The Bagaceratops was a ceratops dinosaur that lived in what is now Mongolia, during the Late Cretaceous Period which was 85-80 million years ago. This dinosaur belonged to the Protoceratopsidae family, which consists of other similar ceratops dinosaurs.
Key facts about the Bagaceratops
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Bagaceratops pronunciation | The name of this dinosaur can be pronounced as “Bag-a-ser-a-tops”. |
| What does Bagaceratops mean? | The name Bagaceratops was derived from a hybrid word of Mongolian ‘baga’ which means small, and Greek word, ‘ceratops’, which means horn face. This dinosaur was given the name due to the horns and spike-like features surrounding the face. |
| Dinosaur type | Ceratops |
| On the menu | Herbivore |
| Length | 1 meter (3.3 feet) |
| Height | 50 centimeters (1.6 feet) |
| Weight | 22 kilograms (50 pounds) |
| Life expectancy | There is still not enough evidence to support how long the Bagaceratops was expected to live, which is why its life expectancy is currently unknown. |
| Legs used to get around | The Bagaceratops was quadrupedal, which means they used their 4 legs to walk or run. |
| Estimated top speed | Studies show that the estimated top speed was only 4 km/h or 2.5 m/h. |
| When they lived | During the Late Cretaceous Period around 85-80 million years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Gobi Desert in Mongolia |
When & Where
The first remains of the Bagaceratops were first discovered in the Gobi Desert in the 1970s. This discovery was led by a shared group expedition by Mongolian and Polish paleontologists. In 1975 it was named Bagaceratops, by the leaders of the expedition namely Teresa Maryanska and Halszka Osmolska.
Size & Weight
The overall size of this dinosaur was quite small. Studies provided that this dinosaur only reached up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) in length, 50 centimeters (1.6 feet) in height, and 22 kilograms (50 pounds) in weight. Adults only reached up to these measurements, and they usually have a skull much larger than the Protoceratops.
Mobility & Diet
Being a ceratop, the main diet usually consists of plant materials such as leaves, conifers, trees, and other vegetation. Since they were smaller compared to other dinosaurs, the Bagaceratops usually fed off of nearby branches and trees.
Interesting Points
- The Bagaceratops lived from 83.6 million years ago to 66 million years ago
- 11 different specimens have been found by paleontologists
- Thrived in a terrestrial environment
- The specimens that were collected are currently placed in Warsaw at Poland’s Paleobiological Institute.