Definition

Noun: A type of dinosaur characterized by a very thick, domed skull roof. It was a bipedal herbivore. The term specifically refers to members of the family Pachycephalosauridae.

Usage and Examples

• The fossil's distinctive thick skull fragment identified it as a pachycephalosaur.
• Scientists debate whether pachycephalosaurs used their bony heads for combat or display.
• The most famous pachycephalosaur is .

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The name "pachycephalosaur" is derived from Greek, meaning "thick-headed lizard."
• In paleontological literature, the term is used to describe a specific clade of ornithischian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period.
• The extremely thick skull dome, sometimes over 10 inches (25 cm) thick, is the defining anatomical feature.

Variants and Related Words

• Pachycephalosaurus (n): The genus name for the largest and most well-known member of the pachycephalosaur family.
• Pachycephalosaurid (n/adj): (Noun) A member of the family Pachycephalosauridae. (Adjective) Relating to that family.
• Bonehead dinosaur (n): An informal, common name for pachycephalosaurs.

Synonyms

• Bonehead dinosaur (informal)
• Dome-headed dinosaur (descriptive)

Related Concepts

• Herbivore: An animal that eats plants, like the pachycephalosaur.
• Bipedal: Walking on two legs, a key characteristic of this dinosaur.
• Ornithischian: The larger order of "bird-hipped" dinosaurs to which pachycephalosaurs belong.

Noun

1. bipedal herbivore having 10 inches of bone atop its head; largest boneheaded dinosaur ever found