It’s home to the maple leaf, some of the best hockey players in the world, nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and now a new species of dinosaur.
Archaeologists have announced that they have unearthed bones of a previously unseen dinosaur in Alberta, Canada – a province recognised for its rich source of dinosaur fossils.
The fossilised horned skull was found by a member of the public in a cliff near the Oldman River in the province’s southwest.
The dinosaur has been identified to belong to the Ceratopsidae family, making it a relative of Triceratops and Styracosaurus.
However, unlike its cousins, the dinosaur is notably different in both the size and shape of the horns on its face.
He or she also has a crown-like frill at the back of its skull.
Scientists have dated the beaked, herbivorous dinosaur back to the Cretaceous period – a time that saw the highest diversity of ceratopsian dinosaurs.
Researchers have given the fossil the nickname ‘Hellboy’ in reference to the Dark Horse comic book character; and because of the gruelling, multi-year process of excavation, preparation and study.
The skull is now on display in a new exhibit that opened today at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller Alberta called Fossils in Focus.
For dinosaur lovers who want to follow in the footsteps of palaeontologists, Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park offers one- two- and- three-day guided excavation programs in which participants take part in real dinosaur digs that contribute to ongoing scientific research at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
