| Name: Magnirostris dodsoni Etymology: From the Latin 'magnus' (large) and 'rostrum' (beak); and after Prof. Peter Dodson for his contribution to the study of horned dinosaurs Distribution: Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of Mongolia Type Specimen: Almost complete skull and articulated lower jaw Estimated size: 2.5 m in length First described by: You et al., 2003. | 
Image courtesy of ZEGH8578 |
Interesting fact: "Incipient orbital horn cores" might be "non-existant damn-you-taphonomy bones"
The original description for this genus/species included "incipient nasal horn cores" (the lumps of bone over the eyes seen in the photo below) and a large rostrum (beak). However, there is some debate over whether the orbital horn cores which characterise this species were actually present in life, or were in fact a result of preservation as other bones around the eyes were 'squashed' down leaving the tougher "horn cores" poking up (Makovicky et al., 2006). Taphonomy strikes again! Variation in rostrum size has been noted in other protoceratopsid genera, so the large rostrum has also been called into doubt as a defining characteristic of M. dodsoni. It has been suggested by Makovicky et al. (1996) that M. dodsoni might actually be a species of Bagaceratops, another Cretaceous Mongolian protoceratopsid.
I unfortunately don't know enough about ceratopsian anatomy to determine the validity of this myself, so until an official name change is published, it's still a valid taxon in my mind. Good luck, M. dodsoni!
I unfortunately don't know enough about ceratopsian anatomy to determine the validity of this myself, so until an official name change is published, it's still a valid taxon in my mind. Good luck, M. dodsoni!
A beautifully preserved skull of M. dodsoni.
Simplified cladogram of all non-avian dinosaurs. M. dodsoni was a protoceratopsid, within marginocephalia.
References
Makovicky, P. J., Norell, M. A. 2006. Yamaceratops dorngobiensis, a new primitive ceratopsian (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Cretaceous of Mongolia. American Museum Novitates 3530, 1-42.
You, H., Dong, Z. 2003. A new protoceratopsid (Dinosauria: Neoceratopsia) from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Geologica Sinica 77(3):299-303
Makovicky, P. J., Norell, M. A. 2006. Yamaceratops dorngobiensis, a new primitive ceratopsian (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Cretaceous of Mongolia. American Museum Novitates 3530, 1-42.
You, H., Dong, Z. 2003. A new protoceratopsid (Dinosauria: Neoceratopsia) from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Geologica Sinica 77(3):299-303
