Terminocavus is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period, around 75 to 74 million years ago. It was discovered in North America, specifically in New Mexico, and was first described in a study published in 2020.
The main species of this genus is called Terminocavus sealeyi. The fossil remains of this dinosaur were found in 1997 in layers of rock known as the Kirtland Formation. The bones include parts of its skull and some vertebrae, but they are not complete. The name “Terminocavus” means “coming to the end of the cavity,” referring to the shape of a part of its skull.
Terminocavus is related to other well-known ceratopsids like Pentaceratops and Anchiceratops. What makes its skull unique is the shape of its frill at the back of its head. This frill is heart-shaped with a narrow notch, unlike most of its relatives, which had wider notches.
Scientists believe that Terminocavus represents a step in the evolution of ceratopsids. Its features are a mix of both more primitive dinosaurs and more advanced ones, showing how these creatures changed over time.
The remains of Terminocavus show that it had a large frill with some distinctive features, including small horns along the edges. The fossil suggests it was about the size of other ceratopsids like Utahceratops.
Research has shown that the chasmosaur group, which includes Terminocavus, may have changed very gradually over time, rather than being made up of many different species living together. This means that as these dinosaurs evolved, they became more and more different from their ancestors.
In summary, Terminocavus is an intriguing dinosaur that gives us insight into the evolution of ceratopsids during the late Cretaceous period, showcasing how their features developed over time.