New dinosaur unveiled at Natural History Museum of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — The Natural History Museum of Utah unveiled a newly discovered dinosaur on Thursday. Scientists said the discovery gave them a better look into prehistoric life.

The new dinosaur is called Lokiceratops rangiformis, aka the giant horned dinosaur.

The dinosaur was discovered in northern Montana, near the Canadian border, according to a press release from the NHMU.

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Scientists at the NHMU and the University of Utah pieced the skull together over several years. 

It took them about four years to recreate the skull, including the unique horns on the back of the head. Horns that look like the Norse God Loki’s helmet, hence, its name.

New dinosaur provides a wider understanding

U of U Paleontologist Dr. Mark Loewen is the co-lead author of the study. He said it shows just how much scientists underestimated the diversity of ceratopsians.

“In this small area, smaller than Salt Lake City… we have five elephant-sized animals living at the same time. That’s unheard of. That’s like going to the Serengeti and seeing five species of elephants.”

He said this study shows just how much scientists have underestimated the diversity of prehistoric life.

“We think we probably know less than 1% of the animals that belong to this group that lived here in North America.”

Loewen said to expect many more finds similar to this one, including a few fossils found in southern Utah.

The museum will display the skull and a life-like replica for the rest of the year.

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