Medusaceratops

£5.45
2301249 : £5.45
In Stock

Dinosaur Facts

Length: about 6m
Diet: Herbivore
Period: Late Cretaceous
Time Span: 80 - 75 Million Years Ago

Affordable, but none the less beautifully modelled and finished range of dinosaur models from the CollectA brand. Hand-painted and finely detailed. A great range to collect for any dinosaur fanatic!

  • Description
  • Dimensions
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Description

Medusaceratops (meaning "Medusa horn face") is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur. It is a chasmosaurine ceratopsian which lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Montana. Its fossils have been recovered from the Judith River Formation, dating to 77.5 million years ago.

Scientists at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History have announced the discovery of a new genus of horned dinosaur (Ceratopsian) from Late Cretaceous sediments in Montana.  This new dinosaur that roamed this part of the United States in herds is estimated to have exceeded 6 metres in length and weighed over 2 tonnes.  This new prehistoric animal, a member of the same group of horned dinosaurs (Chasmosaurine) as Pentaceratops and Triceratops, has been named Medusaceratops lokii, the genus name relating to the flamboyant crest with numerous epoccipitals (lumps, bumps, and horns around the head crest), resembling the fearsome snake covered head of Medusa from Greek legend.  The species name is in deference to the Norse God of mischief – Loki, as when fossils of this dinosaur were first discovered it confused scientists as to whether it was a member of the Chamosaurine or Centrosaurines (two sub-groups of Ceratopsians).

One of a new batch of ceratopsian dinosaurs announced in 2010, Medusaceratops looked like a cross between a Triceratops and a Centrosaurus: it had two Triceratops-sized horns jutting out of the top of its head, but also a large, flat, vaguely butterfly-shaped frill reminiscent of the latter dinosaur. (Why so much head ornamentation? The horns and frill were probably sexually selected characteristics--meaning males with bigger such accessories had the opportunity to mate with more females--but the horns may also have been used for intra-pack tussling and the frill as a means of communication, if it was capable of changing colours). The "Medusa" part of this dinosaur's name, after the ancient Greek monster with snakes instead of hair, refers to the strange, bony, snake-like growths around Medusaceratops' frill.

Dimensions

Model Dimensions:
Length: 14.5cm
Height: 7.5
cm 

Suitable for ages: 3 plus

 

Delivery

UK - Order value: £0.01 to £49.99: £4.25  3-5 working days
UK - Order value: £50.00 to £99.99:  £6.95  3-5 working days
UK - Order value: £100.00 plus: FREE!  3-5 working days

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