Brachyceratops

short horned face

• brachys · Greek · short
• keras · Greek · horn
• ops · Greek · face

The name combines the Greek words 'brachys' (short), 'keras' (horn), and 'ops' (face), giving the meaning 'short-horned face'. It was chosen to reflect the relatively short nasal horn observed on the fossil specimens. Because the known material comes from juvenile individuals, the short horn may simply be a feature of their young age rather than a defining adult characteristic. The name was coined by Charles W. Gilmore in 1914.

Named by

Gilmore

Year named

1914

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Two Medicine Formation, Montana, USA

Brachyceratops is widely regarded as a nomen dubium. All known specimens are juveniles, making it very difficult to establish diagnostic adult characteristics. Some researchers have suggested it may represent a juvenile form of Rubeosaurus or another ceratopsid from the same formation, but this has not been definitively established. It is a ceratopsian dinosaur (family Ceratopsidae).