Centrosaurus

dinosaur · horned · cretaceous · canada

Horned herbivore. Centrosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur with a large bony frill that stretched across the back of its head and neck. This frill was covered in spikes and helped protect it from predators.

Canadian fossil hotspot. Scientists found Centrosaurus fossils in the Dinosaur Park Formation in what is now Alberta, Canada. This ancient area was once a lush river valley where these dinosaurs roamed.

Group living dinosaur. Paleontologists believe Centrosaurus lived in herds with other members of its species. Bones from many individuals have been found together, suggesting they traveled and stayed in groups.

Late Cretaceous time. Centrosaurus walked the Earth between 76.5 and 75.5 million years ago, during the final chapter of the dinosaur age. This was after the first T-Rex appeared but before dinosaurs went extinct.

Built-in head shield. Unlike some ceratopsids with large horns, Centrosaurus had a distinctive hooked spike pointing forward on its frill. Scientists think this unusual horn setup helped it stand out or compete with rivals.