhinosaurus canadensis, representing a new family of the Ceratopsia, from southern Alberta – National Museum of Canada Bulletin 118:109-120 – Charles M. Sternberg – 1950. – The thick-headed ceratopsian dinosaur Pachyrhinosaurus (Reptilia: Ornithischia), from the Edmonton Formation near Drumheller, Canada – Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 4:171-186 – W. Langston – 1967. – A further note on Pachyrinosaurus (Reptilia: Ceratopsia) – Journal of Paleontology 42(5):1303-1304 – W. Langston – 1968. – A new species of Pachyrhinosaurus (Dinosauria, Ceratopsidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada – in A New Horned Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Bone Bed in Alberta. NRC Research Press, Ottawa 1-108 – P. J. Currie, W. Langston & D. H. Tanke – 2008. – A new species of the centrosaurine ceratopsid Pachyrhinosaurus from the North Slope (Prince Creek Formation: Maastrichtian) of Alaska – Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57 (3): 561–573 – Anthony R. Fiorillo & Ronald S. Tykosk- 2012. – An Immature Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) Nasal Reveals Unexpected Complexity of Craniofacial Ontogeny and Integument in Pachyrhinosaurus – PLoS ONE 8(6) – Anthony R. Fiorillo & Ronald S. Tykosk- 2013.
