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Psittacosaurus

Filed under Dinosaurs · Types of Dinosaurs editorial team

Mounted Allosaurus skeleton, a large Jurassic predatory dinosaur — Photo: Jens Lallensack, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pronunciation

SIT-uh-ko-SAWR-us

Name means

Parrot Lizard

Also known as

Protiguanaodon

Diet

Herbivore

Posture

Bipedal

Length

6.5 feet (2 meters)

Height

3.5 feet (1.1 meters)

Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Marginocephalia · Infraorder: Ceratopsia · Family: Psittacosauridae

Found in Mongolia, China, Thailand, and former U. S. S. R. Psittacosaurus is an ancestor of the ceratopsians. It had parrot-like jaws and a very slight bony frill. Unlike later ceratopsians, Psittacosaurus was mainly bipedal, but probably waddled on allfours when grazing.

Mounted Stegosaurus skeleton with rows of back plates and tail spikes — Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Frequently asked questions

What does Psittacosaurus mean?

The name Psittacosaurus means “Parrot Lizard”. It is pronounced SIT-uh-ko-SAWR-us.

Was Psittacosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Psittacosaurus was a herbivore.

How big was Psittacosaurus?

Psittacosaurus was about 6.5 feet (2 meters) long, around 3.5 feet (1.1 meters) tall.

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