Leptoceratops was a genus of early ceratopsian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period of what is now western North America. It roamed at the same time as Triceratops Torosaurus. In 1910, it was found along the Red Deer River of Alberta, Canada, and was the earliest known protoceratopsid. The name means \"thin horned face\" with long hind limbs and short forelimbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leptoceratops had sharp claws and ran bipedally or stood on its hind legs to feed on tall vegetation. It had a large skull sloping downward to a small pointed beak and no teeth. However, it had no nasal horns or eyebrows. The neck was slightly developed and solid, and had a high, raised crest on its midline. It was a herbivore like all other ceratopsians. It used its sharp ceratopsian beak to bite ferns, cycads and conifers. Its forelegs were shorter than its hind legs, allowing it to stand and run on its hind legs and walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leptoceratops was 6 to 9 feet long, 2 to 3 feet tall at the hips, and weighed 68 to 200 kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n