Pronunciation: DRAK-o-rex
Meaning: Dragon king
Author/s: Bakker, Sullivan, Porter, et al. (2006)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: South Dakota, USA
Discovery Chart Position: #585
Dracorex hogwortsia
Known only from four vertebrae and a long-muzzled skull with larger openings (temporal fenestrae) than all but one of known pachycephalosaurids (Wannanosaurus), and a domeless top riddled with lumpy bits and hornlets, Dracorex is thought by some palaeontologists to be a juvenile specimen of Stygimoloch... which is thought by some palaeontologists to be a juvenile specimen of Pachycephalosaurus.
(Dragon king of Hogwarts)Etymology
Dracorex is a derived from the Latin "draco" (dragon) and "rex" (king). The species epithet, hogwartsia, is named in honor of "Hogwarts" — the school of witchcraft and wizardry in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
Discovery
The only remains of Dracorex were discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota by brothers Patrick and Steve Saulsbury, and Brian Buckmeier. The holotype—TCMI 2004-17-1, prepared by Victor Porter and Shane Ziemmer of the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis where it is now housed—is a nearly complete skull and four cervical
(neck) vertebrae.
