🦖 Contrary to what was thought, this famous dinosaur roamed Europe

It was long believed that ceratopsians (horned and beaked dinosaurs such as the famous triceratops) did not live in Europe, due to the lack of fossils discovered. The results of recent research now demonstrate the opposite. In reality, these dinosaurs did indeed inhabit the islands of prehistoric Europe, but their identity was confused with that of rhabdodontids.

To reach this conclusion, an in-depth analysis of fossils such as that of Ajkaceratops, a dinosaur discovered in Hungary, was carried out using new technologies. Until now, the classification of this specimen remained uncertain because the fossils found were limited to snout fragments. But the use of computed tomography allowed researchers to examine the internal structure of the skull in more detail. The shape of the beak and palate made it possible to determine that it was a ceratopsian. This discovery also allowed for the reinterpretation of other European fossils.

Anatomy revealed: the proof from bones and imaging

The study published in Nature demonstrates that several fossils attributed to a European endemic group, the rhabdodontids, actually belong to the ceratopsian family. This is also the case for a dinosaur from Romania, formerly named Zalmoxes. Examination of its cranial and dental characteristics allowed for its reclassification and renaming to Ferenceratops. This identification corrects a decades-old categorization error.

It must be said that the process of distinguishing between these herbivorous groups is complex: as the authors explain, ceratopsians and iguanodontians share a common ancestor and independently developed similar adaptations, such as quadrupedal locomotion and elaborate chewing mechanisms. These similar evolutions make isolated bones difficult to attribute with certainty.

The confirmation of the presence of ceratopsians in Europe allows for a better understanding of their dispersal across the northern hemisphere. The earliest members of this group appeared in Asia before moving. The geographical position of Europe made it a coherent migration route.

Implications for the Late Cretaceous ecosystem

The particular geography of Europe at that time, fragmented into an archipelago of islands with shallow seas, probably influenced the evolution of its ceratopsians. The identified species, like Ajkaceratops, were modest in size compared to their giant cousins that arrived later from North America. Living in isolation on islands could explain both their differing morphology and the initial rarity of their fossils, often limited to a few fragments.

The presence of ceratopsians, with potentially different feeding and behavioral modes than rhabdodontids, indicates a biodiversity and more elaborate interactions than previously estimated. The study also indicates the importance of collections and the revision of specimens using the new technologies now available. Many fossils, collected decades ago and catalogued, may have been attributed to an incorrect identity and potentially have information to reveal to us.