Protoceratops was a herbivorous dinosaur that was discovered in Mongolia in 1922 by Roy Chapman Andrews. The genus name Protoceratops means \"the first-horned face\" in honor of the expedition leader. The name comes from the Greek word 'proto- meaning \"first\", and '-certaops', meaning horn-faced. It was a rather small and primitive ceratopsian. They ranged in size from newborns to full-grown adults, estimated at 6 feet long, 6 feet tall at the hips, and weighed less than 400 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It lived towards the end of the Mesozoic, the Age of Reptiles, about 86 to 71 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. Protoceratops lived in herds, and laid 12 or more eggs in a spiral shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was one of the best known dinosaurs of all time; literally hundreds of individuals had been collected in central Asia, more than 80% of all dinosaurs known from one site. Protoceratops had a large collar, which probably attracted mates during mating season or was used in combat. To distinguish male Protoceratops from females, males had larger ruffs than females. Triceratops appears to have had a distinctive protuberance over its nostrils and a thickened bone over its eye sockets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protoceratops had a sharp bite on its beak for cutting low vegetation such as cycads and other prehistoric plants. It came with a dozen teeth for cutting tough leaves and branches into smaller pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paleontologists discovered that these creatures lived in the desert with evidence that their eggs had small pores proving that they were adapted to desert conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does the name Protoceratops mean?<\/strong>
The genus name Protoceratops means \"the first-horned face\" in honor of the expedition leader. The name comes from the Greek word 'proto- meaning \"first\", and '-certaops', meaning horn face.<\/p> <\/div>
How big is a Protoceratops?<\/strong>
Protoceratops were estimated to be six feet long as adults, two feet tall at the hips, and weighed less than 400 pounds.<\/p> <\/div>
How did Protoceratops defend itself?<\/strong>
Although, Protoceratops had two long brown horns that it could use as defense or a sharp beak to protect itself from predators.<\/p> <\/div>
Did Protoceratops have sharp teeth?<\/strong>
Protoceratops was a herbivorous dinosaur with low vegetation such as cycads and other prehistoric plants with its beak.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div>
Where were Protoceratops found?<\/strong>
Protoceratops was a herbivorous dinosaur found in places such as Gansu (China), Bayankhongor (Mongolia) and Inner Mongolia.<\/p> <\/div>
In what time period did Protoceratops live?<\/strong>
Protoceratops lived towards the end of the Mesozoic, the Age of Reptiles for about 86 to 71 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\t\n\t