What is homalocephale?

Homalocephale is a genus of small, herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 million years ago. It belonged to the family Pachycephalosauridae, which are known for their thick skulls and domed heads.

Homalocephale had a relatively small body, measuring around 2 meters in length, with a long tail and short arms. Its most distinctive feature was its flat, thick skull, which lacked the prominent bony dome seen in other pachycephalosaurs. Instead, the skull of Homalocephale was low and elongated, with small bony spikes along the back of the head.

It is believed that Homalocephale used its thick skull for head-butting behavior, possibly in competition for mates or resources. However, some paleontologists suggest that the flat skull shape may have been better suited for displaying colors or patterns to communicate with other members of its species.

Homalocephale fossils have been found in Mongolia, specifically in the Nemegt Formation. Like other pachycephalosaurs, it likely fed on plants and lived in a semi-arid environment. Despite its small size, Homalocephale was likely a fast and agile runner, able to evade predators such as tyrannosaurs that roamed the same region during the Late Cretaceous period.