Styracosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Upper Cretaceous period, about 76-75 million years ago. It was a member of the ceratopsian family of dinosaurs, which also included well-known species such as Triceratops and Pentaceratops. Styracosaurus was a large animal, with some specimens reaching lengths of up to 18 feet and weighing as much as 2.5 tons. It had a distinctive skull, with a large, bony frill at the back of its head and a long, curved horn on its nose.
Key facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Styracosaurus pronunciation | Stie-rak-oh-sawr-us |
| What does Styracosaurus mean? | Spiked or horned lizard |
| Dinosaur type | Ceratopsian |
| On the menu | Herbivorous |
| Length | 18 feet (5.5 meters) |
| Height | 5-6 feet (1.5-1.9) meters) |
| Weight | 4.000-6.000lbs (app. 2.500kg) |
| Life expectancy | Unknown |
| Legs used to get around | Quadrupedal |
| Estimated top speed | Unknown |
| When they lived | Upper Cretaceous period, about 76-75 million years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Canada |
When & Where
The first fossils of Styracosaurus were discovered in 1913 in Alberta, Canada and were named by paleontologist Lawrence Lambe. Lambe discovered a number of well-preserved specimens, including several nearly complete skulls, which provided a lot of information about the anatomy and appearance of this dinosaur. Since then, additional fossils of Styracosaurus have been found in other parts of North America, including Montana, USA.
Size & Weight
Styracosaurus was a large animal, with some specimens reaching lengths of up to 25 feet and weighing as much as 4-5 tons. Its height is estimated at about 6-8 feet tall at the shoulder. It had a distinctive skull, with a large, bony frill at the back of its head and a long, curved horn on its nose. These features would have made the Styracosaurus a large animal, but not as large as some other ceratopsians, such as Triceratops.
Mobility & Diet
As a herbivorous dinosaur, Styracosaurus likely ate a diet of plants, including cycads, and conifers. It would have used its sharp beak and cheek teeth to bite off and chew pieces of vegetation. Styracosaurus was quadruped so it would have walked on all four legs. It is possible that it could have also used its tail for balance while moving at high speeds.
Interesting Points
- Styracosaurus had one of the most distinctive skulls of any dinosaur, with a large, forward-curving horn on its nose, a pair of long, curved horns above its eyes, and a spiked frill on the back of its head.
- Styracosaurus was a large dinosaur, with adults reaching lengths of up to 6 meters (20 feet) and weighing around 2 metric tons.
- Styracosaurus lived during the Upper Cretaceous period, about 76 to 75 million years ago, and was a member of the ceratopsid family, which also included dinosaurs like Triceratops and Pachyrhinosaurus.
Featured Image Credit: LadyofHats, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
