Agujaceratops mariscalensis

Agujaceratops mariscalensis is a ceratopsian dinosaur that inhabited the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 to 72 million years ago, in what today corresponds to southwestern North America, specifically in the region of Texas. This species was described from fossil remains found in the Aguja Formation, a geological formation rich in Cretaceous fossils, which gave it its name. Agujaceratops mariscalensis belongs to the Ceratopsidae family, characterized by quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaurs with horns and a large bony frill on the back of the skull. Its physical structure shows a robust and ornate head, with a prominent nasal horn and two smaller horns located above the eyes, distinctive features that possibly would have played a role in defense against predators, in social display, or in intraspecific competition. Its bony frill is relatively wide and is bordered by protuberances that in life may have been covered with keratin, which would have given it an even more striking appearance and which, according to recent theories, could have also served in thermoregulation.

Studies of dental morphology indicate that Agujaceratops mariscalensis was a herbivore adapted to consume hard vegetation, such as ferns and coniferous plants, abundant in its environment during the Upper Cretaceous. Its masticatory apparatus was composed of a complex system of teeth in batteries, which were constantly replaced, which allowed it to efficiently grind vegetation. This trait, characteristic of ceratopsians, suggests a versatile diet and the ability to process high-fiber plants. Current estimates of its size, based on well-preserved fossil remains, suggest that it could reach around 4 meters in length and a weight of approximately 1 to 2 tons, placing it in an intermediate range within ceratopsians.

Recent discoveries and analysis of associated remains have allowed us to obtain additional data on its possible gregarious behavior, since the fossils have been found in groups, suggesting that Agujaceratops mariscalensis may have lived in herds, a behavior that would have favored its survival in an environment dominated by large predators. In addition, the sedimentary conditions in the Aguja Formation have provided clues about the habitat of this dinosaur, which would have been composed of river areas and plains with dense vegetation, ideal for the subsistence of a herbivorous species. At a phylogenetic level, Agujaceratops mariscalensis shares characteristics with other ceratopsians from southern North America, although it shows specific adaptations in the shape of the skull and the frill, which shows a diversification within ceratopsians in response to different ecological niches. Although not considered an extremely common species in the fossil record, the remains found have allowed us to better understand the diversity and distribution of ceratopsians in this region of the Cretaceous, consolidating Agujaceratops mariscalensis as a relevant member of the fauna of the time.

Approximate measurements of Agujaceratops:

Scale 1:35 Complete
Length 132 mm
Height 56 mm
Width 38 mm
Snout-tail length 143 mm

Scale 1:20 Complete
Length 230 mm
Height 97 mm
Width 65 mm
Snout-tail length 250 mm