Scientists Discovered New "Alien Horn-Faced" Dinosaur in Canada

New dinosaur alert.

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Image via Complex Original
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If Spielberg ever greenlights Jurassic Park IV, he can tell the writer to include the Xenoceratops, a new species of dinosaur scientists discovered in Alberta, Canada. 

Officially named Xenoceratops foremostensis, the new dino is part of the ceratopsian family of prehistoric beasts. Its name literally translates to "alien horned-face." Not very flattering. It was identified from fossils collected by Dr. Wann Langston Jr. in 1958. At 20 feet long and an estimated weight of more than two tons, the Xenoceratops is the oldest known large-bodied horned dinosaur from the U.S.'s northern neighbor. 

Dr. Michael Ryan, curator of vertebrate palentology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History said that the Xenoceratops "shows us that even the geologically oldest ceratopsids had massive spikes on their head shields and that their cranial ornamentation would only become more elaborate as new species evolved."

The Xenoceratops find is part of a larger study by Dr. Ryan and his colleague Dr. David Evans called the Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project which is attempting to better inform us about the Late Cretaceous dinosaurs. 
 
[EurekAlert via Ars Technica]

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