Udanoceratops
Name:
Udanoceratops
(Udan-Sayr horned face).
Phonetic: U-dan-oh-seh-rah-tops.
Named By: Sergei Kurzanov - 1992.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Ornithischia, Ceratopsia, Leptoceratopsidae.
Species: U. tschizhovi
(type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Skull 60 centimetres long. Body unknown
but estimated to be about 4 meters long.
Known locations: Mongolia, Omnogovi Province -
Djadokhta Formation, Dornogovi Province - Barun Goyot Formation.
Time period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Holotype is an almost
complete skull.
The
description of the ceratopsian dinosaur Udanoceratops
is based upon the
discovery of an almost
complete sixty centimetre long skull. This in turn led to size
estimates for the missing body leading all the way up to four meters
long; however it would be interesting to see how Udanoceratops
compares to other later discovered leptoceratopsid genera from Asia
like Zhuchengceratops.
This genus has mandibles (lower jaw bones)
fifty centimetres long, yet post cranial remains that suggest a body
proportionately shorter than Udanoceratops.
Ultimately however more
complete remains for ideally both genera would be needed to ascertain
more accurate sizes for these dinosaurs.
As
with leptoceratopsids, Udanoceratops had a beaked
mouth that was used
to snip and shear off parts of plants like cycads and ferns which would
have been among the dominant plant types of the late Cretaceous.
Plant matter was then processed by the rear teeth of the cheeks so
that it could be more easily digested. These dinosaurs are also seen
as being primarily quadrupedal but able to rear up and get around for
short distances on just their rear legs as they were feeding or perhaps
even running from predators. If the upper size estimate for
Udanoceratops proves correct, then Udanoceratops
may have spent more
time on all fours in order to reduce stress on the hips. Another
thing of note is that although all leptoceratopsids have neck frills
that grow from the back of the skull, the frill of Udanoceratops
is
notably reduced in size compared to the frills of many other
leptoceratopsid genera.
Udanoceratops
has been considered to be similar to Leptoceratops
from North America.
One feature these two genera share is that the point where the lower
jaw articulates with the skull is above the dentary teeth.
Further reading
- A giant protoceratopsid from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia,
Sergei Kurzanov - 1992.
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