Through the analysis of recently unearthed fossil remains and advanced imaging techniques, paleontologists have elucidated the mystery surrounding Europe’s absent horned dinosaurs (ceratopsians). Organisms previously considered distant relatives of Iguanodon have now been definitively classified as bona fide members of the ceratopsian lineage.
Reconstruction of the possible appearance of Ajkaceratops kozmai. Image credit: Matthew Dempsey.
Ceratopsians represent a clade of herbivorous ornithischian dinosaurs, notably characterized by their avian-like beaks, osseous neck frills, and cranial ossifications.
These prehistoric creatures predominantly inhabited the Earth during the Late Cretaceous epoch, spanning an era from approximately 100 to 66 million years ago.
While ceratopsian fossil evidence is prolific in Asia and North America, its presence in Europe had been notably scarce.
Prior to these recent advancements, the paleontological record from the European continent comprised merely a paucity of incomplete and contested fossil specimens.
The excavation of novel, more complete fossil material attributed to Ajkaceratops from Hungary’s Late Cretaceous strata instigated a renewed scientific inquiry, employing computed tomography (CT) scanning and rigorous evolutionary phylogenetic analysis.
Initially described in 2010, the taxonomic status of Ajkaceratops had been a subject of debate, with some researchers positing it as a horned dinosaur, while others suggested it was a relative of Iguanodon exhibiting potential ceratopsian traits.
Utilizing newly acquired cranial elements, Professor Susannah Maidment, a distinguished paleontologist affiliated with the Natural History Museum, London, and the University of Birmingham, along with her research team, concluded not only that this dinosaur was a ceratopsian but also that a previously identified rhabdodontid, designated as Mochlodon, pertained to the same species.
Furthermore, the comprehensive analyses indicated that several other dinosaur taxa, formerly categorized as rhabdodontids, had been erroneously classified for an extended period and were, in fact, ceratopsians.
“Although Iguanodon and Triceratops exhibit considerable morphological divergence, the evolutionary clades to which they belong share a common progenitor, thereby inheriting certain ancestral characteristics,” explained Professor Maidment.
“They independently developed quadrupedal locomotion, sophisticated masticatory apparatus, and substantial body mass.”
“Consequently, their dentition and appendicular skeletons display a degree of resemblance, attributable to both their shared evolutionary history and comparable ecological niches.”
“Therefore, when confronted with only fragmentary skeletal remains, discerning precise taxonomic affiliations can present a significant challenge.”
By substantiating the presence of ceratopsians within the European fossil record, this investigation effectively bridges a persistent lacuna in our understanding of these dinosaurs’ migratory patterns across the Northern Hemisphere.
“The initial discoveries of Ajkaceratops fossils were so fragmentary that numerous paleontologists expressed skepticism regarding its ceratopsian classification,” commented Professor Richard Butler of the University of Birmingham.
“The exceptional significance of the new Ajkaceratops fossil lies in its capacity to confirm the existence of horned dinosaurs on the islands of Cretaceous Europe, while simultaneously compelling us to fundamentally revise our paradigms regarding these ancient ecological communities.”
The earliest known ceratopsians, exemplified by Yinlong, originated in Asia before multiple dispersal events led them to North America, where they diversified into forms characterized by elaborate frills, such as Triceratops and Torosaurus.
The most plausible migratory pathway for these dispersals would have traversed Europe; however, the dearth of fossil evidence had previously cast doubt on this hypothesis.
“We possess evidence suggesting that dinosaurs were capable of traversing the nascent Atlantic Ocean during the Cretaceous,” stated Professor Susannah.
“The discovery of dinosaur species like Allosaurus in both Portugal and the United States demonstrates their capacity for intercontinental movement to a certain extent.”
“Many animals possess natatorial capabilities, and given the relatively proximity of the islands within the central European basin, it is plausible that dinosaurs engaged in island-hopping behavior.”
“Horned dinosaurs, akin to Triceratops, rank among the most iconic prehistoric creatures, yet the majority of their fossil record originates from North America. Their presence in Europe had remained undetected for decades, masked by misidentification as other dinosaur groups,” remarked Professor Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh.
This pivotal research was disseminated in the esteemed scientific journal Nature.
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S.C.R. Maidment et al. A hidden diversity of ceratopsian dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous Europe. Nature, published online January 7, 2026; doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09897-w
