Open Paleo

Coronosaurus

Ryan et al., 2012 kuh-RON-o-SOR-us

From Latin corona, 'crown', + Greek sauros, 'lizard'; means 'crowned lizard', referring to the crown-like horn arrangement on its frill

83.6–72.2 million years ago Campanian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Coronosaurus is a genus of centrosaurine ceratopsian dinosaurs which lived in the Late Cretaceous, in the middle Campanian stage. Its remains, two bone beds, were discovered by Phillip J. Currie in the Oldman Formation of Alberta, Canada, and its type and only species, Coronosaurus brinkmani, was first described in 2005, as a new species within the genus Centrosaurus. Later studies questioned the presence of a direct relationship, and in 2012 it was named as a separate genus. Coronosaurus means "crowned lizard", coming from "corona", Latin for crown, and "sauros", Greek for lizard; this name refers to the unique, crown-like shape of the horns on the top of its frill.

Diagnosis

  1. Adult-sized supraorbital horn cores inflated (not elongated) and project laterally over the orbit
  2. Sub-adult postorbital horn cores have attenuated pyramidal shape with slight lateral inflection of the distal half
  3. Posterior parietal bar bears numerous accessory epiparietal ossifications that fuse to posterior and dorsal surfaces, developing as short spines through ontogeny
  4. Accessory epiparietals may fuse along adjacent margins into larger irregular masses, contributing to P1 and forming composite epiparietal at P2 locus
  5. P3 epiparietal variably developed as a short tongue-like hook or tapered spike, dorsolaterally oriented

Species

Coronosaurus brinkmani Ryan et al., 2012

Type species

Named for Donald Brinkman, in recognition of research into the paleoecology of Late Cretaceous environments of Alberta.

Holotype
TMP 2002.068.0001 , Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology
Material
A large adult-sized parietal with a nearly complete midline bar and a partial posterior bar bearing the left P1-P3 processes and the partially eroded right P1 and P2.
Horizon
Oldman Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Bone Bed 138, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada

References

  1. Ryan, M. J.; Evans, D. C.; Shepherd, K. M. (2012). A new ceratopsid from the Foremost Formation (middle Campanian) of Alberta. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 49(10): 1251-1262. Canadian Science Publishing. doi:10.1139/e2012-056 ryan2012a
  2. Ryan, M. J.; Russell, A. P. (2005). A new centrosaurine ceratopsid from the Oldman Formation of Alberta and its implications for centrosaurine taxonomy and systematics. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 42(7): 1369. doi:10.1139/e05-029

    Original description of the holotype (TMP 2002.068.0001) as Centrosaurus brinkmani; source of the holotype material.

    ryan2005a
  3. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Ornithischians. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the hip height estimate, and the appearance features.

    jones2026a