Brachyceratops | Facts & Information

The brachyceratops dinosaur belonged to the Ceratopsia group which includes herbivorous animals characteristic of the Upper Cretaceous period, from the Mesozoic era.

The fossil remains of this dinosaur were discovered in the U.S. State of Montana and were first described in 1912 by American paleontologist Charles Whitney Gilmore, who also gave it the scientific name Brachyceratops montanensis.

He estimated the dinosaur's length to be about 2 m and body weight to be 200 kg and concluded that its fossil remains date back about 75 million years.

The brachyceratops dinosaur had a wide shield on the back of its head, whose role was to attract females during mating (probably because it was beautifully colored).

The drawing on the shield was also a sign of recognition and differentiation between members of the species who lived in the same flock. They preferred forested lowland regions and always lived in groups to protect their young from attacks by predatory dinosaurs.

The head of this dinosaur was relatively small compared to its massive body, which ended with a stiff tail, consisting of 50 vertebrae. The body was supported by four robust and muscular limbs, with strong soles and thick fingers, provided with hoofed claws.

The gait of this prehistoric animal was on all four legs, and the fact that it had a thigh longer than the Shin indicates that it could run at high speed, especially when in danger. If the attack was imminent, they would Group in a circle, in the Middle being protected the Cubs and the females, and all around the strong males would make up a defensive wall with the nasal Horn forward.

Feeding Brachyceratops

Their food consisted of various plants on the ground, or the leaves of trees that were plucked with the help of their beak (like a parrot's), large and with sharp edges. Then, with the help of teeth, the food was crumbled, and with the tongue gathered and swallowed.

To ease their digestion they used to swallow stomach stones (gastroliths) that through the sharp edges grind pieces of vegetables in the stomach. When the stones were crushed, they were thrown out and replaced with new ones, picked from the waterfront.