Styracosaurus is a relative of the Triceratops. It lived about 10 million years before its more famous relative. Though not as large as Triceratops, Styracosaurus had a row of long spikes around its frill. It also had a long horn between its eyes and nose. This plant-eater was designed to chew up the very tough leaves of low-growing plants.[1]
The long spikes and horn would have made it difficult for the predators of that time, such as the early tyrannosaur, Albertosaurus, to take on an adult Styracosaurus. This creature had the typical features of the ceratopsian dinosaurs - a beak that would have been used to cut the leaves from the plants and a row of densely packed teeth to chew them into pulp.[1]
There are several theories as to the use of the spikes on the frill of Styracosaurus. In addition to a defensive weapon, they may have served to make the creature look larger and more formidable or they may have been brightly colored for display during mating rituals.[1]
Styracosaurus traveled in herds and cared for its young after they hatched. Evidence for herding behavior comes from a bone bed in Arizona where fossils from over one hundred Styracosaurus individuals were discovered.[3]
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Wikipedia has a more detailed and comprehensive article on Styracosaurus |
Story
According to the Dinosaur Protection Group, Styracosaurus was subjected to cruelty sometime before 2018 although it is unknown if there are any surviving populations remaining.
Styracosaurus was one of the many dinosaurs created inside a laboratory in a village by InGen scientists on Isla Sorna for InGen's Jurassic Park.[4]
By 1989 Styracosaurus was at Version 3.9 and there were 18 individuals in Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar.[5][6][7] It is presumed they lived in the Ornithischian Paddock with Triceratops seeing as both it and Styracosaurus are ornithischian and ceratopsian dinosaurs.
Styracosaurus was not known to have been seen during the Tour of Jurassic Park.
After the InGen Incident, eleven were killed[7] and the remaining seven were killed during the Costa Rica Napalm Bombing.[8]
There was no indication of surviving Styracosaurus on Isla Sorna during the 1995 expedition of the island. This could be due to various reasons including a lack to reproduce, having been rendered extinct before the expedition or just simply nesting in a different region of Isla Sorna.
Warpath: Jurassic Park
Styracosaurus is a playable dinosaur in Warpath: Jurassic Park, which has the same movement with Triceratops, and it fights in somewhat the same fighting style. The Styracosaurus has 3 colors: aquamarine, orange, and purple.
Jurassic Park III: Park Builder
Styracosaurus is No. 098 of the Herbivore Twos that can be created in Jurassic Park III: Park Builder.
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
see Styracosaurus/Operation Genesis
Styracosaurus is featured as a two-star small herbivore in the game Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis. It uses its nose horn to attack small carnivores, although it spends much time running in circles around them and grunting instead of attacking. The Styracosaurus usually move in herds with Triceratops or Torosaurus.
The coloration is a green, with a yellow on the midbody, with a bright red on the frill.
Jurassic Park: Explorer
Styracosaurus is featured in the DVD game Jurassic Park: Explorer.
Jurassic World: Evolution
Styracosaurus is one of five dinosaurs that are available in deluxe edition of the game. Its coloration seems to be lightish-brown, with dark green stripes on its back, head and tail and a pale orange in its' frill.
Jurassic World: Alive
Styracosaurus appears as a skeleton in the background of the "Lockwood Library" arena.
Canceled 2011 Toyline
A Styracosaurus figure was going to be released in the Jurassic Park 2011 toyline with an unidentified female action figure but was canceled like the rest of the line.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
A 2019 line from Mattel will feature Styracosaurus. This is the first time it has ever physically appeared in any Jurassic Park toy set, aside from the Canceled 2011 Toyline.
Behind the scenes
Styracosaurus as seen on of the Innovation Center's bannars in Jim Martain's Jurassic World concept art.
In Jim Martain's concept art of the Jurassic World Innovation Center Styracosaurus was seen on of the banners inside the building. It's noteworthy to mention that it has an hole on the frill, similar to the one seen in Sinoceratops seen in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. [9]
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jurassic Park Institute, Dinopedia, Styracosaurus.
- ↑ Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis, Exercises, The Lost World (Exercise)
- ↑ Jurassic Park: Explorer, Styracosaurus.
- ↑ The Lost World: "Interior"
- ↑ Jurassic Park: "Control II"
- ↑ Jurassic Park: "Control V"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jurassic Park: "Under Control"
- ↑ Jurassic Park: "Approaching Dark"
- ↑ Jim Martin Design - Jurassic World
| Playable Warpath Dinosaurs |
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| Acrocanthosaurus • Albertosaurus • Ankylosaurus • Carcharodontosaurus • Cryolophosaurus • Giganotosaurus • Megaraptor • Pachycephalosaurus • Spinosaurus • Stygimoloch • Styracosaurus • Suchomimus • Triceratops • Tyrannosaurus rex |
