Avaceratops | Facts & Information

The avaceratops dinosaur lived about 80 million years ago, in the Upper Cretaceous, in the Mesozoic era. This small herbivorous dinosaur did not exceed 2 m in length and 200 kg in weight. Its life environment consisted of forested areas near the water banks of the Cretaceous territory of North America.

The dinosaur Avaceratops belonged to the ceratopsid group in that it had a bony horn on its nose, sharp and vertical, and above the protruding orbits (which in some specimens were larger in others smaller).

Some researchers have speculated that this animal has a large horn on its nose and two smaller ones on its eyes. In the area of the nape he wore a round shield, much thickened, relatively short, whose weight was diminished by several openings covered with thick and scaly skin.

His eyes were positioned on the sides of his head and allowed him a panoramic view of the surroundings.

The gait was quadruped, the body was supported on all four strong limbs. The hind limbs were longer and more muscular than the forelimbs, had wide thighs and strong bones. The paws were sturdy and ended with hoof-shaped claws. The long and thick tail was used for defense against predatory dinosaurs, to give powerful blows, but also to balance their body weight.

During the mating season, the males fought each other for supremacy in the herd and the conquest of the females, and often their shield could be easily destroyed by the blows of the opponent's sharp horn.

Avaceratops Feed

As herbivorous animals, their food consisted of plants and leaves, pine trees and primitive ferns, which they pecked with the help of their parrot-like beak and munched with the small, sharp teeth on their lower jaw.