Protoceratops

Protoceratops is a ceratopid herbivorous dinosaur genus from the Upper Cretaceous. Protoceratops is a cousin of the Ceratopsidae family, including the famous Triceratops. It had the size of a dwarf hippopotamus, weighing up to 900 lb (400 kg) and its fossils are found mainly in Mongolia.

Due to its less derived appearance and taxonomic position (which has less to do with physical evolution than most would assume) Protoceratops looks older than Triceratops, were it not that it lived at nearly the same time.

There are two recognized species: the type species P. andrewsi and the newly named P. hellenikorhinus.

Protoceratops had a large neck frill, possibly for defense against predators. In 1971, A Velociraptor was found clutched around a Protoceratops in Mongolia. It is believed both died at once while fighting, when they were surprised by a sand storm. Velociraptor probably was slashing Protoceratops while lunging the small, 35 lbs predator with its skull.

Protoceratops was stocky in build at 440 to 900 lb (200 to 400 kg) in weight. It had no horn unlike later ceratopsians but a much more well-developed neck frill than Psitaccosaurus. Its huge neck frill could crush the chest of a predator like Velociraptor. Also it had a disproportionately long heavy head for a just 1.8 meter long body.

Triceratops Protoceratops

8-9 meters long 1.8-2 meters long up to 12 tonnes 440-900 lbs 3 horns no horns sharp beak sharp beak North America Mongolia huge 3 meter long heavy headed skull Late Cretaceous Late Cretaceous-

                     earlier than Triceratops

ate plants ate plants