圆头龙由美国古生物学家托马斯·威廉森(Thomas E. Williamson)和托马斯·卡尔(英语:Thomas Carr (paleontologist))于2002年在《古脊椎动物学报(英语:Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology)》上首次描述,论文标题为《北美西部一高度衍生厚头龙类新属》(A new genus of derived pachycephalosaurian from western North America)。其中命名了两个物种即古氏圆头龙(Sphaerotholus goodwini)和布氏圆头龙(S. buchholzi),并将曾经的埃德蒙顿伤齿龙归入该属。属名Sphaerotholus组合自希腊语sphaira(意为“球”)及tholos(意为“圆顶”),指该属典型的圆顶状厚头龙类颅骨。古氏圆头龙正模标本NMMNH P-27403由一个不完整的颅骨组成,发现于新墨西哥圣胡安县科特兰组(英语:Kirtland Formation)的丹纳辛段。此外作者还将该地层法明顿段(Farmington Member)发现的标本NMMNH P-30068(由一个接近完整的齿骨、一个鳞骨碎片及另一块颅骨碎片组成)归入古氏圆头龙近似种。布氏圆头龙正模标本TMP 87.113.3则包含部分颅骨,由艾米莉·布克霍兹在蒙大拿州卡特县西部的地狱溪组上段收集。[1]
布氏圆头龙正模标本(TMP 87.113.3)由地狱溪组发现的一件不完整颅骨组成。该物种被鉴定为顶骨与鳞骨广泛接触且宽度足以承放顶鳞骨瘤、顶鳞骨棒尾侧边缘较浅、侧面尖角形骨瘤尺寸缩减且位于顶鳞骨棒腹缘之上、顶鳞架侧缘的骨瘤在鳞骨上尺寸缩减并在眶后骨上合并为一道嵴。种名表彰艾米莉·布克霍兹(Emily A. Buchholtz)对厚头龙类的广泛研究。[1]
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