Styracosaurus was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period (Campanian stage), about 76.5 to 75.0 million years ago. It had four to six long horns extending from its neck frill, a smaller horn on each of its cheeks, and a single horn protruding from its nose, which may have reached dimensions of around 60 centimeters (2 ft) long and 15 centimeters (6 in) wide. The function or functions of the horns and frills have been the subject of debate for many years. Styracosaurus was a large dinosaur, reaching lengths of 5.5 meters (18 ft) and weighing nearly 3 tons. It stood about 1.8 meters (6 ft) tall. Styracosaurus possessed four short legs and a bulky body. Its tail was rather short. It also had a beak and flat cheek teeth, indicating that its diet was herbivorous. Like other ceratopsians, this dinosaur may have been a herd animal, traveling in large groups, as suggested by bonebeds. Named by Lawrence Lambe in 1913, Styracosaurus is a member of the Centrosaurinae. Two species, S. albertensis and S. ovatus are currently assigned to Styracosaurus. Other species assigned to the genus have since been reassigned elsewhere.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styracosaurus

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1896:

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Plessy v. Ferguson, upholding the legality of racial segregation in public transportation under the "Separate but equal" doctrine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plessy_v._Ferguson

1944:

World War II: Polish forces under Lieutenant General Władysław Anders captured Monte Cassino, Italy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Monte_Cassino

1948:

The first session of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China convened in Nanking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Yuan_of_the_Republic_of_China

1980:

The stratovolcano Mount St. Helens erupted , killing 57 people in southern Washington State, reducing hundreds of square miles to wasteland, and causing over a billion U.S. dollars in damage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_eruption_of_Mount_St._Helens

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

nip in the bud (v): 1. To remove a bud from a plant to prevent flower and fruit from forming.

2. (idiomatic) To stop something at an early stage http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nip_in_the_bud

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

To save the world requires faith and courage: faith in reason, and courage to proclaim what reason shows to be true. --Bertrand Russell http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russell