Exploring the Ceratopsian: Facts About the Diabloceratops
Many people are familiar with the iconic Triceratops, but there were many types of horned dinosaurs besides them known as ceratopsians. One lesser-known species is the Diabloceratops, which roamed the earth during the Late Cretaceous period approximately 79 million years ago. We’ve got interesting facts about the Diabloceratops to help you explore this ceratopsian in detail.
Where and When It Lived
The Diabloceratops lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now modern Utah. This herbivorous dinosaur mainly ate plants close to the ground, such as ferns and cycads. Its beak-shaped mouth made it easier for the dinosaur to grab and uproot plants as it foraged for food.
Moreover, its environment was quite different from what we know today, as it was a floodplain covered in forests and small lakes. The Diabloceratops shared its habitat with well-known dinosaurs such as the Triceratops, Hadrosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus rex.
Its Name Origins
Like many dinosaurs, the Diabloceratops has an interesting name that tells us a bit about the animal. The word “diablo” comes from a Latin word that means “devil.” Paleontologists likely chose this name because of the beast’s fearsome-looking face. The dinosaur had a set of horns above its eyes and two more at the top of its high frill.
The suffix “-ceratops” comes from the ceratopsian suborder to which this dinosaur belongs. Like Triceratops, one of the most famous ceratopsians, the Diabloceratops had a beak-like mouth, frill, and horns. Dinosaurs in this group are also quadruped, meaning they walk on four legs rather than two.
Discovering the Diabloceratops
Scientists uncovered the Diabloceratops in 1998 and completed the excavation in 2000; paleontologists James Ian Kirkland and Donald DeBlieux found parts of the animal’s skull in the Wahweap Formation in Kane County, Utah. Fascinatingly, these are the only remains we’ve discovered so far, leaving much to learn about the prehistoric beast.
When exploring facts about the Diabloceratops, it’s also worth noting that this ceratopsian came before the Triceratops. The Diabloceratops is one of the oldest members of the ceratopsians, meaning it was among the first to evolve from its original ancestors.
Buy Dinosaur Action Figures
Although you can only view the official Diabloceratops fossil in the Natural History Museum of Utah, you can bring this beast into your home as an action figure. Creative Beast Studio’s Beasts of the Mesozoic Ceratopsian series has numerous beasts from this species group, including the Diabloceratops. Add this prehistoric creature to your collection today!
