Scientists discover one of the oldest horned dinosaurs

New horned dinosaur Wendiceratops pinhornensis

(Image credit: Twitter)

published 9 July 2015

Scientists have found fossils belonging to a previously undiscovered dinosaur in Canada that roamed the Earth more than 79 million years ago. The dinosaur, Wendiceratops pinhornensis, is one of the oldest known horned dinosaurs and a relative of the Triceratops. In appearance, the relation between the Triceratops and the new dino is pretty apparent. Wendiceratops has the same frill around its neck and big horns both above its eyes and over its nose. Scientists believe the horns may have helped to attract mates.

Scientists say that the new dinosaur discovery will help them understand the evolution of the dinosaur family that includes Triceratops. "It's a significant discovery in that it tells us a lot of new information about the early evolution of skull ornamentation, the hooks and horns, that characterize this iconic group of dinosaurs," Royal Ontario Museum paleontologist David Evans told NPR. While just a few decades ago, scientists only knew of 25 to 30 horned dinos, NPR reports that the number has now doubled to more than 60, and "new ones keep turning up all the time."