Gryphoceratops

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.
Species: G.‭ ‬morrisoni‭ (‬type‭)‬.
Diet: Herbivore.
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)‬.

       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
- 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.

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