**Stellasaurus: The Star Lizard**
Stellasaurus is an extinct dinosaur that roamed Montana during the Late Cretaceous period about 75 million years ago. Its name means “star lizard.” This name comes from the shape of its head ornamentation and is also a nod to the famous song “Starman” by David Bowie.
The only known species of Stellasaurus is called Stellasaurus ancellae. Fossils of this dinosaur were found in a layer of rock known as the Two Medicine Formation, where other similar dinosaurs lived too.
**Scientific Classification**
Stellasaurus belongs to a group of dinosaurs known as ceratopsids. More specifically, it is part of the Centrosaurinae family.
Ceratopsids are known for their impressive head features, including horns and frills. Stellasaurus had unique characteristics that showed it was between Styracosaurus and Einiosaurus in terms of evolution.
**What Did It Look Like?**
Like its relatives, Stellasaurus had complex features on its head.
– It had a long nasal horn that pointed inwards.
– The structure around its eyes contained small horn remnants.
– The back of its head had spines of different sizes.
– Unlike some other ceratopsids, it likely lacked extra bony decorations at the back of its head.
Some scientists have discussed exactly what parts of the skull belonged to Stellasaurus, leading to different ideas about how it looked.
**How It Fits Into the Family Tree**
Researchers think Stellasaurus is a bridge between Styracosaurus albertensis and Einiosaurus. It is not thought to be closely related to Rubeosaurus. Instead of seeing ceratopsids as branching off into different families, the scientists propose that they evolved directly from one another without many splits.
**Living Alongside Stellasaurus**
During its time, many other dinosaurs shared its habitat. Some of these included:
– Smaller dinosaurs like Orodromeus.
– Duck-billed dinosaurs, known as hadrosaurids like Hypacrosaurus and Maiasaura.
– The ceratopsids Brachyceratops and Einiosaurus.
– Armored dinosaurs such as Edmontonia and Euoplocephalus.
– Predators like the tyrannosaur Daspletosaurus.
In summary, Stellasaurus was a unique ceratopsid that gives us clues about the evolution of dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous. Its fascinating features and the world it lived in continue to excite scientists and dinosaur enthusiasts alike!