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centrosaurus: herbivore dinosaur from the Cretaceous era

Centrosaurus Facts

Pronunciation: SEN-tro-SORE-us

Name meaning: Sharp-pointed lizard

Diet	Herbivore
Height	2m
Length	6m
Weight	2 tonnes
Speed	25 km/h
Environment	Land
Era	Cretaceous
Period	Late Cretaceous
Type	Ceratopsian
Location	Canada

Centrosaurus was a spectacular ceratopsian dinosaur that roamed the ancient forests of what is now Alberta, Canada, during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 76.5 to 75.5 million years ago. This impressive herbivore was built like a living tank, with a massive skull that could reach up to 2 metres in length, adorned with an array of horns and spikes that made it one of the most distinctive dinosaurs of its time.

Standing about 2 metres tall at the hip and measuring up to 6 metres in length, Centrosaurus was a solidly built quadruped that weighed around 2 tonnes. Its most striking feature was the prominent horn projecting from its nose, curved forward like a rhinoceros horn, along with two smaller horns above its eyes. The elaborate frill extending from the back of its skull was decorated with spikes around the edges and featured distinctive rectangular openings that helped reduce the weight of this bony shield.

As a dedicated herbivore, Centrosaurus used its sharp, parrot-like beak to slice through tough plant material, while rows of shearing teeth in its cheeks processed fibrous vegetation including ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants. Its powerful jaw muscles, anchored to the large frill, provided the strength needed to cope with the challenging plant life of the Cretaceous period.

Centrosaurus lived alongside other famous dinosaurs in the rich ecosystems preserved in the Dinosaur Park Formation, sharing its habitat with duck-billed hadrosaurs, armoured ankylosaurs, and fearsome predators like Gorgosaurus. Fossil evidence suggests these ceratopsians were social animals, possibly living and travelling in herds for protection against the large carnivores that shared their world.

What made Centrosaurus distinctive?

Centrosaurus is easily recognised by its prominent forward-curving nasal horn, small brow horns, and rectangular frill decorated with spikes around the edges. The frill featured distinctive large rectangular openings and was shorter than those of later ceratopsians like Triceratops.

Behaviour

Centrosaurus likely lived in herds, as suggested by bone bed discoveries containing multiple individuals of different ages. These social groups would have provided protection against predators, with adults potentially forming defensive circles around younger members when threatened.

Fun Facts About Centrosaurus

Centrosaurus bone beds in Alberta contain the remains of hundreds of individuals, suggesting massive herds may have perished together during river crossings or droughts
The forward-curving nasal horn of Centrosaurus could grow up to 50 centimetres long and was likely used for defence and display
Centrosaurus had a battery of up to 40 small cutting teeth on each side of its jaw, creating an efficient plant-processing system
Young Centrosaurus had much smaller frills and horns than adults, with their distinctive features developing as they matured
Centrosaurus fossils are so common in some areas of Alberta that the rock formation is sometimes called the 'Centrosaurus bone bed'

Centrosaurus in Popular Culture

Centrosaurus occasionally appears in dinosaur documentaries and children's books about prehistoric life, though it remains less famous than its later relative Triceratops.

Scientific Classification

Phylum	Chordata
Class	Ornithischia
Family	Ceratopsidae
Genus	Centrosaurus

Discovery

Centrosaurus was first described by Lawrence Lambe in 1904. The original fossils were discovered at Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada.

Centrosaurus FAQ

What did Centrosaurus eat?

Centrosaurus was a herbivore that fed on the plants available during the Late Cretaceous period, including ferns, cycads, conifers, and early flowering plants. It used its sharp beak to cut vegetation and had rows of small teeth for processing tough plant material.

How big was Centrosaurus?

Centrosaurus stood about 2 metres tall at the hip, measured up to 6 metres in length, and weighed approximately 2 tonnes. Its skull alone could reach 2 metres in length, making up a significant portion of its total body length.

When did Centrosaurus live?

Centrosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically during the Campanian age, between 76.5 and 75.5 million years ago. This was near the end of the age of dinosaurs, about 10 million years before the mass extinction event.

Where was Centrosaurus found?

Centrosaurus fossils have been discovered in Alberta, Canada, specifically in the Dinosaur Park Formation. This area has yielded numerous specimens, including massive bone beds containing hundreds of individuals.

How do you pronounce Centrosaurus?

Centrosaurus is pronounced 'SEN-tro-SORE-us', with emphasis on the first and third syllables. The name breaks down as 'Centro-' meaning sharp point and '-saurus' meaning lizard.

What does Centrosaurus mean?

Centrosaurus means 'sharp-pointed lizard', referring to the prominent spikes on its frill and the distinctive forward-curving horn on its nose. The name was chosen by palaeontologist Lawrence Lambe when he first described the dinosaur in 1904.

How fast could Centrosaurus run?

Centrosaurus could likely reach speeds of up to 25 km/h when necessary, despite its heavy build. While not built for speed, it was probably capable of short bursts of relatively fast movement when fleeing from predators.

What type of dinosaur was Centrosaurus?

Centrosaurus was a ceratopsian dinosaur, belonging to the family Ceratopsidae. These were herbivorous dinosaurs characterised by their large frills, facial horns, and beak-like mouths, related to other famous horned dinosaurs like Triceratops.

Was Centrosaurus related to birds?

As an ornithischian dinosaur, Centrosaurus was not closely related to birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, which belonged to a completely different group called Saurischia. Centrosaurus shared a more distant common ancestor with birds.

How many Centrosaurus fossils have been found?

Hundreds of Centrosaurus fossils have been discovered, making it one of the best-known ceratopsian dinosaurs. Some bone beds in Alberta contain the remains of numerous individuals, providing excellent insight into their anatomy and behaviour.