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A new ceratopsian dinosaur from the Javelina Formation (Maastrichtian) of West Texas and implications for chasmosaurine phylogeny

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Abstract

Bravoceratops polyphemus gen. et sp. nov. is a large chasmosaurine ceratopsid from the lowermost part of the Javelina Formation (early Maastrichtian) of Big Bend National Park, TX, USA. B. polyphemus has a distinctive narrow snout, a long fenestrate frill, and a fan-shaped median parietal bar with a midline epiparietal on its posterior margin, as well as a symmetrical depression on its dorsal surface at the nexus of the parietal rami. This depression is interpreted to be the attachment point for a second midline epiparietal. This parietal morphology is distinct from that exhibited by Anchiceratops or Pentaceratops. The posterior midline epiparietal in B. polyphemus and its bifurcated quadratojugal–squamosal joint are features shared with the most derived chasmosaurines, Torosaurus and Triceratops. The combination of primitive and derived traits exhibited by B. polyphemus, and its stratigraphic position, is compatible with the gradual transition from basal, to intermediate, to derived chasmosaurines observed throughout the western interior of North America, and with phylogenetic analysis, which suggests that Bravoceratops may be closely related to Coahuilaceratops.

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Acknowledgments

Don Corrick and Dave Larson of the Division of Science and Resource Management, Big Bend National Park were especially supportive throughout this project. National Park Service pilot Scott Taylor made initial location and subsequent aerial survey of the remote study area possible. Thomas Shiller is extended a special word of gratitude for his camaraderie in the field, leading us to the “promised land,” and exhibiting his unique style of locomotion for which “the hippiewalk” site that yielded the specimen described herein is named. We thank Lori Manship and students from the University of Texas of the Permain Basin for their help excavating portions of the specimen. We also appreciate J. Wick and E. Lehman for their patient indulgence of the authors’ paleontological endeavors. The photographs shown in this paper were originally color images taken with oblique lighting. They were then adjusted in Adobe© Photoshop Elements version 6.0 using grayscale and the artistic filter “poster edges” to enhance surface features and illustrate greater morphological detail. Although converted to grayscale, Fig. 7b was not otherwise altered. Illustrations are the work of the authors.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Science and Resource Management, Big Bend National Park, TX, 79834, USA

    Steven L. Wick

  2. Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Thomas M. Lehman

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  1. Steven L. Wick
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  2. Thomas M. Lehman
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Correspondence to Thomas M. Lehman.

Additional information

Communicated by: Robert Reisz

Appendix

Appendix

Character state scores for Bravoceratops polyphemus using 148 characters given by Sampson et al. (2010) as modified, including an additional character (149) described by Mallon et al. (2011). Two additional characters (150 and 151) described in the text are also included.

?1???????? ???????0?? ??????111? ????111011 ?1???10?11 1?????1?2? ??1?10?01? ?01?11?201 1101111?10 ????10?23? ???1111??? ????????11 ?????????? ?????????? ????????11 1

The following changes were made to the modified Sampson et al. (2010) taxon-character matrix: C. belli 35(0), 66(0); P. sternbergi 37(1); A. brachyops 50(1); and T. latus 95(1).

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Wick, S.L., Lehman, T.M. A new ceratopsian dinosaur from the Javelina Formation (Maastrichtian) of West Texas and implications for chasmosaurine phylogeny. Naturwissenschaften 100, 667–682 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-013-1063-0

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