Open Paleo

Gremlin

Ryan et al., 2023 GREM-lin

Named for the gremlin, a small troublesome mythical creature.

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

Gremlin is a genus of leptoceratopsid ceratopsian dinosaurs from the Campanian stage of the Cretaceous period, 77 million years ago. It contains one species, Gremlin slobodorum, named in 2023 by Michael J. Ryan and colleagues from a frontal bone found in the Oldman Formation of Alberta.

Diagnosis

  1. Transverse ridge on the frontal extends across the dorsal surface from the medial margin to the anterodorsal border of the orbit.
  2. Transverse ridge separated from the raised, crescentic anterior border of the frontal depression by a narrow band of smooth bone that continues as the smooth surface of the depression.
  3. Transverse ridge and anterior margin of the frontal depression both diverge from the same point on the slightly raised medial frontal margin.
  4. Transverse ridge marks the point of maximum thickness of the frontal, from which the bone tapers anteriorly and sharply posteriorly across the frontal depression.

Species

Gremlin slobodorum Ryan et al., 2023

Type species

Named in honor of Ed and Wendy Sloboda, who have contributed to paleontology in Canada and were involved in the discovery of the holotype.

Holotype
TMP 2011.053.0027 , Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology
Material
Incomplete right frontal lacking a portion of the anterolateral margin.
Horizon
lower Oldman Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
South Pinhorn Grazing Reserve, Alberta, Canada The Oldman Formation's three units are informal, the lower lying below the Comrey Sandstone.

References

  1. Ryan, M. J.; Micucci, L.; Rizo, H.; Sullivan, C.; Lee, Y. N.; Evans, D. C. (2023). A new Late Cretaceous leptoceratopsid (Dinosauria: Ceratopsia) from the Oldman Formation (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada. Windows into Sauropsid and Synapsid Evolution: Essays in Honor of Prof. Louis L. Jacobs 151-165. Dinosaur Science Center Press. ryan2023a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Ornithischians. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length estimate.

    jones2026a