Sphaerotholus

spherical dome

• sphaira · Greek · sphere, ball
• tholos · Greek · dome, rotunda

Sphaerotholus combines the Greek words for "sphere" and "dome" (or rounded building). It refers to the thick, rounded, dome-shaped skull roof typical of this pachycephalosaurid, which is the part of the animal usually found as fossil.

Named by

Williamson and Carr

Year named

2003

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stages

Campanian – Maastrichtian

Found in

Type species from the Kirtland Formation, New Mexico, USA; other species from western North America (e.g. Montana and Alberta)

A dome-headed pachycephalosaurid. The type species is S. goodwini. Several species have been assigned to the genus, and their exact relationships and validity have been debated.