Stygimoloch
PALAEONTOLOGICAL RECORD
Pachycephalosaurus is a genus of pachycephalosaurid ornithischian dinosaur. The type species, P. wyomingensis, is the only known definitive species. The possibly synonymous taxon, Stygimoloch, might represent a distinct genus or a second species, P. spinifer. It lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now western North America. Remains have been excavated in Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Alberta. Mainly known from a single skull and a few extremely thick skull roofs, Pachycephalosaurus is estimated to have reached 4.5 m (15 ft) long and weighed 370–450 kg (820–990 lb). More complete fossils would come to be found in the following years.
DISCOVERY
Discovered in the Hell Creek Formation, 1983.
DIETARY PROFILE
Soft vegetation browser.
NOTABLE PALAEONTOLOGY FACTS
- Meaning 'demon from the River Styx', referring to its hellish spiked appearance.
- It is heavily debated by the scientific community whether this is actually just a teenage Pachycephalosaurus.
HOLLYWOOD INACCURACIES
- Its headbutting power capable of destroying brick walls is greatly exaggerated.
