The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is excited to host renowned paleontologist Dr. Matt Wedel for a free public event at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 8. Titled Crowns of the Cretaceous: The Horned Dinosaurs, Wedel’s presentation will focus on ceratopsian dinosaurs and the world‑class fossil specimens preserved at the museum — including a new Hollywood celebrity he helped to discover.
A leading sauropod specialist and co‑author of several landmark dinosaur discoveries, Wedel will discuss the origins and evolution of horned ceratopsian dinosaurs, including the famous Triceratops as well as the breakout star Aquilops americanus — the earliest known ceratopsian dinosaur in North America and most recently cast as “Dolores,” the pet‑like backpack dinosaur in Jurassic World: Rebirth. The program will also highlight the museum’s world‑famous Pentaceratops skull, the largest skull of any land animal ever discovered.
“Aquilops is such a great animal to have in the Sam Noble Museum because it’s a complete contrast to the gigantic Pentaceratops in the same exhibit hall,” Wedel said. “Here we have the smallest and earliest horned dinosaur in North America, just across from one of the largest and latest.”
