Regaliceratops peterhewsi was a horned dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period, discovered in Alberta, Canada. Its nickname, the “Hellboy” dinosaur, comes from the small horn stubs above its eyes and the difficulty of removing its skull from hard rock. It matters to paleontology because its skull combines features that scientists did not expect to see together in one ceratopsid.
This makes it a useful example of how new fossils can change ideas about dinosaur evolution.
Key Facts
- Scientific name: Regaliceratops peterhewsi.
- Nickname: “Hellboy” dinosaur.
- Group: Ceratopsidae, within the horned dinosaurs called ceratopsians.
- Age: Late Cretaceous, about 68 million years ago.
- Location: Found in Alberta, Canada, in rocks of the St. Mary River Formation.
- Estimated skull length was about 1.6 m, and fossil age can be estimated by time difference: age = present year age marker - fossil deposit age marker.
Vocabulary
- Ceratopsian
- A group of mostly herbivorous dinosaurs known for beaks, frills, and often facial horns.
- Ceratopsid
- A member of the advanced horned dinosaur family that includes Triceratops, Centrosaurus, and Regaliceratops.
- Frill
- The expanded bony shield at the back of a ceratopsian skull.
- Chasmosaurine
- A subgroup of ceratopsid dinosaurs often recognized by long frills and prominent brow horns, although Regaliceratops has an unusual combination of traits.
- Paleontology
- The scientific study of ancient life using fossils, rocks, and comparisons with living organisms.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling Regaliceratops a carnivore is wrong because its beak, teeth, and ceratopsian body plan show it was an herbivore.
- Assuming the nickname “Hellboy” is its scientific name is wrong because the formal name is Regaliceratops peterhewsi.
- Treating every horn and frill as a weapon is wrong because these structures may also have been used for display, species recognition, or competition.
- Thinking one fossil gives a complete picture of the species is wrong because paleontologists must compare limited remains with related dinosaurs and the surrounding rock evidence.
Practice Questions
- 1 Regaliceratops lived about 68 million years ago. If Triceratops lived about 66 million years ago, how many million years earlier did Regaliceratops live?
- 2 A museum model skull of Regaliceratops is built at 1:4 scale. If the real skull was about 1.6 m long, how long should the model skull be in meters and centimeters?
- 3 Regaliceratops has a crown-like frill that resembles some centrosaurines, but it is classified closer to chasmosaurines. Explain how this shows that dinosaur evolution is not always a simple straight line of traits.