4 Interesting Fun Facts About Chasmosaurus
Thousands of dinosaur species lived on our planet throughout the Mesozoic era. The Chasmosaurus is among the most fascinating dinosaurs from this time due to its interesting look. This Ceratopsid was a relative of the infamous Triceratops and lived near the end of the Cretaceous period, approximately 75 to 65 million years ago. Let’s explore some interesting, fun facts about Chasmosaurus.
Where They Lived and Their History
The Chasmosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Alberta, Canada. It wasn’t until 1898 that a paleontologist named Lawrence Morris Lambe uncovered the fossilized remains of this beast. Since Lambe discovered the fossil, he also got to name the creature we now know as the Chasmosaurus.
While scientists have found many fossils of this dinosaur in Alberta, they’ve also discovered some in Texas. This means that the beast likely migrated across the supercontinent; dinosaurs probably had access to essential resources such as food.
Their Name Meaning
Another interesting fact about the Chasmosaurus is that it initially had a different name. When Lambe first unearthed the fossilized remains, he named the creature Protorosaurus. The problem was that there was already a dinosaur named Protorosaurus, so Lambe needed something different for the prehistoric reptile he’d discovered.
In 1914, the beast officially got its name—Chasmosaurus. In ancient Greek, chasma means “open,” while sauros means “lizard,” so its name means “open lizard.” This was fitting for the creature, as it had a long frill with two holes near the top.
Unique Physical Features
The Chasmosaurus is a distinct dinosaur with exceptional physical features. It’s known for its large, triangular-shaped skull, elongated frill at the top of its head, and horns by its eyes. This frill was made up of extensions of bone covered in skin, making it both sturdy and flexible. Moreover, the Chasmosaurus had a beak-shaped mouth and another horn just above it.
Although the exact purpose of the frill and holes remains unknown, some paleontologists hypothesize that these features helped regulate the animal’s body temperature or attract a mate.
Dino Bonus Fact
Fascinatingly, there were two different species of Chasmosaurus: the Chasmosaurus belli and Chasmosaurus russelli. The main difference between the two dinosaurs is that Chasmosaurus belli did not have brow horns.
Diet and Predators
As an herbivore, the Chasmosaurus strictly ate grasses, cycads, and palms. Its beak-like mouth and cheek teeth made it easier to chew tough plants. Paleontologists hypothesize that predators such as the T. rex likely hunted Chasmosaurus since both lived during the same period and in similar regions. T. rex would’ve only hunted juvenile Chasmosaurus since adults were too large at nearly 16 feet long.
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