**Tylocephale: The Dinosaur with a Swollen Head**
Tylocephale is a type of dinosaur known for its unique, dome-shaped skull. This dinosaur lived around 75 to 73 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. It was discovered in Mongolia, specifically in the Barun Goyot Formation, by a team of Polish and Mongolian scientists in 1971.
**What is Tylocephale?**
This dinosaur belongs to the group called pachycephalosaurs, which are known for their thick skulls and include several species of herbivorous dinosaurs. Tylocephale was about 2 meters long and weighed around 40 kg, similar to the size of a small car.
**Features of Tylocephale**
– **Skull:** The skull is triangular when viewed from behind. Its dome is the tallest among pachycephalosaurs, and it has thick, bumpy surfaces and spikes at the back.
– **Teeth:** Tylocephale had small, serrated teeth designed for eating tough plants like leaves but may have included fruits and insects in its diet.
**Discovery and Naming**
The fossils were found during an expedition in Mongolia and included a partial skull and lower jaw. These bones were named Tylocephale gilmorei after the American paleontologist Charles Gilmore, who helped describe similar dinosaurs.
**Living Conditions**
Tylocephale lived in a dry area with rivers and was found among many other dinosaur types, suggesting it shared its environment with various creatures from the past, including other herbivores and predators.
**Diet and Lifestyle**
Though we don’t know precisely what Tylocephale ate, its teeth suggest it had a varied diet. Its jaw structure indicates it mainly moved its jaw up and down, similar to how modern animals chew.
**Uses of the Dome**
The dome shape of Tylocephale was not just for show. Studies suggest it may have been used for head-butting, similar to how some modern animals, like sheep, use their horns.
**Conclusion**
Tylocephale is a fascinating dinosaur that helps scientists understand the diversity and lifestyles of dinosaurs that roamed the earth millions of years ago. Its unique skull structure, diet, and environment reveal much about the life of these prehistoric creatures.