More new ceratopsid finds

["Andy Farke" <andyfarke@hotmail.com>]

I just got back from some research out in the Black Hills of South 
Dakota--many new finds to report!

The main purpose of my trip was to examine a Torosaurus skeleton. 
Unfortunately, erosion took much of the skull. However, there are many 
vertebrae, and much of the hind and fore limbs. The unguals are in 
excellent shape. My preliminary work suggests that there may be 
proportional differences between Torosaurus and other ceratopsians. . . 
There were many cool pathologies on this specimen, also. Three of the 
caudal vertebrae show a very nasty infection in the centra--the bone is 
bubbled and warped. Also, there is evidence of theropod bite marks on 
some of the skull material. The specimen has many bones not preserved in 
a Torosaurus before!

I also made a stop at the Black Hills Institute, to see some of their 
new ceratopsian material. Of particular interest was Kelsey, a very nice 
Triceratops horridus specimen. The skull is absolutely incredible, with 
just one of the horns missing. The rest of the bones are in good shape, 
also.

While there, I was also shown a small chunk of bone. Lo and behold, it 
is a TINY ceratopsid orbital horn--probably juvenile. It measures about 
four inches or so in length, with all sutures and sinuses perfectly 
preserved. Unfortunately, that was all that was found. It is about half 
the size of the AMNH specimen that Brown and Schlaikjer published in the 
1940s.

I took many, many measurements and photographs for all of these 
specimens. They are available upon request, through e-mail and mail. I 
will be sending out  copies to those I have promised once my prints 
arrive.

Andy Farke

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