Protoceratops

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The Protoceratops was an herbivore reaching about 2.5m in length and weighing up to 100kg. They had large eyes capable of binocular vision, and powerful bite capabilities thought to act as a defensive weapon. Protoceratops lived in large herds to survive, and they also had large nests, with up to 12-15 tiny hatchlings in each. Protoceratops laid soft-shell eggs, and buried them to stop them from drying out in the arid desert conditions.

Discovery

The first example of Protoceratops was discovered in 1922, and found in the Djadokhta Formation at the Flaming Cliffs. Further well-preserved specimens were found in 1923 and 1925, and since then many more fossils have been found both in Mongolia and also in Uzbekistan. One of these fossils, found in 1971, is the remains of a protoceratops and a velociraptor locked in combat, known as the Fighting Dinosaurs.

Palaeoecology

Protoceratops thrived in harsh climates that ranged from deserts to riverine to conifer-dominated forest patches. With splayed digits and cushiony footpads to maximize foot surface area and thus minimize sinking in sand, they were well-suited to a desert biome. Protoceratops also had rows of serrated, tightly-packed teeth that were perfect for shearing foliage as part of its herbivore diet.