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Stegoceras
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Ornithischia
Suborder: Marginocephalia
Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria
Family: Pachycephalosauridae
Genus: Stegoceras
Lambe, 1902
Species
S. validum Lambe, 1902
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Stegoceras (named for its 'horned roof' - Greek stego-/στεγο- meaning 'roof' and ceras/κέρας meaning 'horn') was a plant-eating ornithischian pachycephalosaurid dinosaur that lived in what is now North America during the Late Cretaceous Period. It had an estimated length of up to 2 metres (6.5 feet). It was named by Lawrence Lambe, in 1902.
It is often used as a model for the reconstruction of other pachysephalosaurs because there are other recovered parts of this dinosaur, as opposed to just the skull. When it was first recovered, it was thought to be related to and often considered to be Troodon This theory was, however, dispelled, when a skull was found, which was quite distinct from that of Troodon.
Stegoceras had a skull which measured 3 inches in thickness. Although it is uncertain, it has been proposed that the skull dome was used for attacking predators, particularly because if two Stegoceras participated in a headbutting match (perhaps for mating purposes, or in order to determine an alpha male) it would be very easy for the dome shaped skull to slip and ram the opponent in the neck if not perfectly aligned. Despite this, there are features which would support the theory of headbutting amongst this species, such as the short neck and strong back (this can particularly be seen in the stiffness of the creature's tail) which would be more than capable of sustaining impact via the skull and muscular legs which could perhaps take the shock from the blow and help the dinosaur hold its ground. Scars have not been found, however, to support this theory and it is in doubt whether the skull itself (and brain) could have withstood this impact, owing to lack of air spaces within the skull to absorb shock.
Referances
Sues, H.-D., and P. M. Galton. 1987. Anatomy and classification of the North American Pachycephalosauria (Dinosauria: Ornithischia). Palaeontographica Abteilung A 198: 1–40.
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