Machairoceratops

sword horned face

• machaira · Greek · curved sword or dagger
• keras · Greek · horn
• ops · Greek · face

The name combines the Greek words for a curved sword (machaira), horn (keras) and face (ops). It refers to the two long brow-like horns above the eyes, or more precisely the pair of long, forward-curving horns projecting from the back of the frill. These horns curve forward over the skull like swords. The species name, cronusi, honours the Greek Titan Cronus, who carried a sickle or scythe.

Named by

Lund et al.

Year named

2016

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Wahweap Formation, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA

A centrosaurine ceratopsid (horned dinosaur). The type species is Machairoceratops cronusi. Its forward-curving frill horns are distinctive among ceratopsids.