Newly discovered dinosaur species sported a head full of frills and curls

The more scientists discover about dinosaurs, the clearer it becomes that many of the prehistoric beasts had a flair for the dramatic, be it in behavior or appearance. Yet another dino has been welcomed into that fold.

The newly discovered species hails from the Triceratops family and had a head covered in fabulous ornamentation resembling frills and curls. It also had a horn on its nose, making it the oldest known member of its lineage to possess one.

Scientists are calling it Wendiceratops pinhornensis in honor of famed fossil hunter Wendy Sloboda, who discovered the Alberta, Canada site where the roughly 80-million-year-old bones were found.

Between the fossils' age and distinctive skull features, the discovery is providing researchers with great insights into how and why such frills and spikes evolved among horned species.

By comparing its skull to that of the Triceratops, which developed 10 million years later, researchers have expanded their position on how the unique features may have been used.

They believe that in addition to serving as identification markers and means of attracting mates, the protrusions could have formed as an additional measure of defense.

See photos of the dino below: