Pachyrhinosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Pachyrhinosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 75 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 75 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Horned & dome-headed dinosaurs |
|---|---|
| Lived | 83.6–66 million years ago (Campanian to Maastrichtian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Family | Ceratopsidae |
| Named by | Sternberg 1950 |
| Fossil records | 16 occurrences at 14 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Canada, United States |
| Rock formations | Horseshoe Canyon, Wapiti, St. Mary River, Prince Creek, Summit Creek |
About Pachyrhinosaurus
Pachyrhinosaurus (from Ancient Greek παχύς (pachys), thick; ῥίς (rhis), nose; and σαυρος (sauros), lizard) is a genus of centrosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of North America. The first examples were discovered by Charles M. Sternberg in Alberta, Canada, in 1946, and named in 1950. Over a dozen partial skulls and a large assortment of other fossils from various species have been found in Alberta and Alaska. A great number were not available for study until the 1980s, resulting in a relatively recent increase of interest in Pachyrhinosaurus.
Three species have been identified. P. lakustai, from the Wapiti Formation, the bonebed horizon of which is roughly equivalent in age to the upper Bearpaw and lower Horseshoe Canyon Formations, is known to have existed from about 73.5–72.5 million years ago. P. canadensis is younger, known from the lower Horseshoe Canyon Formation, about 73–71 Ma ago and the St. Mary River Formation. Fossils of the northernmost species, P. perotorum, have been recovered from the Prince Creek Formation of Alaska, and date to 73 Ma ago. The presence of three known species makes this genus the most speciose among the centrosaurines.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Pachyrhinosaurus (revision 1360647794), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q131568.
