Albertaceratops

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Albertaceratops
Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Ornithischia
Suborder: Marginocephalia
Infraorder: Ceratopsia
Family: Ceratopsidae
Subfamily: Centrosaurinae
Genus: Albertaceratops
Species: A. nesmoi
Binomial name
Albertaceratops nesmoi
Ryan, 2007

Albertaceratops (meaning "Alberta horned face") was a genus of centrosaurine horned dinosaur from the middle Campanian-age Upper Cretaceous Oldman Formation of Alberta, Canada, and Judith River Formation of Montana, USA.

It is known from a single complete skull (TMP.2001.26.1) found in August 2001 and skull and postcranial fragments. This genus is unusual in combining long brow horns with an otherwise centrosaurine skull, as traditionally centrosaurines are the horned dinosaurs with short brow horns. Over its nose was a bony ridge, and on its frill were two large outwardly-projecting hooks. A phylogenetic analysis carried out by its describer, Michael J. Ryan, found it to be the most basal centrosaurine.[1] Michael Ryan currently works at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, OH.

Before it was officially published, it was known as "Medusaceratops" (meaning "Medusa horn face"), a name that came out of Ryan's 2003 dissertation.[2] The dinosaur's current species' name, A. nesmoi, is derived from the name of Cecil Nesmo, a rancher living in Manyberries, Alberta, a town of less than 100 people located 71 km south of Medicine Hat. The rancher was thus honoured in recognition of his efforts to aid fossil hunters.

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