Styracosaurus
Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Marginocephalia · Infraorder: Ceratopsia · Family: Ceratopsidae
Found in Alberta, Canada, Styracosaurus was a short-frilled ceratopsian with 6 long spikes along the edge of its frill. Its snout was shaped like a parrot's beak. And onits snout grew a horn that was nearly 2 feet (0.6 meters) long and 6 inches (15 cm thick). Possibly it used this great horn for self-defense.
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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 Styracosaurus mean?
The name Styracosaurus means “Spiked Lizard”. It is pronounced stih-RAK-uh-SAWR-us.
When did Styracosaurus live?
Styracosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous.
Was Styracosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?
Styracosaurus was a herbivore.
How big was Styracosaurus?
Styracosaurus was about 17 feet (5.2 meters) long, around 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall, weighing up to 6,000 lb (2,722 kg).
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