In what year was *Xenoceratops ornatus* officially described by Ryan Schott and Donald Brinkman?
Answer
2012
The formal scientific recognition and description of the species *Xenoceratops ornatus* occurred in the year 2012. This act of official description was carried out by the paleontologists Ryan Schott and Donald Brinkman. The year of description marks the moment the scientific community formally acknowledged this unique fossil evidence, distinguishing it based on skeletal material recovered from the badlands of southern Saskatchewan, thereby adding this new piece to the understanding of Late Cretaceous North American biodiversity.

Related Questions
What geological region in Saskatchewan hosts the *Xenoceratops ornatus* fossil evidence?Which specific geological unit within the Hell Creek Formation contains *Xenoceratops* fossils?Approximately how many million years ago did *Xenoceratops* live based on the Last Chance Member dating?In what year was *Xenoceratops ornatus* officially described by Ryan Schott and Donald Brinkman?The *Xenoceratops* find in the Last Chance Member predates which famous ceratopsian associated with the uppermost Hell Creek deposits?To which major dinosaur family does *Xenoceratops* belong based on its horned, frilled head structure?In which North American country was the primary fossil evidence for *Xenoceratops ornatus* unearthed?Which Alberta formation is cited for comparison when mapping out the evolutionary spread of horned dinosaurs across the continent?What primary element do paleontologists prioritize when discussing the 'location' of a dinosaur like *Xenoceratops*?What key evolutionary implication arises from *Xenoceratops* being found in the older Last Chance Member rather than uppermost Hell Creek strata?