In Depth
Lokiceratops was a large centrosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Judith River Formation of Montana, USA. Its name means “Loki’s horned face,” a reference to the Norse trickster god and to its unusual array of horns. The species name, rangiformis, means “reindeer-like,” in allusion to its sprawling, ornate frill ornamentation.
Fossil Remains and Description
The fossils of Lokiceratops rangiformis include an incomplete but well-preserved skull, with a distinctive frill and horn cores.
The dinosaur likely measured around 6-7 meters in length, comparable to other centrosaurines.
Lokiceratops was notable for lacking a nasal horn, instead bearing long brow horns and an extravagant frill.
The frill featured large, elaborate, forward-curving spikes.
This unique configuration gave Lokiceratops a striking, almost antler-like appearance, distinct even among the diverse ceratopsians of Late Cretaceous North America.
Fossil Map
Interactive fossil Map of Lokiceratops, along with its chronological bar chart of fossil discoveries.
Horn Function
The unusual frill ornaments of Lokiceratops were unlikely to have served much defensive purpose. Instead, paleontologists suggest they were primarily display structures, used in species recognition, visual intimidation, or mate attraction.
The elaboration of frill spikes in Lokiceratops represents one of the most extreme cases of ornamental evolution in ceratopsids, emphasizing how sexual selection and social interaction could shape dinosaur anatomy.
Further Reading
Lokiceratops rangiformis gen. et sp. nov. (Ceratopsidae: Centrosaurinae) from the Campanian Judith River Formation of Montana reveals rapid regional radiations and extreme endemism within centrosaurine dinosaurs – Loewen, Mark A.; Sertich, Joseph J. W.; Sampson, Scott; O’Connor, Jingmai K.; Carpenter, Savhannah; Sisson, Brock; Øhlenschlæger, Anna; Farke, Andrew A.; Makovicky, Peter J.; Longrich, Nick; Evans, David C. (20 June 2024)
