Il suo nome scientifico è Spiclypeus shipporum ma è stato soprannominato "Judith", dalla omonima formazione rocciosa dove è stato ritrovato casualmente nel 2005 da un collezionista di fossili alle prime armi: a distanza di oltre dieci anni, i ricercatori sono arrivati alla conclusione che si tratta di una nuova specie di dinosauro con corna spettacolari, vissuto in Montana 76 milioni di anni fa.
I paleontologi del Museo canadese della natura sostengono che Judith – la cui lunghezza era di circa 4,5 metri per quattro tonnellate di peso - è strettamente imparentato con il ben noto triceratopo. Entrambi erano erbivori e avevano corna ed elaborati abbellimenti sulla testa.
Nuova scoperta nello Utah
Una seconda nuova specie di dinosauro con le corna è stata scoperta sempre negli Stati Uniti, ma questa volta nello Utah, dove alcuni ricercatori hanno rinvenuto ossa vecchie di 77 milioni di anni, appartenenti ad un animale con quattro corna, battezzato con il nome di "Machairoceratops cronusi".
ANSA/AFP/ludoC
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