18 genera · 120 to 66 million years ago

Pachycephalosaurs

Pachycephalosaurs were two-legged plant-eaters with a thick, domed skull roof, often ringed with bony knobs and spikes. Pachycephalosaurus, the largest, gave the group its name, which means "thick-headed lizard".

They are known almost only from the Cretaceous of North America and Asia, and mostly from skulls, since the rest of the skeleton rarely survived. Whether they butted heads, shoved flanks or used their domes for display is still debated.

Genera
18
Lived
120 to 66 million years ago
Found in
4 countries
Longest
Pachycephalosaurus, about 4.5 m (15 ft)
Pachycephalosaurus in its habitat
PachycephalosaurusLate Cretaceous · Hell Creek Fm. · named 1943

From the field

Famous pachycephalosaurs

All 18 pachycephalosaurs

Pachycephalosauridae 11

Other pachycephalosaurs 7