Ceratópsidos

Ceratópsidos, commonly known as ceratopsians or horned dinosaurs, were a diverse group of herbivorous ornithischian dinosaurs that flourished in the Late Cretaceous period. The most distinctive feature of these dinosaurs was their elaborate cranial ornamentation, which typically included a prominent frill extending from the back of the skull and one or more horns on the face. The size, shape, and arrangement of these features varied greatly among different ceratopsian species, likely serving purposes such as defense, species recognition, or display.

Fossils of ceratopsians have been found primarily in North America and Asia. They ranged in size from small, bipedal animals to massive, quadrupedal giants. The largest and most well-known members, such as Triceratops, possessed impressive horns and a solid bony frill. Smaller, more basal forms like Psittacosaurus, from Asia, lacked horns and had a more primitive frill, showcasing the evolutionary progression within the group.

Ceratopsians were important herbivores in their ecosystems, likely feeding on low-lying vegetation. Their powerful beaks, adapted for shearing tough plant material, and their battery of teeth further support their herbivorous diet. The discovery of numerous ceratopsian fossils, often found in bonebeds suggesting herd behavior, provides valuable insights into the social structures and ecological roles of these iconic dinosaurs during the final stages of the Mesozoic Era. Their extinction, like that of other non-avian dinosaurs, occurred at the end of the Cretaceous period.