Genus
Valid Extinct

Ferenceratops

Maidment et al. 2026

Ferenceratops is an extinct genus of ceratopsian dinosaurs known from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Sânpetru and Densuș-Ciula formations of Romania. The genus contains a single species, Ferenceratops shqiperorum, known from a partial skeleton and pelvis. These fossils, in addition to many other isolated or associated remains, were originally referred to the 'rhabdodontid' ornithopod Zalmoxes. Phylogenetic analyses based on new remains of Ajkaceratops suggest Ferenceratops was a close relative of this genus, as part of a distinct lineage of previously unrecognized European ceratopsians.

Temporal range
Triassic
Jurassic
Cretaceous
Paleogene
Neogene
252 201 145 66 0 Ma
PBDB occurrences
9
Group
Dinosaures
Herbivore Ground dwelling Terrestrial
Ferenceratops
click to enlarge
Right dentary of Zalmoxes shqiperorum holotype NHMUK R4900in dorsal and lateral views, from the Sinpetru Formation of Sânpetru (Romania; outline based on the specimen UBB NVZ1-1). © Ł. Czepiński & D. Madzia · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia
PBDB ↗ Wikipedia ↗
Classification
Dinosauria Unranked clade
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Ornithischia Unranked clade
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Neornithischia Unranked clade
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Pyrodontia Unranked clade
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Cerapoda Unranked clade
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Marginocephalia Unranked clade
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Ceratopsia Suborder
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Ferenceratops Genus
Fossil sites 9 geolocated sites
Distribution
Top countries
🇷🇴 Romania
9
Geological formations
Densuş-Ciula
3
Sînpetru
2
Sinpetru
1
Jibou
1
Sebeş
1
Râul Mare
1
Temporal distribution
Maastrichtian (72.2–66 Ma)
9
Species (2)
Ferenceratops shqiperorum 72 Ma
Zalmoxes shqiperorum replaced by Ferenceratops shqiperorum 72 Ma
Images 2
Bibliography
Original description
S. C. R. Maidment, R. J. Butler, and S. L. Brusatte, L. E. Meade, F. J. Augustin, Z. Csiki-Sava, A. Ősi. 2026. A hidden diversity of ceratopsian dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous Europe. Nature DOI ↗
Bibliography (6)
Z. Csiki-Sava, M. Vremir, and S. Vasile, S. L. Brusatte, G. Dyke, D. Naish, M. A. Norell, R. Totoianu. 2016. The East Side Story – The Transylvanian latest Cretaceous continental vertebrate record and its implications for understanding Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary events. Cretaceous Research 57:662-698 DOI ↗
S. Brusatte, M. Vremir, and A. Watanabe, Z. Csiki-Sava, D. Naish, G. J. Dyke, G. M. Erickson, M. A. Norell. 2013. An infant ornithopod dinosaur tibia from the Late Cretaceous of Sebes, Romania. Terra Sebus. Acta Musei Sabesiensis 5:627-644
V. Codrea, M. Vremir, and C. Jipa, P. Godefroit, Z. Csiki, T. Smith, C. Farcas. 2010. More than just Nopcsa's Transylvanian dinosaurs: A look outside the Hateg Basin. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 293:391-405 DOI ↗
Z. Csiki, A. Ionescu, and D. Grigorescu. 2008. The Budurone microvertebrate site from the Maastrichtian of the Hateg Basin – flora, fauna, taphonomy and paleoenvironment. Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae 6:49-66
M. Delfino, V. Codrea, and A. Folie, P. Dica, P. Godefroit, T. Smith. 2008. A complete skull of Allodaposuchus precedens Nopcsa, 1928 (Eusuchia) and a reassessment of the morphology of the taxon based on the Romanian remains. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(1):111-122 DOI ↗
D. B. Weishampel, C.-M. Jianu, and Z. Csiki, D. B. Norman. 2003. Osteology and phylogeny of Zalmoxes (n. g.), an unusual euornithopod dinosaur from the latest Cretaceous of Romania. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 1(2):65-123 DOI ↗