centrosaurines

Centrosaurines are a clade within Ceratopsidae, commonly referred to as centrosaurine ceratopsids. They lived in the Late Cretaceous, mainly in western North America, from about 83 to 66 million years ago. They were quadrupedal herbivores known for elaborate skull ornamentation, including the frill and facial horns, which likely served for display, species recognition, and possibly defense.

Taxonomy and diversity: The group includes several genera, such as Centrosaurus, Styracosaurus, Nasutoceratops, Albertaceratops, and Einiosaurus. Fossils have been found in Canada’s Alberta and in several western U.S. states. Centrosaurines are one of the two major ceratopsid lineages, the other being ceratopsins; they differ in frill ornamentation and horn arrangement.

Anatomy and variation: Centrosaurines typically possess ornate frills with lateral spikes or horns along the edge, and a nasal horn of varying length. Brow horns, when present, are usually less robust than those of ceratopsins. The skulls show a range of sizes and shapes, reflecting considerable diversity within the group.

Ecology and extinction: As large herbivores, centrosaurines inhabited forested and open environments. They disappeared at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, along with most other non-avian dinosaurs. Their fossil record provides important clues about ceratopsid evolution and paleobiogeography in Late Cretaceous North America.