Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Ornithischia
Suborder: Cerapoda
Infraorder: Ceratopsia
Family: Ceratopsidae
Subfamily: Centrosaurinae
Genus: Styracosaurus

Species: S. Albertensis

Stryacosaurus was a large (6m) ceratopsian that lived during the late Cretaceous approximately 75 million years ago. Stryacosaurus is easily identified by the two to three pairs of large horns projecting from the top of the neck frill, tapering down to hornlets along the lateral margins. In addition to the ornamented frill, the species had a large nasal horn, and the characteristic beak and herbivorous dental batteries of the family. Extensive variation in face and frill adornment even between individual specimens has inspired debate as to the function of such modifications. The leading theory is that sexual selection played a significant role in the diversity seen.

Type Species: Styracosaurus albertensis

Lambe, L.M. (1913). A new genus and species from the Belly River Formation of Alberta. Ottawa Naturalist Vol. 27, pp. 109-116.

Locality:

Dinosaur National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Scientific Resources:

Ryan, MJ; Holmes, R; and Russell, AP. (2007). A Revision of the Late Campanian Centrosaurine Ceratopsid Genus Styracosaurus from the Western Interior of North America. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Vol. 27, Issue 4, pp. 944-962.

Campione, NE; and Holmes, R. (2006). The Anatomy and Homologies of the Ceratopsid Syncervical. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Vol. 26, Issue 4, pp. 1014-1017.

Currie, PJ; and Koppelhus, EB. (2005). Dinosaur Provincial Park: a Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed. Indiana University Press.

Brown, B; and Schlaikjer, EM. (1937). The skeleton of Styracosaurus with the description of a new species. American Museuem Noviatates No. 955.