Starting June 4th, 2015, you can see “Hellboy” the new dinosaur species discovered in Alberta, at the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta!
A dinosaur named after a comic book character? Get ready for every 8 year old (or 8 year old at heart!) you know to lose their minds from awesomeness.
The “Hellboy” dinosaur bears a horned resemblance to the Dark Horse Comics character, but the name also refers to the exquisitely difficult task of excavating the beast. The nearly complete skull was found just above the fluctuating waterline of the Oldman River in Southern Alberta, off the side of a steep cliff. Scientists had the added challenge of keeping all the dig debris from falling into the water below, a protected wildlife habitat. The excavation took place over two years, plus another 18 months at the lab.
So was the hellish work worth it? Absolutely! The find of Regaliceratops peterhewsi (royal horned face) is scientifically important and a Canadian treasure!
You can see the Hellboy dinosaur and learn more about the relative of the famous frilled triceratops at the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, or even take part in the important work of the museum by participating in an on-site fossil dig! Dino roadtrip, anyone?
To learn more about the Fossils in Focus exhibit and Alberta’s dino-rich past, please visit Travel Alberta.
To start planning your Drumheller trip, why not check out these great articles from Family Fun Canada?
