Serendipaceratops

Say it like this: “seh-ren-DIP-uh-SEH-ruh-tops”

Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei

Serendipaceratops ate plants and walked on two legs. It lived in the Early Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Australia.

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When: Early Cretaceous (Aptian) · roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago
Named in: 2003 · Rich, T.; Vickers-Rich, P.
Hip height: Not established
Length: Not established
Weight: Not established
Found in: Australia · Wonthaggi
Food and walking: Herbivore · Two legs
Kind: bird-hipped dinosaur · Ornithischian
Family branch: Ornithischia

The story in short

Serendipaceratops was formally named in 2003 by T. Rich and P. Vickers-Rich. The name means “serendipitous horned face.”

Fossils referred to Serendipaceratops date to the Early Cretaceous (Aptian), roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago. Finds come from Australia, including the Wonthaggi Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on two legs.

The fossils of Serendipaceratops are too incomplete for a responsible length, hip height, or weight, so those fields are left blank on purpose.

On the family tree it sits in Ornithischia, among the bird-hipped dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Alocodon

Alocodon kuehnei

Middle Jurassic · Late Jurassic (Callovian · Oxfordian) · roughly 165.3 to 154.8 million years ago

Amtosaurus

Amtosaurus magnus

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian · Turonian) · roughly 100.5 to 89.8 million years ago

Archaeocursor

Archaeocursor asiaticus

Early Jurassic (Sinemurian · Pliensbachian) · roughly 199.5 to 184.2 million years ago