馬許在他1892年的論文描繪了角鼻龍首個骨架重建圖,身長6.7公尺、身高3.7公尺。[5]吉爾摩在1920年指出,前者的重建把軀幹弄得太長,至少多加了六節脊椎。該錯誤在隨後多篇文獻中反覆提及,包括1899年(1920年才出版)邦德(Frank Bond)在奈特(英语:Charles R. Knight)指導下繪製的首件生前復原圖。1901年出版更準確的復原圖是由格里森(英语:Joseph M. Gleeson)同樣於奈特監督下製作。吉爾摩於1910至1911年間裝設了正模骨架,並展示於國立自然史博館。多數早期重建都把角鼻龍描繪成尾巴拖地的直立站姿。[2]:115–116相比之下吉爾摩的重建在當時頗為前衛:[6]:276由大腿骨上端得到啟發,發現其與小腿成一定角度,而形成水平而非直立、尾部懸空、能夠奔跑的姿勢。因為化石受壓縮變形的程度嚴重,吉爾摩難以架設立體骨骼,而用淺浮雕的樣貌展示於牆面上。[2]:114部分骨骼嵌入牆面,使要進行更深入研究受到阻礙。在2014至2019年博物館恐龍展示翻修期間,館方將標本從牆面取下,[7][8]並於2019年計畫開幕的新展覽中,以一個新製作的立體複製品取而代之;原始標本則回歸博物館館藏,使學者得以徹底研究。[8]
北美其他發現
自模式種的正模發現以後,直到1960年代才再次發現另一具較重要的角鼻龍化石,是由詹姆斯·麥德森(英语:James Henry Madsen)及團隊在猶他克里夫蘭羅伊採石場挖出破碎、關節脫落的部分骨骼及頭骨UMNH VP 5278標本,是體型最大的角鼻龍標本之一。[9]:211976年艾瑞克森(Thor Erikson)在科羅拉多果城發現第二個關節連接、含頭骨的標本MWC 1。[10]這是一隻相對完整的骨骼,缺乏下頜、手臂及腹肋。雖然頭骨較完整,發現時已呈關節脫落狀態,側面壓得很扁。來自一隻大型個體,但由頭骨縫線開放程度顯示,其尚未達到成熟的體型。[9]:2–3提供博物館展示的科學準確3D頭骨重建模型,製作過程很複雜,從單一件原始骨骼翻模、矯正變形部位、重建遺失部分、將骨骼模型安裝到適當位置、最後上色以還原骨骼原始色彩。[11]
1884年馬許認為角鼻龍的鼻角是作為攻擊與防禦的強大武器,1920年吉爾摩認同其論點。[3]:331[2]:82然而現代普遍認為鼻角不太可能當作武器。[10]1985年大衛·諾曼(英语:David B. Norman)認為鼻角可能並非用來抵禦其他掠食者,而是爭奪配偶的雄性角鼻龍種內打鬥使用。[54]1988年奎格里·保羅(英语:Gregory S. Paul)提出類似功能,並繪製兩隻角鼻龍進行一場非致命的互撞競賽。[6]1990年羅威和高席爾提出更進一步的論點,認為鼻角僅具有視覺展示功能,完全無法打鬥。[19]為了達到炫耀目的,鼻角可能具有鮮豔色彩。[31]另外沿身體中線生長的成排皮甲也可能有展示功能。[19]
葡萄牙洛里尼揚層新港段(Porto Novo Member)發現角鼻龍的破碎遺骸透露了該物種也許存在於此地。洛里尼揚層的恐龍生態組成結構與莫里遜層幾乎一樣,或至少都是類似物種。[62]除了角鼻龍,葡萄牙岩層也同樣出土過來自北美的異特龍和蠻龍,至於洛里尼揚諾龍只在葡萄牙發現過。新港段的植食性恐龍包括蜥腳類的迪涅魯龍、洛里尼揚龍、茲必龍;劍龍類的米拉加亞龍。[66][24][25]在晚侏羅世,歐洲與北美之間僅隔著剛形成的狹窄大西洋,而葡萄牙所在的伊比利半島當時是一座大型孤島,與歐洲其他地區隔離開來。根據馬諦尤斯等人所述,葡萄牙與北美獸腳類種群的相似程度,代表之間曾經存在過陸橋使動物得以互相遷徙。[24][25]不過馬拉法雅等人提出不同、更為複雜的情境假設,因為葡萄牙其他動物如蜥腳類、海龜、鱷類都與北美有明顯差異,代表當陸塊開始分開時,某些物種是透過交換遷徙來的,某些則在當地產生特有化。[26]
1920年代以後,角鼻龍形象長期固化,後續的畫家皆參考格里森或斯密,逐漸完全脫離動物的真實形象。直到1980年代突然起了變革,奎格里·保羅(英语:Gregory S. Paul)觀察了正模標本,將角鼻龍詮釋為行動活躍的水平姿態,更貼近現代形象。其中一幅 (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆)角鼻龍以尾巴撐地抬起雙腳踢擊兩隻異特龍,類似袋鼠的行為。另一幅 (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆)依照他對鼻角功能的論點,展現了角鼻龍透過鼻角側擊對抗同類。這些成為新式古生物形象的代表性作品,並在1990年代佔據主流地位。[6]
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