Open Paleo

Menefeeceratops

Dalman et al., 2021 MEN-uh-fee-SEH-ruh-tops

Named after the Menefee Formation where it was found, combined with Greek 'keras' (horn) and 'ops' (face); meaning 'Menefee Formation horned face'.

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

Menefeeceratops is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaur from the Menefee Formation in New Mexico, United States. It is potentially the oldest known member of the ceratopsids, as well as the centrosaurine subfamily, related to animals including Yehuecauhceratops and Crittendenceratops. The type and only species is Menefeeceratops sealeyi, known from a partial, non-articulated skeleton.

Diagnosis

  1. Parietal lateral margin lacks epiparietal loci
  2. Three external squamosal protuberances
  3. Squamosal with three dorsolateral ridges that deviate from each other
  4. Three elongate and shallow episquamosal loci
  5. Episquamosal locus 1 with three secondary undulations
  6. Two subequal embayments on posterior squamosal margin with dorsal distinctly larger
  7. Posterior squamosal portion longer than anterior portion
  8. Shallow groove on medial squamosal surface along ventrolateral and ventroposterior margins
  9. Elongate postorbital horns distally curving anteriorly
  10. Dentary with two elongated ridges on lateral surface forming distinct anterior triangular fossa

Species

Menefeeceratops sealeyi Dalman et al., 2021

Type species

Named for Paul Sealey, the research associate at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History who originally discovered the holotype in 1996.

Holotype
NMMNH P-25052 , New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Material
Left partial premaxilla, nearly complete left postorbital horncore, partial right squamosal, left squamosal, incomplete left parietal, left jugal, predentary, left dentary, cervical vertebra, eight dorsal vertebrae, partial sacrum with six sacral vertebrae, 11 dorsal ribs, left ilium, distal left radius, proximal and distal portions of left ulna, left metatarsal II, left femur, distal end left fibula
Horizon
upper Allison Member, Menefee Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
NMMNH locality 3033, New Mexico, United States

References

  1. Dalman, S. G.; Lucas, S. G.; Jasinski, S. E.; Lichtig, A. J.; Dodson, P. (2021). The oldest centrosaurine: a new ceratopsid dinosaur (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) from the Allison Member of the Menefee Formation (Upper Cretaceous, early Campanian), northwestern New Mexico, USA. PalZ 95(2): 291-335. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1007/s12542-021-00555-w dalman2021a