Protoceratopsidae
Quick Summary
The Protoceratopsidae were a family of ceratopsian dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period. These plant-eating dinosaurs were quadrupedal and characterized by a bony frill at the back of their skull and a unique upper beak bone called a rostral.
While they possessed a beak and a small frill, Protoceratopsidae, such as Protoceratops, lacked the large horns found on more advanced ceratopsians like Triceratops. Adults of Protoceratops were about 1.8 meters (6 feet) long and weighed around 180 kg (400 pounds). The discovery of numerous fossils, including young individuals, has provided valuable insights into their growth and development.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
ceratopsianMembers of the Protoceratopsidae, including Protoceratops and Leptoceratops, were mostly quadrupedal and slightly larger and lived from the Early to Late Cretaceous; these dinosaurs had a somewhat larger frill but no horns.
Read MoreMembers of the Protoceratopsidae, including Protoceratops and Leptoceratops, were mostly quadrupedal and slightly larger and lived from the Early to Late Cretaceous; these dinosaurs had a somewhat larger frill but no horns.
Read More
dinosaurCeratopsia…the protoceratopsids is the genus Protoceratops. Dozens of skeletal specimens, ranging from near hatchlings to full-size adults, have been found and studied. This rare treasure, the first to include very young individuals unmistakably associated with mature individuals, was the result of the series of American Museum of Natural History expeditions…
Read More…the protoceratopsids is the genus Protoceratops. Dozens of skeletal specimens, ranging from near hatchlings to full-size adults, have been found and studied. This rare treasure, the first to include very young individuals unmistakably associated with mature individuals, was the result of the series of American Museum of Natural History expeditions…
Read More