Eucentrosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: you-SEN-tro-SORE-us
Name meaning: True pointed lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 2.5m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 2 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ceratopsian |
| Location | Canada |
Although originally named Eucentrosaurus, this impressive ceratopsian dinosaur is now recognised as being the same species as Centrosaurus apertus. This herbivorous dinosaur roamed the ancient floodplains of what is now Alberta, Canada, during the Late Cretaceous period, between 76.5 and 75.5 million years ago.
This ceratopsian was a moderately-sized plant-eater, measuring approximately 6 metres in length and standing about 2.5 metres tall at the hip. Like other ceratopsians, it possessed a distinctive bony frill extending from the back of its skull and a prominent nasal horn projecting forward from above its nose. The frill was adorned with small spikes around its edge, creating an impressive defensive display.
As a herbivore, this dinosaur used its sharp, parrot-like beak to slice through tough plant material, whilst rows of small teeth further back in its jaws helped process fibrous vegetation. Its powerful limbs and robust build suggest it could move at speeds of up to 25 km/h when necessary, perhaps to escape predators or during seasonal migrations.
Fossil evidence suggests these ceratopsians lived in large herds, with bone beds in the Dinosaur Park Formation containing remains of numerous individuals, indicating they may have travelled together across the ancient landscape in search of food and suitable nesting sites.
What made Eucentrosaurus distinctive?
This ceratopsian featured a single prominent horn projecting forward from its nose and a moderately-sized bony frill decorated with small spikes around the edges. Its skull was relatively short compared to other ceratopsians, with a distinctive straight nasal horn that gave it a rhinoceros-like appearance.
Behaviour
Fossil evidence suggests this ceratopsian lived in large herds, as indicated by bone beds containing multiple individuals found together in the Dinosaur Park Formation. These gatherings may have provided protection from predators and facilitated seasonal migrations in search of fresh vegetation.
Discovery
Eucentrosaurus was first described by Lawrence Lambe in 1904. The original fossils were discovered at Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada.
Eucentrosaurus FAQ
What did Eucentrosaurus eat?
Eucentrosaurus was a herbivore that fed on ferns, cycads, conifers and other
Late Cretaceous plants. It used its sharp beak to slice vegetation and had rows of small teeth for processing tough, fibrous plant material.
How big was Eucentrosaurus?
Eucentrosaurus measured approximately 6 metres in length and stood about 2.5 metres tall at the hip. It weighed around 2 tonnes, making it a medium-sized ceratopsian dinosaur.
When did Eucentrosaurus live?
Eucentrosaurus lived during the
Late Cretaceous period, specifically between 76.5 and 75.5 million years ago, during the Campanian age.
Where was Eucentrosaurus found?
Eucentrosaurus fossils have been discovered in the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta, Canada. This formation has yielded numerous ceratopsian specimens and is considered one of the world's richest dinosaur fossil sites.
How do you pronounce Eucentrosaurus?
Eucentrosaurus is pronounced 'you-SEN-tro-SORE-us', with emphasis on the second syllable.
What does Eucentrosaurus mean?
Eucentrosaurus means 'true pointed lizard' in Greek. The name refers to its prominent nasal horn and was chosen to distinguish it from the original
Centrosaurus specimen.
How fast could Eucentrosaurus run?
Eucentrosaurus could likely reach speeds of up to 25 km/h. Whilst not particularly fast, this would have been sufficient for escaping predators or during herd migrations across the ancient landscape.
What type of dinosaur was Eucentrosaurus?
Eucentrosaurus was a ceratopsian dinosaur, characterised by its horned face and bony neck frill. It belonged to the Ceratopsidae family and was a herbivorous, four-legged dinosaur.
Was Eucentrosaurus related to birds?
Eucentrosaurus was an ornithischian dinosaur and is not directly related to modern birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Eucentrosaurus belonged to a completely different group of herbivorous dinosaurs.
How many Eucentrosaurus fossils have been found?
Multiple Eucentrosaurus specimens have been discovered, including several nearly complete skulls and partial skeletons. Bone beds in Alberta contain remains of numerous individuals, suggesting mass death events affected entire herds.
