Xenoceratops foremostensis

Xenoceratops foremostensis was a ceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous, approximately 78 million years ago, in what is now Alberta, Canada. Its name means "strange horned face", referring to the distinctive features of its skull, and "foremostensis" comes from the locality of Foremost, near the site of its discovery. It was formally described in 2012, and is considered one of the earliest known large ceratopsians from the Late Cretaceous.

This dinosaur was of considerable size, with an estimated length of approximately 6 metres and a weight of around 2 tonnes. Like other members of the ceratopsian family, Xenoceratops foremostensis was a quadrupedal herbivore that fed on low-lying plants such as ferns, cycads and flowering plants. Its horny beak was ideal for cutting vegetation before grinding it up with its teeth in dental batteries, which were designed to process fibrous plant material.

The most striking feature of Xenoceratops was its skull, which featured a prominent, spine-adorned bony frill. The frill, large and extending towards the back of the skull, was decorated with two pairs of large horns that protruded from the edges of the frill, a feature that set it apart from other ceratopsians of its time. In addition, it had a pair of shorter horns above the eyes and a nasal horn, although these were not as prominent as in other ceratopsians such as Triceratops.

The purpose of these bony structures has been the subject of debate among paleontologists. Although horns and frills in ceratopsians could have had defensive functions, it is thought that in the case of Xenoceratops foremostensis, the frill and horns would have had a function more related to display or sexual selection, as a means of impressing females or intimidating other males during competition for territory or for mates. They could also have played a role in identification between individuals of the same species.

The environment in which Xenoceratops lived was dominated by rivers and river plains, with vegetation rich in ferns and flowering plants. In this ecosystem it shared its habitat with other herbivorous and predatory dinosaurs. Its contemporaries included other ceratopsians and carnivorous dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurids. Predators would have posed a constant threat to Xenoceratops, although its large size, horns, and herding behavior could have provided it with an effective defense against carnivore attacks.

The discovery of Xenoceratops foremostensis is significant because it expands knowledge about the early evolution of large ceratopsians in North America. Its fossils were found in sediments dating to an earlier time than other better-known ceratopsians, making it one of the oldest ceratopsians from the Late Cretaceous in that region. This find suggests that ceratopsian diversity was already in full development millions of years before giants like Triceratops appeared.

Approximate measurements of Xenoceratops:

• 1:35 scale Complete
• Length 159 mm
• Height 75 mm
• Width 46 mm
• Snout-tail length 171 mm

• 1:20 scale Complete
• Length 277 mm
• Height 131 mm
• Width 80 mm
• Snout-tail length 300 mm