Open Paleo

Xenoceratops

Ryan et al., 2012 ZEE-no-SEH-ruh-tops

From Greek 'xenos' meaning 'foreign' or 'alien' and 'ceratops' meaning 'horned face', referring to the scarcity of ceratopsian species known from the Foremost Formation.

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

Xenoceratops is a genus of centrosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur known from the Late Cretaceous (middle Campanian stage), and is known to have lived in what is currently Alberta, Canada. The genus has one known species, Xenoceratops foremostensis, after its place of discovery, the Foremost Formation.

Diagnosis

  1. Two epiparietals (P2-P3) on posterior parietal ramus
  2. Wide-based, short, thick P2 processes adjacent to midline with dorsolateral curl
  3. Elongate, dorsoventrally depressed spike at P3 locus, posterolaterally oriented and straight not curled
  4. Additional epiparietals fuse into ovoid depressions on lateral parietal margin
  5. Lacks P1 processes; lacks imbricated epiparietals on lateral ramus
  6. Lacks midline parietal bumps when viewed laterally; arched cross-section of anteriormost midline ramus

Species

Xenoceratops foremostensis Ryan et al., 2012

Type species

Named for the town of Foremost, Alberta, Canada, near which the holotype skull fragments were excavated from the Foremost Formation.

Holotype
CMN 53282 , Canadian Museum of Nature
Material
Partial parietal with posterior midline ramus, left posterior and lateral ramus with P2 and P3 processes
Horizon
Foremost Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Chin Coulee Site No. 2, Alberta, Canada

Notable specimens

  • TMP 2010.076.0024

    Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology complementary

    A referred fragmentary skull preserving facial anatomy, including evidence of large brow horns, not present in the holotype parietal and associated frill material; indicates Xenoceratops had a nasal and brow horn configuration comparable to other basal centrosaurines.

    Ryan et al. (2012)

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

    Source of the body length, mass, and hip height estimates, and the appearance features.

    jones2026a