Stygimoloch

Stij-e-mol-ok.
By Cassidy Wood
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Cassidy Wood

Paleoentomologist

Cassidy Wood uncovers the tiny yet significant world of prehistoric insects. Her research on amber-preserved specimens has revealed intricate details about ancient ecosystems.

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Wood, C. (2015, February 17). Stygimoloch. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/stygimoloch/

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Name

Stygimoloch ‭(‬Styx demon‭).

Phonetic

Stij-e-mol-ok.

Named By

P.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Galton‭ & ‬H.‭ ‬-D.‭ ‬Sues‭ ‬-‭ ‬1983.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Ornithischia,‭ ‬Pachycephalosauridae,Pachycephalosaurinae.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

S.‭ ‬spinifer‭

Size

Skull reconstructed to be‭ ‬46‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬Total body size uncertain but may roughly have been just over three meters long.

Known locations

USA - Ferris Formation, Hell Creek Formation.

Time Period

Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Remains of several individuals.

In Depth

       Stygimoloch is a dubious genus of pachycephalosaurid dinosaur as many palaeontologists are of the opinion that Stygimoloch represents a juvenile/subadult Pachycephalosaurus.‭ ‬In‭ ‬addition to this another genus named Dracorex has also been perceived to be an even younger Stygimoloch,‭ ‬and it is not out of the question that one day both Stygimoloch and‭ ‬Dracorex may be confirmed as juvenile Pachycephalosaurus.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬New data on pachycephalosaurid dinosaurs‭ (‬Reptilia:‭ ‬Ornithischia‭) ‬from North America.‭ ‬Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences‭ ‬20‭(‬3‭)‬:462-472.‭ ‬-‭ ‬P.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Galton‭ & ‬H.‭ ‬-D.‭ ‬Sues‭ ‬-‭ ‬1983. -‭ ‬Cranial anatomy and diagnosis of Stygimoloch spinifer.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬18‭(‬2‭)‬:‭ ‬363-375.‭ ‬-‭ ‬M.‭ ‬B.‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Goodwin,‭ ‬et al‭ ‬-‭ ‬1998. -‭ ‬Extreme cranial ontogeny in the Upper Cretaceous Dinosaur Pachycephalosaurus.‭ ‬-‭ ‬PLoS ONE,‭ ‬4‭(‬10‭)‬:‭ ‬e7626.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J.‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Horner‭ & ‬M.‭ ‬B.‭ ‬Goodwin‭ ‬-‭ ‬2009.

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