PBDB Taxon

Basic info	Taxonomic history	Classification	Included Taxa
Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Marginocephalia

Reptilia

Taxonomy

Marginocephalia was named by Sereno (1986) [Listed as "Hypoorder"]. It is not extant. It was considered monophyletic by Butler et al. (2008) and Butler and Sullivan (2009).

It was assigned to Heterodontosauria by Olshevsky and Ford (1994); to Neornithischia by Sereno (1997), Sereno (1998) and Sereno (1999); to Ornithischia by Lambert et al. (2001); to Chasmatopia by Buchholz (2002); to Ornithischia by Dodson (1997) and Rauhut (2003); to Heterodontosauriformes by Xu et al. (2006); to Neornithischia by Arbour and Evans (2019); and to Cerapoda by Sereno (1986), Benton (1990), Weishampel (2004), Butler et al. (2007), Butler et al. (2008), Butler and Sullivan (2009), Han et al. (2012), Madzia et al. (2018), Herne et al. (2019) and Dieudonné et al. (2020).

Subtaxa

Ceratopsia (syn. Ponderopoda), Pachycephalosauria

Sister taxa

Ceratopsia (syn. Ponderopoda), Pachycephalosauria

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1986	Marginocephalia Sereno
1990	Marginocephalia Benton p. 19
1994	Marginocephalia Olshevsky and Ford p. 91
1997	Marginocephalia Dodson p. 474
1997	Marginocephalia Sereno p. 443
1998	Marginocephalia Sereno p. 62
1999	Marginocephalia Sereno p. 2138 fig. 2
2001	Marginocephalia Lambert et al. p. 7
2002	Marginocephalia Buchholz p. 20
2003	Marginocephalia Rauhut p. 16
2004	Marginocephalia Weishampel p. 323
2006	Marginocephalia Xu et al. p. 2139 fig. 3
2007	Marginocephalia Butler et al. p. 2044
2008	Marginocephalia Butler et al. p. 22 figs. 2-4
2009	Marginocephalia Butler and Sullivan p. 22
2012	Marginocephalia Han et al. p. 1391 fig. 14
2018	Marginocephalia Madzia et al. p. 973 fig. 4
2019	Marginocephalia Arbour and Evans
2019	Marginocephalia Herne et al. p. 573
2020	Marginocephalia Dieudonné et al.

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
—	Sauropsida
class	Reptilia

Rank	Name	Author
subclass	Eureptilia	()
—	Romeriida
—	Diapsida	()
—	Archosauromorpha	(Huene 1946)
—	Crocopoda
—	Archosauriformes	Gauthier 1986
—	Eucrocopoda
—	Archosauria	()
informal	Avemetatarsalia
—	Ornithodira
—	Dinosauromorpha
—	Dinosauriformes
—	Dinosauria	()
—	Ornithischia	()
—	Genasauria
—	Cerapoda
—	Marginocephalia
—	Marginocephalia

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Unr. †Marginocephalia Sereno 1986

show all | hide all

Unr. †Ceratopsia Marsh 1890 [ceratopsian]

hide

G. †Albalophosaurus Ohashi and Barrett 2009

†Albalophosaurus yamaguchiorum Ohashi and Barrett 2009

G. †Micropachycephalosaurus Dong 1978

†Micropachycephalosaurus hongtuyanensis Dong 1978

Infraor. †Neoceratopsia Sereno 1986

G. †Aquilops Farke et al. 2014

†Aquilops americanus Farke et al. 2014

G. †Archaeoceratops Dong and Azuma 1997

†Archaeoceratops oshimai Dong and Azuma 1997

†Archaeoceratops yujingziensis You et al. 2010

G. †Asiaceratops Nessov et al. 1989

†Asiaceratops salsopaludalis Nessov et al. 1989

G. †Auroraceratops You et al. 2005

†Auroraceratops rugosus You et al. 2005

G. †Beg Yu et al. 2020

†Beg tse Yu et al. 2020

Fm. †Chaoyangsauridae Zhao 1983

G. †Chaoyangsaurus Zhao et al. 1999

†Chaoyangsaurus youngi Zhao et al. 1999

Invalid names: Chaoyangosaurus liaosiensis Zhao and Cheng 1983 [replaced]

Invalid names: Chaoyangosaurus Zhao and Cheng 1983 [replaced]

G. †Hualianceratops Han et al. 2015

†Hualianceratops wucaiwanensis Han et al. 2015

G. †Stenopelix Meyer 1857

†Stenopelix valdensis Meyer 1857

G. †Xuanhuaceratops Zhao et al. 2006

†Xuanhuaceratops niei Zhao et al. 2006

G. †Yinlong Xu et al. 2006

†Yinlong downsi Xu et al. 2006

Invalid names: Xuanhuasaurus niei Zhao 1985 [nomen dubium]

Unr. †Coronosauria Sereno 1986

Superfm. †Ceratopsoidea Hay 1902

G. †Ajkaceratops Osi et al. 2010

Fm. †Ceratopsidae Marsh 1888 [ceratopsid]

Invalid names: Agathaumidae Cope 1889 [synonym]

G. †Turanoceratops Nessov et al. 1989

G. †Zuniceratops Wolfe and Kirkland 1998

Fm. †Leptoceratopsidae Nopcsa 1923 [leptoceratopsid]

G. †Cerasinops Chinnery and Horner 2007

G. †Ferrisaurus Arbour and Evans 2019

G. †Gryphoceratops Ryan et al. 2012

G. †Helioceratops Jin et al. 2009

G. †Ischioceratops He et al. 2015

G. †Koreaceratops Lee et al. 2010

G. †Leptoceratops Brown 1914

G. †Montanoceratops Sternberg 1951

G. †Prenoceratops Chinnery 2004

G. †Udanoceratops Kurzanov 1992

G. †Unescoceratops Ryan et al. 2012

G. †Zhuchengceratops Xu et al. 2010

Fm. †Protoceratopsidae Granger and Gregory 1923

G. †Bagaceratops Maryanska and Osmólska 1975

Invalid names: Gobiceratops Alifanov 2008 [synonym], Lamaceratops Alifanov 2003 [synonym], Magnirostris You and Dong 2003 [synonym], Platyceratops Alifanov 2003 [synonym]

G. †Breviceratops Kurzanov 1990

G. †Protoceratops Granger and Gregory 1923

Invalid names: Bainoceratops Tereshchenko and Alifanov 2003 [synonym]

Invalid names: Asiaceratopsinae Nessov et al. 1989 [empty]

Invalid names: Bagaceratopsidae Alifanov 2003 [empty]

G. †Graciliceratops Sereno 2000

†Graciliceratops mongoliensis Sereno 2000

G. †Liaoceratops Xu et al. 2002

†Liaoceratops yanzigouensis Xu et al. 2002

G. †Mosaiceratops Zheng et al. 2015

†Mosaiceratops azumai Zheng et al. 2015

G. †Yamaceratops Makovicky and Norell 2006

†Yamaceratops dorngobiensis Makovicky and Norell 2006

Invalid names: Archaeoceratopsidae Dong and Azuma 1997 [empty], Ceratopsomorpha Wolfe and Kirkland 1998 [empty], Protoceratopoidea Tereshchenko 2007 [empty]

G. †Notoceratops Tapia 1919 [southern horn face]

†Notoceratops bonarelli Tapia 1919

Fm. †Psittacosauridae Osborn 1923

G. †Xuanhuasaurus Zhao 1985

Invalid names: Protiguanodontidae Osborn 1923 [synonym], Stenopelyxidae Nopcsa 1927 [synonym]

G. †Psittacosaurus Osborn 1923

†Psittacosaurus amitabha Napoli et al. 2019

†Psittacosaurus gobiensis Sereno et al. 2010

†Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis Zhou et al. 2006

Invalid names: Psittacosaurus houi You et al. 2003 [synonym], Psittacosaurus major Sereno et al. 2007 [synonym]

†Psittacosaurus meileyingensis Sereno et al. 1988

†Psittacosaurus mongoliensis Osborn 1923

Invalid names: Protiguanodon mongoliense Osborn 1923 [synonym], Psittacosaurus guyangensis Cheng 1982 [synonym], Psittacosaurus osborni Young 1932 [synonym], Psittacosaurus protiguanodonensis Young 1958 [synonym], Psittacosaurus tingi Young 1932 [synonym]

†Psittacosaurus neimongoliensis Russell and Zhao 1996

†Psittacosaurus sibiricus Voronkevich and Averianov 2000

†Psittacosaurus sinensis Young 1958

Invalid names: Psittacosaurus youngi Chao 1962 [synonym]

†Psittacosaurus xinjiangensis Sereno and Chao 1988

Invalid names: Hongshanosaurus You et al. 2003 [synonym], Protiguanodon Osborn 1923 [synonym], Psittacosaurus mazongshanensis Xu 1997 [nomen dubium], Psittacosaurus ordosensis Russell and Zhao 1996 [nomen dubium]

G. †Serendipaceratops Rich and Vickers-Rich 2003

†Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei Rich and Vickers-Rich 2003

Invalid names: Chaoyangosauridae Dong 1992 [empty], Dysganus Cope 1876 [nomen dubium], Eoceratopsinae Lambe 1915 [empty], Kulceratops Nessov 1995 [nomen dubium], Kulceratops kulensis Nessov 1995 [nomen dubium], Microceratus Mateus 2008 [nomen dubium], Pachyrhinosauridae Sternberg 1950 [empty], Ponderopoda Huene 1948 [synonym], Psittacosauroidea Zhao 1983 [empty], Psittacosaurus sattayaraki Buffetaut and Ingavat 1992 [nomen dubium]

Unr. †Pachycephalosauria Maryańska and Osmólska 1974

hide

Unr. †Eupachycephalosauria Dieudonné et al. 2020

G. †Homalocephale Maryańska and Osmólska 1974

†Homalocephale calathocercos Maryańska and Osmólska 1974

G. †Pachycephalosaurus Brown and Schlaikjer 1943

†Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis Gilmore 1931

Invalid names: Dracorex hogwartsia Bakker et al. 2006 [synonym], Pachycephalosaurus grangeri Brown and Schlaikjer 1943 [synonym], Pachycephalosaurus reinheimeri Brown and Schlaikjer 1943 [synonym], Stygimoloch spinifer Galton and Sues 1983 [synonym], Tylosteus ornatus Leidy 1872 [synonym]

Invalid names: Dracorex Bakker et al. 2006 [synonym], Stygimoloch Galton and Sues 1983 [synonym], Tylosteus Leidy 1872 [synonym]

G. †Prenocephale Maryańska and Osmólska 1974

†Prenocephale prenes Maryańska and Osmólska 1974

G. †Stegoceras Lambe 1902

†Stegoceras novomexicanum Jasinski and Sullivan 2011

†Stegoceras validum Lambe 1902

Invalid names: Ornatotholus browni Wall and Galton 1979 [synonym]

Invalid names: Hanssuessia Sullivan 2003 [synonym], Ornatotholus Galton and Sues 1983 [synonym]

G. †Goyocephale Perle et al. 1982

†Goyocephale lattimorei Perle et al. 1982

Infraor. †Goyocephalia Sereno 1986

Invalid names: Homalocephaloidea Sereno 1986 [empty]

Fm. †Pachycephalosauridae Sternberg 1945

G. †Amtocephale Watabe et al. 2011

†Amtocephale gobiensis Watabe et al. 2011

G. †Colepiocephale Sullivan 2003

†Colepiocephale lambei Sternberg 1945

G. †Hanssuesia Sullivan 2003

†Hanssuesia sternbergi Brown and Schlaikjer 1943

Subfm. †Pachycephalosaurinae Sereno 1997

G. †Acrotholus Evans et al. 2013

†Acrotholus audeti Evans et al. 2013

G. †Foraminacephale Schott and Evans 2017

†Foraminacephale brevis Lambe 1918

G. †Platytholus Horner et al. 2023

†Platytholus clemensi Horner et al. 2023

G. †Sphaerotholus Williamson and Carr 2003

†Sphaerotholus buchholtzae Williamson and Carr 2003

†Sphaerotholus edmontonensis Brown and Schlaikjer 1943

†Sphaerotholus goodwini Williamson and Carr 2003

†Sphaerotholus lyonsi Woodruff et al. 2023

†Sphaerotholus triregnum Woodruff et al. 2023

Unr. †Pachycephalosaurini Sullivan 2003

G. †Alaskacephale Sullivan 2006

†Alaskacephale gangloffi Sullivan 2006

G. †Sinocephale Evans et al. 2021

†Sinocephale bexelli Bohlin 1953

G. †Tylocephale Maryańska and Osmólska 1974

†Tylocephale gilmorei Maryańska and Osmólska 1974

Invalid names: Gravitholus Wall and Galton 1979 [nomen dubium], Texacephale Longrich et al. 2010 [nomen dubium], Tholocephalidae Sereno 1986 [synonym]

G. †Qiyunshanpus Yu 1998

Invalid names: Qiyunshanpus xiaohutianensis Yu 1998 [nomen nudum]

G. †Tianyulong Zheng et al. 2009

†Tianyulong confuciusi Zheng et al. 2009

G. †Wannanosaurus Hou 1977

†Wannanosaurus yansiensis Hou 1977

Invalid names: Homalocephalidae Dong 1978 [empty], Pachycephalosauroidea Zhao 1983 [empty], Tianchungosauroidea Zhao 1983 [empty]

Diagnosis

Reference	Diagnosis
P. Dodson 1997	...A common character being the presence of a frill, formed by the squamosal and parietal bones, that overhangs the back of the skull...Both groups lack the obturator process, a bony tab on the ischium that supports the pubis.

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

hydroxyapatiteo

Entire body:

yeso

Adult length:

10 to < 100o

Adult width:

1.0 to < 10o

Adult height:

1.0 to < 10o

Maximum body mass:

10000 kgg

Minimum body mass:

3 kgg

Architecture:

compact or denseo

Ontogeny:

accretion, modification of partso

Grouping:

gregariouso

Environment:

terrestrialo

Locomotion:

actively mobileo

Life habit:

ground dwellingo

Diet:

herbivoreo

Reproduction:

oviparouso

Dispersal:

direct/internalo

Dispersal 2:

mobileo

Created:

2004-12-14 12:50:52

Modified:

2004-12-14 14:50:52

Source: g = genus, o = order

References: Peczkis 1995, Marsh 1875

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Jurassic to the top of the Late/Upper Maastrichtian or 161.50000 to 66.00000 Ma

Collections (1112 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Late/Upper Bathonian - Early/Lower Kimmeridgian	167.7 - 150.8	China (Liaoning)	Tianyulong confuciusi (92421)
Oxfordian	163.5 - 157.3	China (Xinjiang)	Hualianceratops wucaiwanensis (175359) Yinlong downsi (72107)
Late/Upper Jurassic - Early/Lower Cretaceous	161.5 - 100.5	Mongolia (Bayankhongor)	Psittacosauridae indet. (69914)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian - Valanginian	155.7 - 132.9	China (Liaoning)	Chaoyangosaurus liaosiensis (10755)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian - Valanginian	155.7 - 132.9	China (Hebei)	Xuanhuaceratops niei (91320)
Late/Upper Berriasian	145.0 - 140.2	Germany (Niedersachsen)	Stenopelix valdensis (69694)
Neocomian	145.0 - 125.77	Japan (Fukuoka)	Ceratopsia indet. (166076)
Early/Lower Cretaceous	145.0 - 100.5	Mongolia (Dornogov)	Psittacosauridae indet. (127658) Psittacosaurus sp. (48931)
Early/Lower Cretaceous	145.0 - 100.5	China (Gansu)	Protoceratops sp. (79605)
Early/Lower Cretaceous	145.0 - 100.5	Mongolia (Ovorkhangai)	Psittacosaurus mongoliensis (48936) Psittacosaurus sp. (59358 70140 79703) Psittacosaurus sp., Protiguanodon mongoliense (48939) Psittacosaurus sp., Psittacosaurus mongoliensis (48937)
Youngest occurrences
Time interval	Ma	Country or state	PBDB collection number
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	Canada (Alberta)	Ceratopsia indet. (64628) Eotriceratops xerinsularis (75475) Leptoceratops gracilis (64353) Leptoceratops sp., Leptoceratops sp., Iguanodontidae indet. (14569) Montanoceratops sp. (64791) Pachycephalosaurus sp. (168404) Torosaurus sp. (47130) Triceratops albertensis (47127 47128)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (Colorado)	Bison alticornis (46139) Ceratopsia indet. (49527) Ceratopsidae indet. (46210 49523 49528 49535 49540 49541 49543 49547 49550 49551 49552 49555 49556 184700 219683) Dinosauria indet. (49533 49542) Pachycephalosaurus sp., Ceratopsidae indet. (49539) Polyonax mortuarius (49524) Triceratops sp. (49529 49531 49534 49536 49544 73927 182584)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (South Dakota)	Ceratopsia indet. (191272) Ceratopsidae indet. (45390) Pachycephalosaurus sp., Leptoceratops sp., Torosaurus sp., Triceratops sp., Dracorex hogwartsia (224484) Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis, Pachycephalosaurus reinheimeri (47628) Tatankaceratops sacrisonorum (97798) Triceratops horridus (179969 224486) Triceratops sp. (50082 124934 150890 150892 179970 216603 224488 224489 224490 224492) Triceratops sp., Ceratopsia indet. (150893)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (Wyoming)	Agathaumas sylvestris (46117) Ceratops horridus (46119) Ceratopsia indet. (52089 150932) Ceratopsidae indet. (46125 175972) Diceratops hatcheri (46133) Leptoceratops gracilis (34747) Leptoceratops sp. (53824) Pachycephalosauridae indet., Ceratopsidae indet. (22638) Pachycephalosaurus sp., Triceratops sp. (26760) Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis (64644) Torosaurus gladius (46135) Torosaurus latus (46134) Triceratops brevicornus (46132 52683) Triceratops calicornis (50931) Triceratops elatus (46130 52682 52691 52692) Triceratops eurycephalus (52107) Triceratops flabellatus (46136 165876) Triceratops ingens (50930) Triceratops obtusus (46131) Triceratops prorsus (46127 46129 52690 52694 189513) Triceratops serratus (46126) Triceratops serratus, Ceratopsia indet. (52686) Triceratops sp. (45878 50086 50087 52088 52681 52684 52687 52688 52693 52695 54177 54179 57161 57162 57166 57168 64645 142325 164991 164992 164993 191271 226054 226055) Triceratops sp., Pachycephalosaurus grangeri (14585) Triceratops sp., Triceratops sulcatus (52685) Triceratops sulcatus (46138 52689) Troodon wyomingensis (52106)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	Canada (Saskatchewan)	Ceratopsia indet. (35251) Ceratopsidae indet. (152402) Chasmosaurinae indet. (52837) Pachycephalosauridae indet., Triceratops sp. (54105) Pachycephalosaurinae indet. (223799) Sphaerotholus buchholtzae (170675) Triceratops prorsus (152400 152401 228825 228826 228827) Triceratops sp. (14555 52836 152399 225845) Triceratops sp., Triceratops prorsus (45675)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (North Dakota)	Ceratopsidae indet. (45099 45102 45109 45110 45111 45112 45114 45117 45118 45120 45122 45124 45128 45130 45133 45134 45136 45137 45143 45144 45145 45299 45309 45381 45382 137720) Triceratops horridus (191374) Triceratops prorsus (24851) Triceratops sp. (45123 57919)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (Texas)	Ceratopsidae indet. (52091) Pentaceratops sp. (85188) Torosaurus utahensis (69211)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (New Mexico)	Ceratopsia indet. (46992) Ceratopsidae indet. (59068 62529 62531 62532 62534 62546 138834 138836 171028 171031) Ceratopsidae indet., Ojoceratops fowleri (47819) Chasmosaurinae indet. (68042) Ojoceratops fowleri (97795 97796 138833 171027)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (Mississippi)	Ceratopsidae indet. (212621)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	USA (Utah)	Arrhinoceratops utahensis (48842) Ceratopsia indet. (45724) Ceratopsia indet., Ceratopsia indet. (45719) Ceratopsidae indet. (52926) Triceratops sp. (48549)