Paleontologists have discovered the oldest and most complete dome-headed dinosaur fossil ever in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia.
Fossils 108-115 million years ago pushed back the timeline of the appearance of dome-headed dinosaurs, or Pakisephalosaurus, around 15 million years later. New fossils can also reveal details about the evolution and development of these strange round skulls.
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Some scientists believe that the thick skull of Pachythephalosaurus helped attract peers and dodge the competition, while these strangeness suggested that they didn’t stab their heads, but instead were kicked like kangaroos. But how their round skulls developed is a mystery. Most known thymus fossils are incomplete, and scientists have not discovered many fossils since the early days of their development.
Now, in a new study published Wednesday (September 17), a group of paleontologists report on fossils that may hold some answers. In eastern Mongolia, the team discovered fossilized bodies of dome-headed dinosaurs from the early Cretaceous period (145 million to 100 million years ago). They were named the newly discovered species Zavacephalae rinpoche.
Zavacephalae comes from the Tibetan word “Zava,” meaning root or origin, and the Latin word “Cephal,” meaning head. “Rinpoche” is a Tibetan word meaning “valuable,” as the team found its skull protruding from the cliff like a polished gem.
The fossils include about 54% of the dinosaur bones, including the entire skull and tail, Z. It contained several hands and legs bones and stomach stones that helped Rinpoche crush the food. In life, dinosaurs were about 3.3 feet (1 meter) long and weighed about 12.9 pounds (5.85 kilograms).
“We age dinosaurs by looking at the growth rings of bones, but most Pachythephalosaurus skeletons are only isolated, fragmentary skulls,” Zanno said. “Z. Rinpoche is a grand discovery because of her arms and legs and a perfect skull, and for the first time we can link the stage of growth with the development of the dome.”
Although the dome of Z. Rinpoche was fully developed, the growth ring of the bones of the lower limbs suggests that the animal was a boy and was still growing when it died. This suggests that the dinosaurs have reached sexual maturity before they fully develop, as Pachyphalosaurs probably use their domes to attract mates.
“If you need to get yourself involved in a relationship, I recommend starting rehearsals early,” Zanno said.
“This specimen is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery,” added Zanno. “Z. Rinpoche offers an unprecedented glimpse into the anatomy and biology of Pachycephalosaurs.”
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