Mercuriceratops

Mercury horned face

• Mercurius · Latin · Mercury, the Roman messenger god (his winged helmet resembles the frill)
• ceratops · Greek · horned face

The name refers to the Roman god Mercury, whose winged helmet resembles the wing-like, flaring shape of this dinosaur's frill. It is combined with the Greek "ceratops", meaning "horned face", a common ending for horned dinosaurs. The type species is Mercuriceratops gemini; "gemini" (twins) refers to the two specimens, one found in Montana and one in Alberta.

Named by

Ryan et al.

Year named

2014

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Judith River Formation, Montana, USA, and Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada

A ceratopsid (chasmosaurine) known from fragmentary skull material, mainly squamosal bones. It is distinctive for its wide, butterfly- or wing-shaped frill.