Which specific geological unit within the Hell Creek Formation contains *Xenoceratops* fossils?
Answer
Last Chance Member
The precise environmental context for *Xenoceratops* is defined by the specific rock layer its remains occupied. The fossils have been definitively attributed to the Last Chance Member, which constitutes a specific section of the broader Hell Creek Formation. This identification is critically important because geological formations and their distinct members function as time capsules, allowing paleontologists to accurately bracket the dinosaur’s existence within a known time interval, contrasting it with fauna found in older or younger strata within the same larger formation.
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?