History UsefulNotes / PrehistoricLifePachycephalosaurs

This is a page of UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLife with a very low number of surely-valid animals, because known pachycephalosaurs have always been very few, even less than the stegosaurs. The skull of the image if of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''.

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colepiocephale Colepiocephale]]'' means "knuckle-head" and lived in Alberta, Canada; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome"), ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrotholus Acrotholus]]'' ("high dome") & ''"Ornatotholus"'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''Prenocephale''. Described in 2021, ''Sinocephale'' is today believed by some the most ancient-known pachycephalosaurid (still-living in Late Cretaceous, though).

* Remember ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Majungatholus]]'', that pachycephalosaur from Madagascar which revealed to be the horn of a ''giant theropod''? This was not an isolated case. ''Yaverlandia'' from Early Cretaceous England (Isle of Wight) was once mentioned as the “most ancient pachycephalosaur”: but its only remain, a tiny skull-dome with two small thickenings above (its complete scientific name, ''Yaverlandia bitholus'', means "Yaverland's double-dome") has been reclassified as a [[ScienceMarchesOn bird-like theropod]]. "Majungatholus", in turn, was believed the only pachycephalosaur living in the Southern Emisphere. Many things might deceptively resemble pachy domes and lead experts in error; the fact that pachycephalosaurs included some of the tiniest dinosaurs has also contributed to this. For example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannanosaurus Wannanosaurus]]'' from China was only two feet long (like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Microraptor]]'') with a flat head that made it looking like a miniature ''Homalocephale'', but, uniquely among known pachycephalosaurs, lacked any skull-protuberances: it is believed by some the actual most basal known pachycephalosaur, outside the proper Pachycephalosauridae but still in the Pachycephalosauria group. The almost-unknown ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferganocephale Ferganocephale]]'' when was discovered in Middle Jurassic Central Asia in 2005 was also described as "the first pachycephalosaur" like ''Yaverlandia'', but is way too fragmentary to be placed in any ornithischian group.

[[/folder]]

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”, with 23 letters: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian. Among the [[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs most popular dinosaurs]] the longest-named is today ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Carcharodontosaurus]]'', with 19 letters (4 less than ''Micropachycephalosaurus''). Since TheNewTens were invented a few other sesquipedalian dinosaur genus names, ex. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterupristisaurus Veterupristisaurus]]'' in 2011, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probrachylophosaurus Probrachylophosaurus]]'' in 2015, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crittendenceratops Crittendenceratops]]'' in 2018, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notatesseraeraptor Notatesseraeraptor]]'' in 2019, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralitherizinosaurus Paralitherizinosaurus]]'' in 2022, all with 18 or more letters, but the "micropachy" still detains the record of "the biggest-named dinosaur" for now.

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”, with 23 letters: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian. Among the [[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs most popular dinosaurs]] the longest-named is today ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Carcharodontosaurus]]'', with 19 letters (4 less than ''Micropachycephalosaurus''). In TheNewTens were invented a few other sesquipedalian dinosaur genus names, ex. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterupristisaurus Veterupristisaurus]]'' in 2011, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probrachylophosaurus Probrachylophosaurus]]'' in 2015, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crittendenceratops Crittendenceratops]]'' in 2018, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notatesseraeraptor Notatesseraeraptor]]'' in 2019, all with 18 or more letters, but the "micropachy" still detains the record of "the biggest-named dinosaur" for now.

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”, with 23 letters: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian. Among the [[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs most popular dinosaurs]] the longest-named is today ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Carcharodontosaurus]]'', with 19 letters (4 less than ''Micropachycephalosaurus''). In TheNewTens were invented a few other sesquipedalian dinosaur genus names, ex. ''Veterupristisaurus'' in 2011, ''Probrachylophosaurus'' in 2015, ''Crittendenceratops'' in 2018, and ''Notatesseraeraptor'' in 2019, all with 18 or more letters, but the "micropachy" still detains the record of "the biggest-named dinosaur" for now.

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”, with 23 letters: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian. Among the [[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs most popular dinosaurs]] the longest-named is today ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Carcharodontosaurus]]'', with 19 letters (4 less than ''Micropachycephalosaurus''). In TheNewTens were invented a few other sesquipedalian dinosaur genus names, ex. ''Veterupristisaurus'' in 2011, ''Probrachylophosaurus'' in 2015, ''Crittendenceratops'' in 2018, and ''Notatesseraeraptor'' in 2019, all with 18 or more letters, but the "micropachy"'s record is still unbeaten for now.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_prenocephale_prenes.JPG]][[caption-width-right:350:The Philosopher]]

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome"), ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrotholus Acrotholus]]'' ("high dome") & ''"Ornatotholus"'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''Prenocephale''. Described in 2021, ''Sinocephale'' is today believed by some the most ancient-known pachycephalosaurid (still-living in Late Cretaceous, though).

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''"Ornatotholus"'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''Prenocephale''. Described in 2021, ''Sinocephale'' is today believed by some the most ancient-known pachycephalosaurid (still-living in Late Cretaceous, though).

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”, with 23 letters: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian. Among the [[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs most popular dinosaurs]] the longest-named is today ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Carcharodontosaurus]]'', with 19 letters (4 less than ''Micropachycephalosaurus''). In TheNewTens were invented a few other sesquipedalian dinosaur genus names, ex. ''Veterupristisaurus'' in 2011, ''Probrachylophosaurus'' in 2015, ''Crittendenceratops'' in 2018, and ''Notatesseraeraptor'' in 2019, but the "micropachy"'s record is still unbeaten for now.

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian. In TheNewTens were invented a few other sesquipedalian dinosaur genus names, ex. ''Veterupristisaurus'' in 2011, ''Probrachylophosaurus'' in 2015, ''Crittendenceratops'' in 2018, and ''Notatesseraeraptor'' in 2019, but the "micropachy"'s record is still unbeaten for now.

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian. In TheNewTens were invented a few other sesquipedalian dinosaur genus names, ex. ''Probrachylophosaurus'' in 2015 and ''Veterupristisaurus'' earlier, but the "micropachy"'s record is still unbeaten for now.

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope! This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian.

This is a page of UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLife with a very low number of surely-valid animals, because known pachycephalosaurs have always been very few, even less than the stegosaurs. The skull above if of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''.

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''"Ornatotholus"'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''. Described in 2021, ''Sinocephale'' is today believed by some the most ancient-known pachycephalosaurid (still-living in Late Cretaceous, though).

This is a page of UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLife with a very low number of surely-valid animals, because known pachycephalosaurs have always been very few, even less than the stegosaurs.

* Remember ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Majungatholus]]'', that pachycephalosaur from Madagascar which revealed to be the horn of a ''giant theropod''? This was not an isolated case. ''Yaverlandia'' from Early Cretaceous England (Isle of Wight) was once mentioned as the “most ancient pachycephalosaur”: but its only remain, a tiny skull-dome with two small thickenings above (its complete scientific name, ''Yaverlandia bitholus'', means "Yaverland's double-dome") has been reclassified as a [[ScienceMarchesOn bird-like theropod]]. "Majungatholus", in turn, was believed the only pachycephalosaur living in the Southern Emisphere. Many things might deceptively resemble pachy domes and lead experts in error; the fact that pachycephalosaurs included some of the tiniest dinosaurs has also contributed to this. For example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannanosaurus Wannanosaurus]]'' from China was only two feet long (like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Microraptor]]'') with a flat head that made it looking like a miniature ''Homalocephale'', but, uniquely among known pachycephalosaurs, lacked any skull-protuberances: it is believed by some the actual most basal known pachycephalosaur, outside the proper Pachycephalosauridae but still in the Pachycephalosauria group. The almost-unknown ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferganocephale Ferganocephale]]'' when was discovered in Middle Jurassic Central Asia in the last decades was also described as "the first pachycephalosaur" like ''Yaverlandia '', but is way too fragmentary to be placed in any ornithischian group.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_prenocephale_prenes.JPG]][[caption-width-right:350:The Philosopher.]]

* Remember ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Majungatholus]]'', that pachycephalosaur from Madagascar which revealed to be the horn of a ''giant theropod''? This was not an isolated case. ''Yaverlandia'' from Early Cretaceous England (Isle of Wight) was once mentioned as the “most ancient pachycephalosaur”: but its only remain, a tiny skull-dome with two small thickenings above (its complete scientific name, ''Yaverlandia bitholus'', means "Yaverland's double-dome") has been reclassified as a [[ScienceMarchesOn bird-like theropod]]. "Majungatholus", in turn, was believed the only pachycephalosaur living in the Southern Emisphere. Many things might deceptively resemble pachy domes and lead experts in error; the fact that pachycephalosaurs included some of the tiniest dinosaurs has also contributed to this. For example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannanosaurus Wannanosaurus]]'' from China was only two feet long (like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Microraptor]]'') with a flat head that made it looking like a miniature ''Homalocephale'', but, uniquely among known pachycephalosaurs, lacked any skull-protuberances: it is believed by some the actual most basal known pachycephalosaur, outside the proper Pachycephalosauridae but still in the Pachycephalosauria group.

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornatotholus Ornatotholus]]'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''. Described in 2021, ''Sinocephale'' is today believed by some the most ancient-known pachycephalosaurid (still-living in Late Cretaceous, though).

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornatotholus Ornatotholus]]'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''. Described in 2021, ''Sinocephale'' is today believed the most ancient-known pachycephalosaurid (still-living in Late Cretaceous, though).

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki_Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornatotholus Ornatotholus]]'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar, and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''. Described in 2021, ''Sinocephale'' is today believed the most ancient-known pachycephalosaurid (still-living in Late Cretaceous, though).

* Remember ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Majungatholus]]'', that pachycephalosaur from Madagascar which revealed to be the horn of a ''giant theropod''? This was not an isolated case. ''Yaverlandia'' from Early Cretaceous England (Isle of Wight) was once mentioned as the “most ancient pachycephalosaur”: but its only remain, a tiny skull-dome with two small thickenings above (its complete scientific name, ''Yaverlandia bitholus'', means "Yaverland's double-dome") has been reclassified as a [[ScienceMarchesOn bird-like theropod]]. "Majungatholus", in turn, was believed the only pachycephalosaur living in the Southern Emisphere. Many things might deceptively resemble pachy domes and lead experts in error; the fact that pachycephalosaurs included some of the tiniest dinosaurs has also contributed to this. For example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannanosaurus Wannanosaurus]]'' from China was only two feet long (like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Microraptor]]'') with a flat head that made it looking like a miniature ''Homalocephale'', but, uniquely among known pachycephalosaurs, lacked any skull-protuberances: it is believed by some the actual most basal known pachycephalosaur.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_prenocephale_prenes.JPG]][[caption-width-right:350:The Philosopher.[[note]]Because its head makes thinking its brain is very big.]]

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinocephale Sinocephale]]'' means "Chinese head" and was once believed an Asian ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]'' specimen; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki_Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornatotholus Ornatotholus]]'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''Stegoceras''), as well as ''"Majungatholus"'' ("Majunga's dome") of Madagascar (see below) and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''.

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. [[note]]It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope![[/note]] This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian.

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki_Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornatotholus Ornatotholus]]'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]''), as well as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''.

* Remember ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Majungatholus]]'' ("Majunga's dome"), that pachycephalosaur from Madagascar which revealed to be the horn of a ''giant theropod''? This was not an isolated case. ''Yaverlandia'' from Early Cretaceous England (Isle of Wight) was once mentioned as the “most ancient pachycephalosaur”: but its only remain, a tiny skull-dome with two small thickenings above (its complete scientific name, ''Yaverlandia bitholus'', means "Yaverland's double-dome") has been reclassified as a [[ScienceMarchesOn bird-like theropod]]. "Majungatholus", in turn, was believed the only pachycephalosaur living in the Southern Emisphere. Many things might deceptively resemble pachy domes and lead experts in error; the fact that pachycephalosaurs included some of the tiniest dinosaurs has also contributed to this. For example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannanosaurus Wannanosaurus]]'' from China was only two feet long (like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Microraptor]]'') with a flat head that made it looking like a miniature ''Homalocephale'', but, uniquely among known pachycephalosaurs, lacked any skull-protuberances: it is believed by some the actual most basal known pachycephalosaur.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_prenocephale_prenes.JPG[[caption-width-right:350:The Philosopher.[[note]]Because its head makes thinking its brain is very big.]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_prenocephale_prenes.JPG]]

'''Stock Suffixes'''

'''Excellent Skull:''' ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenocephale Prenocephale]]''

* Pachycephalosaurs are very rare things. Few species have been described so far, almost always from the Late Cretaceous, [[note]] The incomplete ''Ferganocephale'' from Kyrgyzstan is Middle Jurassic, but probably is not a pachycephalosaurian.[[/note]] and they are either North American, or Asian. While the North American ones are more spectacular (''Pachycephalosaurus''), or more abundant (''Stegoceras''), the Asian ones are nonetheless very interesting; the two most classic ones were both discovered in the 1970s in Mongolia. Their names make a sort of pun if pronounced together: ''Prenocephale'' and ''Homalocephale''. ''Prenocephale prenes'' aptly means “prominent head”; was very similar to ''Stegoceras validum'', size and period included, but had a shorter snout, different tubercles, and a higher dome. Like most boneheaded dinosaurs, only skull material is known, but its first skull is so well preserved that ''even osseous canals'' for the passage of blood-vessels are distinguishable! Some alleged ''Prenocephale'' remains were also found in North-America, but they actually don't pertain to it.

'''Stock Suffixes'''

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki_Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornatotholus Ornatotholus]]'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]''), as well as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''Prenocephale''.

'''The First Pachycephalosaur?:''' ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaverlandia Yaverlandia]]''

* Remember ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Majungatholus]]'' ("Majunga's dome"), that pachycephalosaur from Madagascar which revealed to be the horn of a ''giant theropod''? This was not an isolated case. ''Yaverlandia'' from Early Cretaceous England (Isle of Wight) was once mentioned as the “most ancient pachycephalosaur”: but its only remain, a tiny skull-dome with two small thickenings above (its complete scientific name, ''Yaverlandia bitholus'', means "Yaverland's double-dome") has been reclassified as a [[ScienceMarchesOn bird-like theropod]]. "Majungatholus", in turn, was believed the only pachycephalosaur living in the Southern Emisphere. Many things might deceptively resemble pachy domes and lead experts in error; the fact that pachycephalosaurs included some of the tiniest dinosaurs has also contributed to this. For example, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannanosaurus Wannanosaurus]]'' from China was only two feet long (like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursSaurischianDinosaurs Microraptor]]'') with a flat head that made it looking like a miniature ''Homalocephale'', but, uniquely among known pachycephalosaurs, lacked any skull-protuberances: it is believed by some the actual most basal known pachycephalosaur.

----

'''Sesquipedalian:''' ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropachycephalosaurus Micropachycephalosaurus]]''

* Still another piece of bone found in China in the 1970s has been attributed to another virtually-unknown pachycephalosaur from Late Cretaceous, which could get nonetheless a mention in the Guinness Book Of Records… as “the longest dinosaur name”: ''Micropachycephalosaurus''. [[note]]It’s unlikely that someone will break this record with an even longer new dinosaur name… at least we hope![[/note]] This sesquipedalian name was made combining the particle ''"micro"'' with ''"Pachycephalosaurus"'', meaning “small thick-headed lizard”. Indeed, it was actually one of the smallest dinos that ever lived, maybe only 50 cm/1.5 ft long, like an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Anchiornis]]'' or an ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Epidexipteryx]]''. But [[ScienceMarchesOn research made in the 2000s]] has shown it not to be a true pachycephalosaur, but more likely a very primitive late-surviving ceratopsian.

----

* Many pachycephalosaurs have received the suffix ''-cephale'', meaning head in Greek. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyocephale Goyocephale]]'' means "decorated head", was found in Mongolia and was flat-headed like a ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Homalocephale]]'' but with a pair of canine-like teeth; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylocephale Tylocephale]]'' means "swollen head", was also Mongolian and with the tallest dome among pachycephalosaurians; ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale Alaskacephale]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin found in Alaska]] maybe was the closest relative of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachycephalosaurus]]''. Some others end with ''-tholus'', meaning "dome": ex. North American ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki_Gravitholus Gravitholus]]'' ("heavy dome") & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornatotholus Ornatotholus]]'' ("ornated dome", today synonimized with ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Stegoceras]]''), as well as ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotholus Sphaerotholus]]'' ("ball-like dome"), once believed the North-american species of ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Prenocephale]]''.