protoceratops

Everyday

A small plant-eating dinosaur from Mongolia and China, about the size of a sheep, with a parrot-like beak and a bony frill at the back of its head; it lived about 75 million years ago. tree →

In the lessons

In dinosaur lessons, Protoceratops is an early relative of Triceratops but had no big horns. A famous fossil shows a Protoceratops and a Velociraptor locked in a fight. Some think Protoceratops skulls found by ancient travellers helped start the legend of the griffin. Phrases: «Protoceratops fossil», «fighting dinosaurs», «Gobi Desert».

Examples

• Protoceratops had a beak like a parrot. tree →
• A Protoceratops was about as big as a sheep. tree →
• The famous fossil shows a Protoceratops fighting a Velociraptor. tree →
• Protoceratops lived in the Gobi Desert. tree →
• Protoceratops ate plants. tree →
• Scientists found Protoceratops nests and eggs. tree →

Note

Usually written with a capital P as a scientific name; plural the same. Pronounced pro-toe-SERR-a-tops; means «first horned face». Trap: the griffin link is an idea some historians suggest, not a proven fact. Do not confuse with Triceratops (bigger, three horns).