Stegoceras

dinosaur · dome head · Late Cretaceous · North America

Dome-headed dinosaur. Stegoceras was a pachycephalosaur, which means it had a thick, bony dome on top of its skull. This dome was packed with extra bone, making its head super strong and perfect for ramming.

Ancient time period. Stegoceras lived about 77.5 to 74 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period, when T-rexes and Triceratops were roaming the Earth.

Found in North America. The first fossils of Stegoceras were discovered in Alberta, Canada, in 1902, though remains have also been found in New Mexico.

Strong name. The name Stegoceras means 'horn roof' and the species name validum means 'strong,' which perfectly describes this tough little dinosaur with its reinforced headgear.

Built for battling. Scientists think Stegoceras probably used its thick skull to headbutt other Stegoceras in competitions for food, territory, or mates, similar to how bighorn sheep do today.