Spiclypeus is an extinct dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 76 to 75 million years ago. It was a type of ceratopsian, which means it was part of a family of dinosaurs known for their horned faces and frills.
The name Spiclypeus means “spike shield,” which reflects its unique features. This dinosaur’s frill had many large, spike-like structures that made it stand out from other dinosaurs in its family.
Discovery of Spiclypeus began when a physicist named Bill D. Shipp bought land in Montana. In 2005, he found part of a dinosaur bone on his property and decided to dig further with the help of fossil experts. After years of work, they uncovered a significant amount of bones, including a partial skull.
The main species of Spiclypeus is called S. shipporum, named in honor of the Shipp family. The fossils now reside at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Spiclypeus was around 4.5 to 6 meters long and weighed between three and four tonnes. It had some unique traits, such as special features on its nose and distinctive shapes of its horn cores above its eyes.
The skull of Spiclypeus was about 167 centimeters long and had a hooked beak. It had many teeth in its mouth used for chewing plants. The dinosaur’s frill had a triangular shape and was adorned with different bone structures.
Some studies suggest that this dinosaur was possibly injured during fights with others of its kind. It had some infections and injuries on its bones, but despite this, it lived to be at least ten years old.
Overall, Spiclypeus is an interesting dinosaur that shows how diverse and complex the world of dinosaurs was during the time it roamed the Earth.