New Alberta Hadrosaur Sparks Crest Evolution Clues

A new lambeosaurine hadrosaurid from southern Alberta, Plesiolophus warnerensis, dates to about 77 million years ago (Campanian) and is based on an adult skull roof and braincase from the Oldman Formation near Warner. Phylogenetic analysis places it among the earliest North American Parasaurolini, retaining ancestral skull features while linking to Parasaurolophus, suggesting it could be an ancestor and shedding light on crest evolution and lambeosaurine biogeography. This discovery also marks the first diagnostic adult lambeosaurine material from the Oldman Formation.