New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in Chasmosaurinae
Chasmosaurine ceratopsids are well documented from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation (DPF) of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, and include Chasmosaurus belli, Chasmosaurus russelli, Mercuriceratops gemini, Vagaceratops irvinensis, and material possibly referable to Spiclypeu...
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-07-01
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| author | James A. Campbell Michael J. Ryan Claudia J. Schröder-Adams David C. Evans Robert B. Holmes |
| author_facet | James A. Campbell Michael J. Ryan Claudia J. Schröder-Adams David C. Evans Robert B. Holmes |
| author_sort | James A. Campbell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chasmosaurine ceratopsids are well documented from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation (DPF) of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, and include Chasmosaurus belli, Chasmosaurus russelli, Mercuriceratops gemini, Vagaceratops irvinensis, and material possibly referable to Spiclypeus shipporum. In this study, we describe three recently prepared chasmosaurine skulls (CMN 8802, CMN 34829, and TMP 2011.053.0046) from the DPF, and age-equivalent sediments, of Alberta. CMN 8802 and CMN 34829 are both referred to Chasmosaurus sp. based on the size and shape of the preserved parietal fenestrae. TMP 2011.053.0046 is referred to Vagaceratops sp. based on the position and orientation of its preserved epiparietals. Each skull is characterized by the presence of an accessory fenestra in either the squamosal (CMN 8802 and TMP 2011.053.0046) or parietal (CMN 34829). Such fenestrae are common occurrences in chasmosaurine squamosals, but are rare in the parietal portion of the frill. The origin of the fenestrae in these three specimens is unknown, but they do not appear to exhibit evidence of pathology, as has been previously interpreted for the accessory fenestrae in most other chasmosaurine frills. These three skulls contribute to a better understanding of the morphological variation, and geographic and stratigraphic distribution, of chasmosaurines within the DPF and age-equivalent sediments in Western Canada. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:35:15Z |
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| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:35:15Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-7fd33d74229943e8a35c986b9e0e8b202023-12-03T11:00:03ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-07-016e519410.7717/peerj.5194New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in ChasmosaurinaeJames A. Campbell0Michael J. Ryan1Claudia J. Schröder-Adams2David C. Evans3Robert B. Holmes4Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, CanadaDepartment of Vertebrate Paleontology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH, USADepartment of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, CanadaRoyal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaChasmosaurine ceratopsids are well documented from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation (DPF) of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, and include Chasmosaurus belli, Chasmosaurus russelli, Mercuriceratops gemini, Vagaceratops irvinensis, and material possibly referable to Spiclypeus shipporum. In this study, we describe three recently prepared chasmosaurine skulls (CMN 8802, CMN 34829, and TMP 2011.053.0046) from the DPF, and age-equivalent sediments, of Alberta. CMN 8802 and CMN 34829 are both referred to Chasmosaurus sp. based on the size and shape of the preserved parietal fenestrae. TMP 2011.053.0046 is referred to Vagaceratops sp. based on the position and orientation of its preserved epiparietals. Each skull is characterized by the presence of an accessory fenestra in either the squamosal (CMN 8802 and TMP 2011.053.0046) or parietal (CMN 34829). Such fenestrae are common occurrences in chasmosaurine squamosals, but are rare in the parietal portion of the frill. The origin of the fenestrae in these three specimens is unknown, but they do not appear to exhibit evidence of pathology, as has been previously interpreted for the accessory fenestrae in most other chasmosaurine frills. These three skulls contribute to a better understanding of the morphological variation, and geographic and stratigraphic distribution, of chasmosaurines within the DPF and age-equivalent sediments in Western Canada.https://peerj.com/articles/5194.pdfCampanianChasmosaurusDinosaur Park FormationLaramidiaOldman FormationVagaceratops |
| spellingShingle | James A. Campbell Michael J. Ryan Claudia J. Schröder-Adams David C. Evans Robert B. Holmes New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in Chasmosaurinae PeerJ Campanian Chasmosaurus Dinosaur Park Formation Laramidia Oldman Formation Vagaceratops |
| title | New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in Chasmosaurinae |
| title_full | New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in Chasmosaurinae |
| title_fullStr | New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in Chasmosaurinae |
| title_full_unstemmed | New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in Chasmosaurinae |
| title_short | New insights into chasmosaurine (Dinosauria: Ceratopsidae) skulls from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in Chasmosaurinae |
| title_sort | new insights into chasmosaurine dinosauria ceratopsidae skulls from the upper cretaceous campanian of alberta and an update on the distribution of accessory frill fenestrae in chasmosaurinae |
| topic | Campanian Chasmosaurus Dinosaur Park Formation Laramidia Oldman Formation Vagaceratops |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/5194.pdf |
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