Lokiceratops rangiformis is a species of ceratopsian dinosaur discovered in Upper Cretaceous rock formations in Mongolia. It was described in 2014, and although there is still not an extensive amount of information about this dinosaur due to the fragmentary nature of the fossils found, its discovery has provided important data on the diversity of ceratopsians in Asia.
This dinosaur belongs to the ceratopsian family, a group of herbivores known for their characteristic horns and bony frills on the back of the head. Lokiceratops rangiformis had an estimated length of 6.7 meters.
Its name "Lokiceratops" refers to "Loki", the Norse god known for his cunning and metamorphosis, due to the unusual and less common characteristics it presents compared to other ceratopsians.
The most notable feature of Lokiceratops is its skull, which has a narrower and more elongated shape compared to other ceratopsians. Although fossils show no evidence of prominent horns like those seen in Triceratops, some studies suggest that it may have had minor bony structures above the snout or eyes, although not as developed. In addition, it had a relatively small bony frill on the back of its head, which probably did not have a defensive role, but would have been more related to display or communication within its social group, as in other ceratopsians.
Lokiceratops rangiformis was herbivorous, and its diet consisted mainly of low plants that it plucked with its horny beak, a typical characteristic of ceratopsians. The beak allowed it to cut vegetation easily before crushing it with its back teeth, which were arranged in specialized rows to grind fibrous plant material. Like other ceratopsians, it probably inhabited areas of plains and grasslands where plants such as ferns, cycads and conifers were abundant.
The environment in which Lokiceratops lived was diverse and comprised of other herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. During the Late Cretaceous, Mongolia was home to a rich dinosaur fauna, and although Lokiceratops was relatively small compared to other ceratopsians, it must have shared its ecosystem with large predators such as theropods and other herbivores, such as hadrosaurids. It is likely that it lived in herds, as many ceratopsians display complex social behaviors, and its bony frill may have played a role in communicating or attracting mates during the mating season.
Approximate measurements of the Lokiceratops:
This dinosaur belongs to the ceratopsian family, a group of herbivores known for their characteristic horns and bony frills on the back of the head. Lokiceratops rangiformis had an estimated length of 6.7 meters.
Its name "Lokiceratops" refers to "Loki", the Norse god known for his cunning and metamorphosis, due to the unusual and less common characteristics it presents compared to other ceratopsians.
The most notable feature of Lokiceratops is its skull, which has a narrower and more elongated shape compared to other ceratopsians. Although fossils show no evidence of prominent horns like those seen in Triceratops, some studies suggest that it may have had minor bony structures above the snout or eyes, although not as developed. In addition, it had a relatively small bony frill on the back of its head, which probably did not have a defensive role, but would have been more related to display or communication within its social group, as in other ceratopsians.
Lokiceratops rangiformis was herbivorous, and its diet consisted mainly of low plants that it plucked with its horny beak, a typical characteristic of ceratopsians. The beak allowed it to cut vegetation easily before crushing it with its back teeth, which were arranged in specialized rows to grind fibrous plant material. Like other ceratopsians, it probably inhabited areas of plains and grasslands where plants such as ferns, cycads and conifers were abundant.
The environment in which Lokiceratops lived was diverse and comprised of other herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. During the Late Cretaceous, Mongolia was home to a rich dinosaur fauna, and although Lokiceratops was relatively small compared to other ceratopsians, it must have shared its ecosystem with large predators such as theropods and other herbivores, such as hadrosaurids. It is likely that it lived in herds, as many ceratopsians display complex social behaviors, and its bony frill may have played a role in communicating or attracting mates during the mating season.
Approximate measurements of the Lokiceratops:
- 1:35 Scale Complete
- Length 168 mm
- Height 106 mm
- Width 58 mm
- Snout-tail length 195 mm
