Rostral bone

10 - The rostral bone

The rostral bone is the edentulous (toothless) ossification that forms the ceratopsian beak, unique to ceratopsia. Othniel Charles Marsh recognized and named this bone, which acts as a mirror image of the predentary bone on the lower jaw. This ossification evolved to morphologically aid the mastication of plant matter.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Holtz, Thomas R., Jr.; Rey, Luis V. (2007). Dinosaurs: the most complete, up-to-date encyclopedia for dinosaur lovers of all ages. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-375-82419-7.
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