ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Two new exotic-looking triceratops relatives found in Utah and Montana

Paleontologists have discovered two new triceratops relatives that simply looked amazing. One had two forward-curving spikes running from the back of its shield, in addition to the classic triceratops horns, while the other sported beautiful coloring akin to butterfly camouflage, but also a tragic life story.

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
May 19, 2016 - Updated on August 22, 2023
in News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Paleontologists have discovered two new triceratops relatives that simply looked amazing. One had two forward-curving spikes running from the back of its shield, in addition to the classic triceratops horns, while the other sported beautiful coloring akin to butterfly camouflage, but also a tragic life story.

Artist impression of Machairoceratops. Credit: MARK WITTON
Artist impression of Machairoceratops. Credit: MARK WITTON

Let’s start with Machairoceratops cronusi. It lived some 77 million years ago in the Cretacious period, grew to 26 feet (8 meters) long, and had five horns coming out of its shield, head and parrot-like beak. This very spiky shield, called a “frill”, was likely used for sexual display and mate competition, researchers say. The distinct frill also served to help dinosaurs of the same species recognize one another, the team reports in PLOS ONE.

Like its famous cousin, Machairoceratops c. was a plant eater. The dino was found in Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by a team led by Ohio University paleontologist Eric Lund.

“An effort like this underscores both the necessity and excitement of basic, exploratory science in order to better understand the history of the world around us,” noted study co-author Patrick O’Connor, who is a professor of anatomical sciences at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Even in a place like western North America, where intense work has been conducted over the past 150 years, we are still finding species new to science,” he added.

Artist impression of Spiclypeus shipporum. Credit: Mike Skrepnick
Artist impression of Spiclypeus shipporum. Credit: Mike Skrepnick

The other horned dinosaur was discovered in Montana over a decade ago, but was only recently identified.

When Bill Shipp bought his new ranch over ten years ago, he hired an amateur paleontologist to teach him how to hunt fossils. He actually found one in the Judith River geological formation, another Triceratops relative called Spiclypeus shipporum which lived 76 million years ago.

“People ask me all the time, ‘How did you find it?’ ” Shipp told the Associated Press “And I always say ‘I accidentally found it on purpose.’ I was actually looking for it with no expectations of finding anything. But there it was.”

Spiclypeus, the genus’ name, means “spiked shield”, while shipporum honors the Montana rancher who made the discovery.

It was only recently that a team of researchers from the Canadian Museum of Nature, led by paleontologist Jordan Mallon, actually identified the dinosaur as a new species to science. When it was alive, Judith — as the researchers christened this particular specimen — shared the conifers and fern prairies with only a couple other horned dinosaur species. Even so, its distinct orientation of horns and spikes on its massive frills made it stand like one in a million.

RelatedPosts

Earliest tree-clinging and burrowing mammals show they weren’t afraid of dinosaurs
Turkey Sized Vegetarian T-Rex Discovered
Life bounced back quickly at the famed dinosaur-ending asteroid impact site
LEGO goes prehistoric with new dinosaur fossil set

This particular specimen, named Judith, didn’t have an easy life. The upper bone in the front left leg bore clear signs of disease, likely arthritis, doubled by a bone infection.

“It’s an exciting story, because it’s a new species, and yet we have this sort of pathetic individual that suffered throughout its lifetime,” Mallon said. “If you’re hobbling along on three limbs, you’re probably not going to be able to keep up with the herd.”

Shipp found the dinosaur in an afternoon barely breaking a sweat, but only a couple of dinosaurs have been discovered in the Judith formation and not out of lack of trying. In the past century, many expeditions have been made in the area with little to show. As such, Spiclypeus shipporum is truly remarkable filling the missing puzzles that tell the story of how Cretaceous life was like in Montana.

Tags: dinosaurtriceratops

ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Related Posts

Geology

Identical Dinosaur Prints Found on Opposite Sides of the Atlantic Ocean 3,700 Miles Apart

byTibi Puiu
3 weeks ago
News

Dinosaurs Were Doing Just Fine Before the Asteroid Hit

byTibi Puiu
2 months ago
News

WWII bombing destroyed these fossils. Now, rediscovered old photos reveal a new colossal dinosaur

byTibi Puiu
5 months ago
Biology

200 Jurassic-era dinosaur footprints unearthed on UK’s largest dinosaur highway

byRupendra Brahambhatt
6 months ago

Recent news

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

June 30, 2025

Your browser lets websites track you even without cookies

June 30, 2025

A Medieval Sword Sat Hidden in a Dutch River for 1,000 Years Until Construction Workers Found It

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.