The *Xenoceratops* find in the Last Chance Member predates which famous ceratopsian associated with the uppermost Hell Creek deposits?
Answer
Triceratops
The placement of *Xenoceratops* within the geologically older Last Chance Member of the Hell Creek Formation is highly significant because it places the dinosaur several million years prior to the age associated with the most famous Late Cretaceous faunas. Specifically, the discovery implies that *Xenoceratops* lived before the lineages that culminated in the most commonly cited specimens of *Triceratops*, which are found in the higher, younger strata of the Hell Creek region that date closer to the end of the Cretaceous period.
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?