Psittacosaurus
Psittacosaurus mongoliensis
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<dinofyi-dinosaur slug="psittacosaurus"></dinofyi-dinosaur>Psittacosaurus means parrot lizard, named for its parrot-like beak. It is one of the most species-rich dinosaur genera with over 10 valid species. Exceptional fossils show it had quill-like structures on its tail and countershading camouflage.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Human Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Longueur | 2.0 m | about the size of a human adult |
| Height | 0.6 m | — |
| Poids | 20 kg | lighter than a human adult |
Diet & Feeding
Psittacosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.
Time Period
Psittacosaurus lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145,0 to 100,5 million years ago.
The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.
Discovery & Naming
| Nommé par | Henry Fairfield Osborn |
| Année de découverte | 1923 |
| Lieu de découverte | Mongolia |
Classification
Horned faces
Herbivorous dinosaurs with distinctive horns and frills. Ranges from small bipedal forms like Psittacosaurus to massive quadrupeds like Triceratops.
Size Comparison
At 2,0 meters long and 20,0 kg, Psittacosaurus was about the size of a human adult and lighter than a human adult.
Other dinosaurs from the same period:
Quick Facts
| Classification | Ceratopsia |
| Période géologique | Cretaceous Early |
| Alimentation | Herbivore |
| Taille | 2.0m long, 0.6m tall, 20.0kg |
Dinosaures associés
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