Pentaceratops was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaurs that originated in the Late Cretaceous of North America. It was closely related to the more famous, and more accurately named, Triceratops, although its closest relative was the equally large Utahceratops. It lived about 83.5 million years ago - 66 million years ago, and the remains were found in the Kirtland Formation in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pentaceratops was one of the largest heads that was about 3 meters long. It had five horns with a large bony plate protruding from the back of its skull called a frill. It was the only ceratopsian known to have lived around New Mexico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It walked on four sturdy legs or was a quadruped. On its parrot-like beak, it had one horn pointing upward and two longer horns pointing forward over its eyes, which protected it from predators or were used in rivalry and mating rituals. It also had two enlarged cheekbones, similar to horns, protruding from its face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like other ceratopsians, it was probably a grazing animal. It was a moderately social animal and needed at least two others of its species to maintain a healthy comfort level. It hatched from eggs and was suckled by adults. When threatened, it attacked its enemy as the modern-day rhinoceros does, which was a very effective defense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pentaceratops were estimated to be 6-8 m long and weighed around 4000-5000 kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n