Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Sep 23, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Scientists in Utah have discovered fossils of two new species of dinosaurs in Utah, one of which have as many as 15 horns on its head. Some say that this is the most ornate-headed dinosaur ever found and are also closely related to the triceratops. Both the animals are plant eating and the one with the 15 horns on the head has been named Kosmoceratops richardsoni and another one has been named Utahceratops gettyi. The latter had five horns and was the larger of the two.

A paleontologist who was a part of the discovery told the media that not everyday one can discover two rhino sized dinosaur fossils that are unlike any found in North America before. He said that it was believed that almost all the fossils had been discovered but scientist continue to find new fossils in the continent and especially in Utah. Scientists have said that the animals lived in the same ancient land that was called Laramidia. The horns on the animals range between 6 to 12 inches and scientists have explained that they might have been more useful in sexual signals than self defense.

Utahceratops gettyi, the larger animal has a skull that was 6 foot in length and quite disproportional in comparison to the body. It weighed 3 to 4 tons and stood at almost 6 feet. The Kosmoceratops richardsoni was similar to the Utahceratops gettyi but had 10 horns on the head and the rear part of its bony frill and was smaller in size. Weighing at 2.5 tons it was about 15 feet in length. Scientists believe that more fossil discoveries are expected from the area in the days to come.