Ojoceratops

O-joe-seh-rah-tops.
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Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

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Name

Ojoceratops ‭(‬Ojo horned face‭ ‬-‭ ‬After the Ojo Alamo Formation‭)‬.

Phonetic

O-joe-seh-rah-tops.

Named By

Sullivan‭ & ‬Lucas‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Ornithischia,‭ ‬Ceratopsia,‭ ‬Ceratopsidae,‭ ‬Chasmosaurinae,‭ ‬Triceratopsini.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

O.‭ ‬fowleri

Size

Estimated‭ at up to 6‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

USA,‭ ‬New Mexico‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ojo Alamo Formation.

Time Period

Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Partial skull.

In Depth

       Fossils sitting in a museum and sometimes thought to belong to one kind of ceratopsian dinosaur are sometimes found to actually represent another upon later examination.‭ ‬This is how others such as Mojoceratops and Spinops were discovered,‭ ‬and is also how Ojoceratops was discovered.‭ ‬Ojoceratops was classed as Torosaurus,‭ ‬but‭ ‬is thought to have resembled a Triceratops with a squared off frill.‭

       The discovery and naming of new genera means publishing study papers that details the distinguishing features of a genus,‭ ‬the identifying characteristics that make one genus standout from amongst others.‭ ‬The raising of the new Ojoceratops genus from unfamiliar fossil material has allowed other palaeontologists to share their opinions upon the raising of the genus and its validity.‭ ‬Unfortunately for Ojoceratops many have pointed out stark similarities to both Triceratops and Eotriceratops.‭ ‬Further study may yet declare it as a synonym to one of these two genera.

Further Reading

– A new chasmosaurine (Ceratopsidae, Dinosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous Ojo Alamo Formation (Naashoibito Member), San Juan Basin, New Mexico. New Perspectives on Horned Dinosaurs: The Royal Tyrrell Museum Ceratopsian Symposium. – Indiana University Press, Bloomington 169-180. – R. M. Sullivan & S. G. Lucas – 2010.

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