Dracorex belongs to the Pachycephalosaurs which are classified as the bone-headed dinosaurs that existed from Campanian Age to Maastrichtian Age in the Upper Cretaceous. Most of its type were plant-eating and had a dome-shaped skull. Dracorex discovery was unique since until now, no other flat-headed Pachycephalosaurus fossils have been recovered aside from it.
Key Facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Dracorex hogwartsia pronunciation | Dray-ko-rex hog-WART-see-ah |
| What does Dracorex hogwartsia mean? | The name dracorex means dragon king (which it shows resemblance) and the only known species that it has was named hogwartsia to give honor to the Hogwarts school from the series Harry Potter. |
| Dinosaur type | Pachycephalosauria |
| On the menu | Herbivore |
| Length | 21 feet |
| Height | 4 feet |
| Weight | 69.8 kg (154 lbs) |
| Life expectancy | It was believed to have lived for about 70-80 years, which is the same lifespan as an elephant. |
| Legs used to get around | Bipedal |
| Estimated top speed | 34.8 mph (56 kph) |
| When they lived | Dracorex lived during the Upper Cretaceous period at the start of the Campanian Age up to the Maastrichtian Age, about 95-65 million years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Scientists believed that the Dracorex used to roam around and inhabited some parts of Asia and North America. They used to live in habitats that are rich in vegetation such as grasslands and forests. |
When & Where
In 2004, Dracorex fossils were discovered by Brian Buckmeier, and brothers Steve and Pat Saulsbury. It was during the fossil collecting trip in the Hell Creek Formation in central South Dakota. The collected fossils represent the dinosaur’s skull and four neck vertebrae. Its discovery is a milestone in the history of paleontology since it provided more data and insights about the other undiscovered dinosaurs.
Size & Weight
Dracorex were distinguished because of their unique flat and dome-headed skull. Their size was about 4 feet and about 21 feet long. Their height was classified to be the same as the modern-day penguin. It even weighs the same as a wolf: 69.8 kg.
Mobility & Diet
These dinosaurs were known to be herbivores whose main diet is more in plants and shares the same eating patterns as sheep, horses, and cows. Though they were classified to be plant-eaters, their teeth might suggest something else since it is extremely sharp and serrated which says that they might not be an herbivore but were actually an omnivore (eat both plants and meats).
Interesting Points
- The discovery of Dracorex is a paleontological surprise.
- The scientific name for it is Dracorex hogwartsia.
- Their existence was wiped out because of natural occurrences such as earthquakes, meteor hits and volcanic eruptions.
- Dracorex used to settle in grasslands, forests and anywhere that had thick vegetation.
- The same as other Pachycephalosaurus dinosaurs, they used to survive and live in groups with four members.
- It is similar looking to Stygimolochs.
- Did you know that some paleontologists suspect that Dracorex was a species of its very similar-looking Stgimoloch? In recent research headed by Jack Horner, they concluded that both the Dracorex and Stygimoloch represented the same growth stages of another dinosaur genus, Pachycephalosaurus. In other words, it suggests that they were just the juvenile versions of Pachycephalosaurus and sadly also presents that there’ll be no such thing as Dracorex. But don’t worry since it hasn’t been accepted by everyone in the scientific community and still needs further investigations and studies.