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Homalocephale

Homalocephale is a genus of small pachycephalosaurid dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Asia. It is notable for a relatively flat skull compared with the later, thick domes seen in many pachycephalosaurs.

The genus was named in 1974 on the basis of fossil material collected in Mongolia. The type

In contrast to later dome-headed pachycephalosaurids, Homalocephale has a markedly flat to gently arched skull roof.

Paleobiology suggests a herbivorous diet typical of pachycephalosaurs, with skull morphology sometimes invoked in discussions of

Paleoenvironmental context places Homalocephale in Late Cretaceous Asia, with fossils recovered from regions that indicate a

species
is
Homalocephale
calathocercus.
The
known
material
for
the
genus
includes
skull
remains
and
some
postcranial
elements,
indicating
a
small-bodied
animal.
This
morphology
has
made
it
central
to
discussions
about
the
evolution
of
head
ornamentation
within
the
group.
Some
researchers
have
debated
whether
flat-headed
specimens
like
Homalocephale
represent
primitive
members
of
Pachycephalosauridae
or
potentially
juveniles
of
domed
species.
social
or
display
behaviors.
The
functional
significance
of
the
flat
skull
is
not
fully
resolved,
and
interpretations
range
from
display
to
defense
to
a
juvenile
stage
in
development.
variety
of
habitats
where
small,
bipedal
to
facultatively
quadrupedal
herbivores
coexisted
with
larger
theropods
and
other
dinosaur
groups.