Caleb Brown studies the diversity of dinosaurs from the Cretaceous Period of Alberta, and their evolutionary relationships. One aspect of Caleb's research investigates taphonomy (the study of influences on preservation and fossilization). He specifically looks at how preservation biases in environments shape our understanding of ancient ecosystems. Caleb is also very interested in the evolution and variation in the display structures of horned dinosaurs.
Research Interests
- The diversity and biology of herbivorous dinosaurs, including the anatomy and evolution of display structures (horns, frills, and crests).
- The diversity and preservation of small-bodied dinosaurs.
- Taphonomy (the study of influences on preservation and fossilization).
Professional Highlights
- A lead researcher on Borealopelta markmitchelli, the world's best-preserved armoured dinosaur.
- A lead researcher on Regaliceratops peterhewsi, a new species of ceratopsian that provides insights into horned dinosaur evolution.
- Documented preservation biases against small dinosaurs in Dinosaur Park Formation, and implications for understanding of dinosaur-dominated ecosystems.
- Discovered the holotype of Acrotholus, North America's oldest pachycephalosaur.
Education
Ph.D., University of Toronto, 2013
M.Sc., University of Calgary, 2009
B.Sc., University of Calgary, 2006
- Recent Publications
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Brown C. M. (2018). Long-horned Ceratopsidae from the Foremost Formation (Campanian) of southern Alberta. PeerJ 6:e4265 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4265
Brown, C. M. (2017). An exceptionally preserved armoured dinosaur reveals the morphology and allometry of osteoderms and their horny epidermal coverings. PeerJ 5:e4066 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4066
Brown, C. M., Henderson, D. H., Vinther, J., Fletcher, I., Sistiaga, A., Herrera, J. & Summons, R. E. (2017). An exceptionally preserved three-dimensional ankylosaur reveals insights into coloration and Cretaceous predator-prey dynamics. Current Biology, 27(16), 2514-2521. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.071
Larson, D. W., Brown, C. M. & Evans, D. C. (2016). Ecological stability and extinction patterns in bird-like dinosaurs and the survival of crown group birds. Current Biology, 26(10), 1325-1333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.039
Brinkman D. B, Aguillon-Martinez, M. C., Hutchison, H. & Brown, C. M. (2016). Yelmochelys rosarioae gen et sp. nov., a stem Kinosternid (Testudines; Kinosternidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Coahuila, Mexico. PaleoBios, 33.
- Selected Publications
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Brown, C. M., Henderson, D. H., Vinther, J., Fletcher, I., Sistiaga, A., Herrera, J. & Summons, R. E. (2017). An exceptionally preserved three-dimensional ankylosaur reveals insights into coloration and Cretaceous predator-prey dynamics. Current Biology, 27(16), 2514-2521. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.071
Brown, C. M. & Henderson, D. M. (2015). A new horned dinosaur reveals convergent evolution in cranial ornamentation in Ceratopsidae. Current Biology, 25. pp. 1641-1648. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.04.041
Brown, C. M., Evans, D. C., Campione, N. E., O’Brien, L. J. &. Eberth, D. A. (2013). Evidence for taphonomic size bias in a model Mesozoic terrestrial alluvial-paralic system. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 372, 108-122.
Brown, C. M., Arbour, J. A. & Jackson, D. (2012). Testing of the effect of missing data estimation and distribution in morphometric multivariate data analyses. Systematic Biology. 61(6), 941-954.
Brown, C. M., Boyd, C. A. & Russell, A. P. (2011). A new basal ornithopod dinosaur (Frenchman Formation, Saskatchewan, Canada) and its implications for late Maastrichtian ornithischian diversity in North America. Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society, 163, 1157-1198.