Move Over, There’s A New Dinosaur In Town! Some Facts And Questions For Wendiceratops

‘Exciting paleontology news”is not a phrase said very often. Today, though, we can scream it from the tricera-rooftops (I ‘m sorry) because there ‘s a new dinosaur in town!

That ‘s right, scientists have discovered a new dinosaur they believe to be a cousin of the triceratops and are calling it Wendiceratops pinhornensis. The small, horned dino ‘s remains were discovered in 2010 by professional fossil hunter Wendy Sloboda in Alberta, Canada.

Unlike the cranial anatomy of other similarly built dinosaurs, Wendiceratop ‘s horns curled inward toward its face.Immediately, Sloboda and her crew of paleontologists recognized that these remains belonged to a previously undiscovered creature.

How exciting! We have so much to learn about this mysterious new dinosaur that just showed up out of nowhere! Like what is her deal? Here is what we know and what we want to know!

What We Know About Wendiceratops And What We Want To Know

• She is older than her cousin, triceratops, by about 5 million years. Was she held back a grade? Shouldn ‘t she be in college by now?
• Her horns are bigger than any other species in the triceratops family. Do you think that ‘s something she ‘s self-conscious about? Maybe she ‘ll make up some lie about having to get her deviated septum ‘fixed” and come back next year with an entirely new horn.
• ‘Wendiceratops” roughly means ‘Wendy ‘s horned face.” Can we, like, call her that?
• Over 200 of her bones were found in Alberta. Does no one else think that ‘s super gross? Like, Wendy, get it together. That ‘s so many bones.
• Does she really think she can just show up late and everyone is going to care? I mean, it ‘s working right now but I bet in a few years, when we find a new dinosaur, no one will even remember who she is! Also ‘ Canada? Lol.
• The hook-like frills crowning her head turn inward. Was that a hip style at her old school because literally no other dinosaur we know of has that and it ‘s kind of weird.
• Scientists believe that male Wendiceratops used their horns to fight over females. So, like, lots of boys like her? Is she going to be causing a lot of drama? Because we honestly don ‘t have time for any more dinosaur drama. It ‘s so exhausting.

Well, Wendi, or however you want us to spell your name, lots of people, especially little kids, look up to dinosaurs so get ready for the limelight and welcome to the club.

Image credit: Danielle Dufault