|
Ceratopsian
Ceratopsia or Ceratopia ( or ; Greek: "horned faces") is a group of herbivorous, beaked dinosaurs that thrived in what are now North America, Europe, and Asia, during the Cretaceous Period, although ancestral forms lived earlier, in the Jurassic. The earliest known ceratopsian, ''Yinlong downsi'', lived between 161.2 and 155.7 million years ago.Holtz, Thomas R. Jr. (2011) ''Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages,'Winter 2010 Appendix./ref> The last ceratopsian species, ''Triceratops prorsus'', became extinct during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, . ''Triceratops'' is by far the best-known ceratopsian to the general public. It is traditional for ceratopsian genus names to end in "''-ceratops''", although this is not always the case. One of the first named genera was ''Ceratops'' itself, which lent its name to the group, although it is considered a ''nomen dubium'' today as its fossil remains have no distinguishing characte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Triceratops
''Triceratops'' ( ; ) is a genus of herbivore, herbivorous Chasmosaurinae, chasmosaurine Ceratopsidae, ceratopsid dinosaur that first appeared during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period (geology), period, about 68 million years ago in what is now North America. It is one of the last-known non-avian dinosaur genera, and became extinct in the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 million years ago. The name ''Triceratops'', which literally means 'three-horned face', is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words () meaning 'three', () meaning 'horn', and () meaning 'face'. Bearing a large bony neck frill, frill, three horn (anatomy), horns on the skull, and a large four-legged body, exhibiting convergent evolution with rhinoceroses and bovines, ''Triceratops'' is one of the most recognizable of all dinosaurs and the most well-known ceratopsid. It was also one of the largest, up to long and in body m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protoceratopsidae
Protoceratopsidae is a family of basal (primitive) ceratopsians from the Late Cretaceous period. Although ceratopsians have been found all over the world, protoceratopsids are only definitively known from Cretaceous strata in Asia, with most specimens found in China and Mongolia. As ceratopsians, protoceratopsids were herbivorous, with constantly replacing tooth batteries made for slicing through plants and a hooked beak for grabbing them. Protoceratopsids were small ceratopsians around 1-2.5 m in length. Their bony frill and horns were much smaller than more derived members of Ceratopsia, such as ceratopsids. Description Protoceratopsids were relatively small ceratopsians, averaging around 1-2.5 m in length from head to tail. Protoceratopsids have a frill and rostral bone characteristic of all ceratopsians. Their snout is particularly wedge-shaped with tall and narrow nostrils situated high on it. The antorbital fenestra is unusually small, and the antorbital fossa sits high on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Psittacosaurus
''Psittacosaurus'' ( ; "parrot lizard") is a genus of extinct ceratopsian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of what is now Asia, existing between 126 and 101 million years ago. It is notable for being the most species-rich non-avian dinosaur genus. Up to 12 species are known, from across China, Mongolia, Russia, and Thailand. The species of ''Psittacosaurus'' were obligate bipeds at adulthood, with a high skull and a robust beak. One individual was found preserved with long filaments on the tail, similar to those of ''Tianyulong''. ''Psittacosaurus'' probably had complex behaviours, based on the proportions and relative size of the brain. It may have been active for short periods of time during the day and night, and had well-developed senses of smell and vision. ''Psittacosaurus'' was one of the earliest ceratopsians, but closer to ''Triceratops'' than ''Yinlong''. Once in its own family, Psittacosauridae, with other genera like ''Hongshanosaurus'', it is now considered to be s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ceratopsidae
Ceratopsidae (sometimes spelled Ceratopidae) is a family of ceratopsian dinosaurs including ''Triceratops'', ''Centrosaurus'', and ''Styracosaurus''. All known species were quadrupedal herbivores from the Upper Cretaceous. All but one species are known from western North America, which formed the island continent of Laramidia during most of the Late Cretaceous. Ceratopsids are characterized by beaks, rows of shearing teeth in the back of the jaw, elaborate nasal horns, and a thin parietal-squamosal shelf that extends back and up into a frill. The group is divided into two subfamilies—Chasmosaurinae and Centrosaurinae. The chasmosaurines are generally characterized by long, triangular frills and well-developed brow horns. The centrosaurines had well-developed nasal horns or nasal bosses, shorter and more rectangular frills, and elaborate spines on the back of the frill. These horns and frills show remarkable variation and are the principal means by which the various species have b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Graciliceratops
''Graciliceratops'' (meaning "slender horn") is a genus of Ceratopsia#Phylogeny, neoceratopsian dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period. Discovery and naming The holotype, ZPAL MgD-I/156, was discovered at the Bayan Shireh Formation in Mongolia, coming from the Sheeregeen Gashoon locality near Sainshand. The discoveries were made during field exploration by the Polish-Mongolian Palaeontological Expedition, in 1971. Four years later, in 1975, the specimen was described by Teresa Maryańska and Halszka Osmólska and referred to the genus ''Microceratops''. However, Paul Sereno noted that the referral for this specimen was injustified and overall, the genus lacked diagnosis, therefore, ''Microceratops'' (now named ''Microceratus'') was considered a nomen dubium. The referred specimen was redescribed by him, creating a new genus and species: ''Graciliceratops mongoliensis''. The holotype is fragmentary, consisting of a very fragmented skull with mandibles; ver ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yamaceratops
''Yamaceratops'' is a genus of primitive ceratopsian that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now the Javkhlant Formation. Initially, the rocks where it was found in were thought to be from the Early Cretaceous, but the age was reevaluated in 2009. It was a relatively small dinosaur, reaching in length and in body mass. The type species, ''Yamaceratops dorngobiensis'', was described by P. J. Makovicky and M. A. Norell in September, 2006. The authors consider the animal to have had an intermediate phylogenetic position between ''Liaoceratops'' and '' Archaeoceratops'' within Neoceratopia. Examination of the frill of ''Yamaceratops'' has convinced the authors that the frill was not used for display, and that the fossils " intat a more complex evolutionary history for ceratopsian frills." The genus name refers to Yama, a Tibetan Buddhist deity; the species name to the Eastern Gobi. The holotype IGM 100/1315 consists of a partial skull; other material h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chaoyangsauridae
Chaoyangsauridae is a family of ceratopsian dinosaurs. They are among the earliest known marginocephalian dinosaurs, with remains dating to about 160 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic period. Members of this group had sharp beaks for snipping off leaves to eat, and a very small frill. Four dinosaur genera, ''Chaoyangsaurus'', '' Xuanhuaceratops'', ''Yinlong'' and ''Hualianceratops'', are usually considered to belong to the Chaoyangsauridae. All four animals are more primitive (or basal) than both ''Psittacosaurus'' and neoceratopsians. See also * Timeline of ceratopsian research This timeline of ceratopsian research is a chronological listing of events in the history of paleontology focused on the ceratopsians, a group of herbivorous marginocephalian dinosaurs that evolved parrot-like beaks, bony frills, and, later, s ... References Ceratopsians Prehistoric dinosaur families {{ceratopsian-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aquilops
''Aquilops'' is an early herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur dating from the Early Cretaceous of North America, approximately 109 million to 104 million years ago. The type species is ''A. americanus''. Description The skull is 84.2 mm long. The holotype is possibly not from a full-grown individual. A comparison with related species indicates it might have been at 60% of its adult length. Wedel estimated the total body length of ''Aquilops'' at 60 cm and its weight at 1.5 kg. The authors established some unique traits. The rostral, the bone core of the snout beak, curves downwards and has an arched keel on its top with a bump on the front. In front of the tooth row the upper jaw rim is over its total length concave in side view. The skull opening, the antorbital fenestra, is twice as long as it is tall and has a pointed rear, below the eye socket. Discovery and naming In 1997, paleontologist Scott Madsen found the single fossil, a partial skull, in Carbon County ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Turanoceratops
''Turanoceratops'' ("Turan horned face") is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan. The fossils dated from the mid-late Turonian stage, roughly 90 million years ago. The skull bore a pair of long brow horns like those seen in the Ceratopsidae, although ''Turanoceratops'' appears to have been transitional between earlier ceratopsians and ceratopsids, and not a ceratopsid itself. Discovery and naming From the 1920s onwards, Soviet scientists discovered fragmentary fossils near Dzharakuduk in the district Navoi Viloyat, leading them to the conclusion that some ceratopsid must have been present. In 1988, paleontologist Lev Aleksandrovich Nesov based on these published the name ''Turanoceratops tardabilis'', but did not provide a description so that for the time being it remained a ''nomen nudum''. In 1989, Nesov, L.F. Kaznysjkina and Gennady Olegovich Cherepanov validly named the type species ''Turanoceratops tardabilis''. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Helioceratops
''Helioceratops'' is a genus of herbivorous neoceratopsian dinosaur from the Middle Cretaceous of China. Discovery and naming In 2000 and 2002, at the Liufangzi site of China's eastern Jilin province, excavations took place during which the jaws were found of a ceratopsian new to science. The type species ''Helioceratops brachygnathus'' was named and described in 2009 by Jin Liyong, Chen Jun, Zan Shuqin and Pascal Godefroit. The generic name means "sun horned face" from the Greek ''helios'', "sun", ''keras'', "horn" and ''ops'', "face". The reference is that the Sun rises in the East and ceratopsians also "rose" in the East; i.e. they originated in the Orient. The name also refers to a close relationship with '' Auroraceratops'', the "dawn ceratopian". The specific name means "short jaw" from the Greek βραχύς, ''brachys'' and γνάθος, ''gnathos'', in reference to the distinguishing short lower jaw. ''Helioceratops'' was discovered in a layer of the Quantou Forma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Archaeoceratops
''Archaeoceratops'', meaning "ancient horned face", is a genus of basal neoceratopsian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian stage) of north central China. It appears to have been bipedal and quite small, reaching in length and in body mass. It had a comparatively large head but no horns, possessing only a small bony frill projecting from the back of its head. Discovery and species Two specimens were found in the Middle Gray Unit of the Xinminbao Group, Gongpoquan Basin of the Mazong Shan area of Gansu Province, north central China. The type species, ''A. oshimai'', was named by Dong Zhiming and Azuma in 1997. It is the first basal neoceratopsian discovered in this area. The type specimen, IVPP V11114, consists of a partially complete skeleton including skull, caudal vertebrae, pelvis, and most of a hind foot. The second specimen (paratype), IVPP V11115, consists of an incomplete skeleton with a relatively well preserved caudal series, a partial hind limb, and a co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mosaiceratops
''Mosaiceratops'' is a genus of ceratopsian, described by Zheng, Jin & Xu in 2015 and found in the Xiaguan Formation of Neixiang County. ''Mosaiceratops'' lived in the upper Cretaceous in what is now the Henan Province of China. Although phylogenetic analyses have found ''Mosaiceratops'' to be the most basal neoceratopsian, the authors noted that several features in the premaxilla and nasal bones are shared with ''Psittacosaurus'', indicating that neoceratopsians evolved premaxillary teeth twice and that ''Psittacosaurus'' is not as primitive as previously thought.Zheng, W., Jin, X., & Xu, X. (2015)A psittacosaurid-like basal neoceratopsian from the Upper Cretaceous of central China and its implications for basal ceratopsian evolution ''Scientific reports'', 5. article number 14190: 1-9; doi:10.1038/srep14190 Discovery On the westbank of the river Tuanhe in Neixiang in Henan the skeleton was discovered of a small ceratopian. The fossil was prepared by Sheng Yiming and Yu Chaoh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
