New horned dinosaurs found in Utah

September 23rd, 2010 - 1:55 am ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt  

New horned dinosaursUtah, Sep 22 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Scientists have discovered two species of horned dinosaurs. The discovery is most surprising to scientists. The new species are part of the ceratopsids dinosaurs group.

The species were four legged herbivores with bony frills that rose from the back of their heads. The animals also had horns on their head. Utahceratops gettyi is the largest of the two dinosaurs with a 2.3 meter skull. The huge head compelled the study co-author, Mark Loewen to compare the animal to a giant rhino.

However the other dinosaur, Kosmoceratops richardsoni really amazes scientists. The animal has a large skull that is decorated with bony bells and whistles. The animal has horn on its nose, a horn over each eye, a horn at the tip of each cheek and several other horns running along the animal’s head frill.

Scott Sampson from the University of Utah who was the study leader said the animal’s many horns may have been for attracting partners of other sex rather than for battle.

The fossils were discovered at the ancient “lost continent” of Laramidia. The place was flooded during the Cretaceous. The place is home to several fossils of dinosaurs.

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