Stegoceras validum
"strong roofhorn"

Stegoceras validum is the first species of pachycephalosaur to be named, and unlike many other 'firsts' for groups of stem birds, it remains one of the best known of its family, represented by many good fossil skulls and partial skeletons. Some pachycephalosaurs previously considered distinct species based on their flat skulls are now recognized as juveniles of Stegoceras, and the high, rounded dome seems to have developed as the animals aged, as in later pachycephalosaurs like Pachycephalosaurus.

The S. validum here is depicted reaching for the seed pods of a musacean plant related to moern bananas, Striatornata. The restoration is based partly on the later genus Spirematospermum, specimens of which could grow up to 3 meters in height.

Image Details:
Media: Photoshop CS5 and Wacom Bamboo
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