What is diabloceratops?

Diabloceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 79 million years ago. It belonged to the family Ceratopsidae, which includes well-known dinosaurs such as Triceratops.

Diabloceratops was named for its devil-like appearance, with horns protruding from its frill and a large horn on its nose. It had a large, frilled head with a pointed snout and a beak-like mouth for cropping vegetation. It walked on four legs and had a bulky body with a relatively short tail.

Fossils of Diabloceratops have been found in the Wahweap Formation in southern Utah, USA. It is known from a partial skull and several other fragmentary remains. Based on the size of its skull, it is estimated that Diabloceratops was around 16-20 feet in length and weighed about 2-3 tons.

As a herbivorous dinosaur, Diabloceratops would have fed on vegetation such as ferns, cycads, and conifers. It likely lived in a semi-arid environment with seasonal rivers and abundant plant life. It may have used its horns for display purposes or in combat with rival males during mating season.

Overall, Diabloceratops is a fascinating and unique dinosaur that adds to our understanding of the diversity of ceratopsian dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous period.