Stygimoloch and Dawndraco

Stygimoloc and Dawndraco

Stygimoloch was a Pachecephaplosaur of the late Cretaceous Period.  It lived in North America in what is now Montana and nearby states.  It was one of those dinosaurs with a reinforced domed skull that may have been used to fight for mates or even self defense.  Other studies on Pachycephalosaurs show that many have cracks in their skull.

There is some controversy on this and Dracorex Jack Horner, the famous paleontologist from the Museum of the Rockies has found evidence that both Dracorex and Stygimoloch may have been juvenile Pachecephalosaurus.  This would mean that the longer skull horns eventually become partially absorbed into the growing skull.  The Pachecephalosaurs did not have the long horns.  It may be that the juveniles needed the horns for protection as they grew.

The Dawndraco is also somewhat controversial.  It is a type of Peteranodon that is also from the late Cretaceous Period.  The full scientific name is Dawdraco kanzai.  This name honors the Iroquois god of dawn...I approve..I am part Iroquios.  The Iroquios are a tribe of Native Americans from the Great Lakes region of North America.  The species name of kanzai honors the Kanza tribe of Kansas.
The reason Dawndraco kanzaii is controversial is because some paleontologists think is is actually a Pteranodon stembergi.  IF this is actually true then the one named first wins.  So Dawndraco kanzai might be Pteranodon stembergi.  In any case. . . it IS a type of Pteranodon.  They were large but not huge Pterosaurs.  They are NOT flying dinosaurs.

Printable version of this drawing is found by clicking on Paleontology button and scrolling down to the bottom of the Mesozoic part of the list.  OR you can scroll down to the very bottom of the All Printables list.  New drawings are on the bottom of the correct lists.