Alaskacephale was a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Alaska. It was a small, lightly built dinosaur that is estimated to have been about 3 meters (10 feet) long and weighed around 45 kilograms (100 pounds). Its skull was relatively large and long, with a long snout and a large, forward-facing eye. The type species is Alaskacephale gangloffi, described in 2020.
Alaskacephale is classified as a member of the group of theropod dinosaurs called "maniraptorans", which includes birds and other closely related species. It is thought to have been a bipedal predator, although its diet is unknown. Its fossil remains have been found in the Prince Creek Formation, which dates to around 70 million years ago.
The name Alaskacephale comes from the Greek words for "Alaska" and "head", and refers to its discovery in Alaska. Alaskacephale is an important fossil for understanding the evolution of theropod dinosaurs in the northern hemisphere, and its discovery has helped to fill a gap in the fossil record of this group of animals.
Name: | Alaskacephale dinosaurs |
Size: | Around 6 meters (20 feet) in length, making it one of the largest mosasaurs. |
Body: | Alaskacephale had a long, streamlined body, four paddle-like flippers, and a powerful tail for swimming. |
Teeth: | Alaskacephale had several rows of sharp, conical teeth, which were perfect for hunting its prey. |
Neck: | Alaskacephale had a long neck, which allowed it to reach farther down into the water in search of food. |
Main Facts: | Alaskacephale is a species of extinct aquatic reptile that lived in the late Cretaceous period (about 80 million years ago) in what is now Alaska. It belongs to the family of Mosasauridae, which are large aquatic predators. |
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Alaskacephale was a small, herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of what is now Alaska. It was a member of the Ornithischia order and is classified as an ankylosaurian. Alaskacephale was a heavily-armored dinosaur, with a wide, flat head shield, a bony tail club, and a number of large, oval plates covering its body. It is thought to have measured around 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long and weighed around 400 kilograms (880 pounds).
Alaskacephale lived in the boreal forests of what is now Alaska and would have been a solitary animal, foraging for plants and fruits. Its bony armor would have provided protection from predators, and its tail club would have been used for defense. It is likely that Alaskacephale was a slow-moving animal, but its armor and tail club would have made it a formidable opponent if threatened.
Alaskacephale was discovered in 1978 in the Prince Creek Formation of central Alaska. It was the first dinosaur to be discovered in the state, and is the only known species of ankylosaurian to have lived in Alaska. Its remains are now housed in the University of Alaska Museum of the North.